NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

Recovery Campaign

Tourism entrepreneurs are planning to develop a long-term program to attract visitors to Nepal

By A CORRESPONDENT

At a time when Nepal's tourism industry is battered by several rounds of political uncertainty and other forms of instability, tourism entrepreneurs have realized the need to step up efforts to improve the image of Nepal abroad.

Although the country's political parties are yet to accept the vital importance of the tourism industry in the national economy, the efforts of the entrepreneurs could bring some positive response.

Successive bandhs and general strikes called by various political parties have already damaged the image of Nepal as a peaceful destination. The coverage of mainstream national newspapers and international media have tarnished the country's reputation.

"We are going to launch a massive campiagn to project Nepal as a safe and peaceful venue for tourists," said a hotel entrepreneur. "If political parties support us, we can recover the loss very soon."

Along with Nepal Tourism Board, hotel entrepreneurs, travel traders and airlines have acknowledged the need to launch an effective publicity campiagn in major tourism markets abroad.

As the Chinese government has already included Nepal on its list of tourist destinations, the loss resulting from the decline in Indian tourists may be recovered.

Although normalcy is returning, bad publicity is still haunting Nepal's tourism market. Ever since the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight to New Delhi from Kathmandu in December 1999, key sections of the Indian media have continued to present Nepal in a negative light.

Despite the continual efforts of Nepal Tourism Board and tourism entrepreneurs to revive the industry, there have not been encouraging results so far. "We will assure foreign and Indian tourists that Nepal is safe to visit," said a senior official of the board.

As Indian news organization were running short of ammunition to use against Nepal, the announcement of a Nepal bandh on July 12 has come as a bonanza to those wishing to tarnish the country's image.

"Any party has the right to call a general strike or Nepal bandh but the main question is, whose interest will be served by such activities?" asked a hotel entrepreneurs.

Whatever campaigns and initiatives tourism entrepreneurs launch, they will not yield results until political parties begin to support them.