Stop Assaulting Tourists

There is no denying that many Nepalese get their bread and butter from the tourism industry. Besides, supporting the individual families, tourism accounts for the major chunk of the country’s foreign currency reserves. Despite having an immense potential for growth, the tourism industry is dogged by a myriad of problems. The performance of this lucrative sector is sliding with rising incidents of assaults on the tourists. A team of three Australian tourists gathered a bitter experience in Pokhara recently. One of them tried to settle a dispute that was going on among seven Nepalese youngsters who were dining in the same restaurant. The event took a new turn when the foreign guest was attacked by a dragger for trying to settle the row. Luckily, the guest who succumbed to injuries escaped the danger after being treated at the hospital. All of the three Australians were appalled at the way they were treated by Nepalese youngsters. The incident calls for stern action against the offenders. If the law and order situation is not improved, then the ailing tourism industry might face a further slump.

Shrawan Prajapati
Baidam, Pokhara