Tourism (Business Age)

Tourism

Terrorism in Tourism

By Shailee Adhikari

Tourism is no more a flourishing business in Nepal since last one year. The ever buzzing streets of Thamel look deserted, international airlines have cut down their flights, travel agencies are on the verge of collapse and hoteliers are counting stars instead of serving their guests. The State of Emergency under mounting terror attacks by the Maoists has proved to be looking for the coffin of the already dying tourism industry.

What is the situation?

According to the latest Nepal Tourism Board(NTB) statistics, tourism collects approximately 4% of the total G.D.P annually. With the sharp declination in tourist arrival, which is marked around 45%, the collection is bound to go down to 1-2%. A total of 16,743 tourists visited Nepal by air in February 2002. This consisted of 13,256 from third country tourists and 3487 Indian tourists. This is however a sharp decline compared to the figures of February 2001.

According to Mrs. Bimala Rai, Assistant Manager of Indian Airlines(IA), AB-300 which can board 250 passengers ferry-in 90-110 passengers daily in one flight from Delhi to Kathmandu, and worst, among them very few come as tourist. Before, IA used to shuttle five times a week from Kathmandu to Kolkatta but now it has come down to two flights a week. "But soon it will be five flights weekly as we expect increase in passengers due to summer vacation", hopes Rai. Since Indian tourists are considered to visit Nepal the most, the condition of the IA could be taken as a quick glossary of the situation.

Who is to blame?

What exactly went wrong to the place which is called a "paradise" to tourists is not a difficult question to answer. Lack of security, proper policy and publicity are the serpents of the Eden.

"It has been a bad year. Starting from 1st June to September 11th", says Mrs. Ambika Shrestha, resident of Dwarika’s Hotel. The story begins with the hijack case of the IA airliner to Kandahar. Serious doubts were raised, especially by India, on the security system of the country, in particular of Tribhuwan International Airport .

The next case had nothing to laugh at, but the grief and instability was so high that people thought it as an inappropriate time to visit the country which has just encountered the saddest Royal Palace massacre tragedy of this century. Soon after the country seemed to come out of its anguish, yet another catastrophe fall on it. The six years old Maoist revolt came to its full climax and the country was forced to utilize the only left constitutional weapon against the rebellions. Nepal is under the State of Emergency now. All these successive events have culminated into this current grave situation .

Amidst all these stories, Hari( one name) of Gem Plaza in Durbar Marg has a different, yet optimistic, story to tell and lots of people seems to agree him. "No matter what the situation of our country, if the terrorism is brought under control in South Asian countries, tourists will visit us". As the whole South Asia is under the grip of terrorism, visitors from third country are reluctant to visit not only Nepal but other South Asian countries too.

But, it may be mentioned, rather with a sense of satisfaction, that Maoists have chose not to target any tourists till now. This issue should be highlighted and publicized by the Government before introducing any "rescue package".

Ointment for the wound...

In order to revitalize the tourism industry, NTB has announced a campaign by the name of "Destination Nepal Campaign"(DNC) or "Destination Year 2002". DNC has two committees: one is the main committee and other the executing committee. The programs for DNC are supposed to be announced by the end of April by the main committee. The special features of DNC are the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Mt. Everest, competitions and sports while others are yet to be announced. Whatever be the programs, the Government needs to publicize about DNC not only in the national media but international too through satellite. No matter how good the package, massive publicity is a must in today’s context to lure tourists. "If we do not give a clear and secure picture of the country, tourist are not going to fall even for a free holiday package", says Kashi Bhandari from Marketing and Promotion Department of NTB.

Dr. Hari P. Sarmah, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Association of Travel Agents(NATA), says that the sort of rescue package the Government is providing to travel agencies are not clear and not announced yet. According to Dr. Sarmah, the root cause of current distorted face of the Tourism Industry is instability, lack of proper policies and the parasitic nature of the industry. He believes that all the associations connected with the tourism business should come under one umbrella and work together. He further informs that the government is not facilitating travel agencies and due to this many of them are shutting it down. But as every dark cloud has a silver lining, Dr. Sarmah is quite optimistic that the dark night will lead to a bright morning saying ,"we are alive because of the hope that the future will certainly bring good news".

How the visitors feel?

Xavier of Barcelona, Spain loves Nepal and this is his second visit to the country. He is not at all scared of the current situation, instead he feels that the emergency has brought additional sense of security on him and many more like him. "I am not afraid of the emergency but some time I feel nervous looking at the scared face of the local people", says Anna from UK. People in their country are petrified even with the idea of visiting a country which is under emergency. "Nepalese Government needs to convince the outsiders that the country is safe for visit", suggests Xavier. And, many people might feel the same.