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Kathmandu Saturday September 08, 2001 Bhadra 23, 2058.
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Tourism at
stake
Much has been said about the
need for enhancing the tourism industry, but virtually nothing has been done. The recent
series of events has had an suicidal impact on the tourism industry of this country. The
Royal tragedy, the Maoist insurgency and frequent bandhs account for the decrease in the
number of incoming tourists.
The exotic beauty of Nepal
wears a gloomy future. But, it’s only the people from the tourism sector who are
worried. At this time of the year when the country ought to have flooded with tourists,
the number is surprisingly very small. Seminars and conferences just work as fickle assets
to attract foreign tourists. But upon arrival, tourists get highly disappointed due to
inadequate facilities, insurgency and pollution. Is the government so dumb to hear a knock
on its door? A door, which if they could open would bring in a flood of wealth.
Furthermore, the recent
flight cuts of RNAC at this peak time seem weird. The improper facilities that many
tourists claim to have received from the RNAC are not just an exaggeration. Giving warm
hospitality should not be that difficult for RNAC if they are to improve their wrecked
financial conditions. Last time, when I was walking around Basantapur Durbar Square I
encountered tourists arguing with a Municipal policeman as to why they should pay fee even
to visit a place where they had come several times before. Isn’t it ironic? On the
one hand, politicians talk about improving tourism and on the other hand, impose fee on
popular tourist hang-outs at a time when a few tourists are visiting the country.
Needless to say, the future
of tourism looks bleak. But this is something that we cannot probably blame on someone
other than Nepalis. The politicians, the Maoists and the people are all Nepalis. And it is
"us", and only "us" who can make things work well, if we unite to do
something.
-Raghabendra Shrestha
Pennwood Academy, Kathmandu |
