NATIONAL8 (Spotlight Weekly]

Struggle For Survival

The government opens new peaks as a first step to attract more tourists in the coming season

By A CORRESPONDENT

As Nepal's tourism sector continue to face hard times, the government has taken the first initiative to attract more tourists. Although the government has made a major start by opening more than 100 new snow-capped peaks to mountaineers, this would not be enough to raise the number of tourists.

Might Mountains : Prime attraction

If the government is really sincere about promoting tourism in Nepal, it must take a number of other steps, including modifying immigration regulations and reducing tourist visa fees. Opening up new peaks may attract a few hundred additional tourists, but what are really required are vigorous marketing and promotional activities around the world.

In the immediate term, the government has to work on facilitating the arrival of Chinese tourists as soon as possible. "The government is trying to formulate a comprehensive program, taking into confidence the private sector, to increase the tourists in Nepal," said Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. "Along with opening the new peaks, our next step will be to reduce the visa fees for tourists who want to visit Nepal for the second time."

As the international tourism market remains in the doldrums in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington DC, Nepalís tourism sector will have to brace for harder times in the days ahead. Despite improvements in the law-and-order situation in the country after the imposition of the state of emergency, the government has failed to project this image through its embassies abroad.

Nepal's tourism industry has suffered from series of blows over the last three years. Following the hijacking of Indian Airline Flight 814 in December 1999, the tourism sector has been hits by several unfortunate events. Arrivals from India, a major component of tourism, have plummeted since then. The Maoist violence and deteriorating law-and-order situation further damaged Nepal's image abroad. Strikes called by hotel workers demanding the introduction of service charges and pollution problems contributed to tarnishing the image of Nepal as a Shangri-La.

After the royal palace massacre in the June, the situation hit a new low. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the United States, tourist arrivals have dropped dramatically. "Although the hotels and airlines are receiving cancellations for January, the situation may be better in February, March and April," says a hotel entrepreneur.

As China has already signed a tourism agreement with Nepal, there are hopes of a drastic increase of number of Chinese tourists in Nepal in the coming season. Chinese tourists make up 1.27 percent of the total arrivals today. The figure is expected to shoot up next year.

Nepal needs to start vigorous marketing for Indian tourists in order to recover short-term loss. "As the Indian media are still carrying hostile news against Nepal, one cannot see immediate change in the pattern of Indian tourist arrivals," says an entrepreneur.

If tourism fails to pick up in the coming months, many airlines and hotels will have to reduce their activities. Some star hotels are already talking about offering forced leave to half of their staff in accordance with the Industrial Act.

"The government has to come to rescue us during this crucial time, otherwise we will be compelled to close down our hotels. We cannot continue to pay such a large number of workers without getting work," said another hotel entrepreneur.

The government seems to be considering a number of ways to rescue the hotel industry. "The ministry is proposing to give some relief to tourism entrepreneurs by waiving interest rates for the time being and other such facilities," said Minister K.C. Additional relief measures officials announce in the days ahead will determine the future of Nepalís tourism industry.