FORUM (Spotlight Weekly)

‘Nepalis Need To Prove Once Again That Their Country Is Safe For Tourists’

— MARIA THERESIA OPALADEN

Lord Mayor of the city of Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, MARIA THERESIA OPALADEN was recently in Kathmandu. A lawyer by training, Opaladen was a member of parliament from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and was elected mayor of Bergish Gladbach in 1999. Opaladen spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues regarding the promotion of tourism and trade between Nepal and Germany. Excerpts:

What is the purpose of your visit to Nepal?

I am a patron of the local support organization of Maiti Nepal in my town. I came to Nepal to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the center for Maiti Nepal. Dr. Kill, the sole donor of the Maiti Nepal complex and Honorary Royal Nepalese Consul, Ram Thapa, are residents of my town. I decided to visit Nepal at their request. When I met Maiti Nepal president Anuradha Koirala and the women and children there, I found that the place is very worthy of support. We will try our best to support institutions like Maiti Nepal in future. Thanks to the support of Dr. Kill, Maiti Nepal now has its own building to rehabilitate women and children.

How big is your city and what are the possibilities of increasing the number of visitors to Nepal?

The city of Bergisch Gladbach is 15 km away from Germany's fourth largest city, Cologne. There is a big possibility of luring German tourists from my town to Nepal. A large number of German tourists visit various parts of the world each year. I have heard about the high mountains and temples of Nepal but this is the first time I really have had an opportunity to see them. Germans have always had a good impression about Nepal and the Nepalese people, as this is the country where one can find harmonious relations between two great religions, Hinduism and Buddhism.

What impressed you in Kathmandu?

There are many things, including mountains, temples and people, which have impressed me a lot. I think I will come to visit Nepal next time to see many hidden cultures and natural wonders. I find Kathmandu valley a treasure house of gods and goddesses and the people are quite impressive. I have visited Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu where I found beautiful architectures and sculptures. The landscape and mountains have impressed me a lot. I don't have words to explain the beauty of Kathmandu.

What does Nepal need to do to lure more German tourists?

First of all, your country needs a peaceful atmosphere. As long as there is violence, tourists would always be afraid to come to Nepal. People read news about violent activities and agitation. Such incidents will discourage our people from visiting Nepal. In the early days, our impression about Nepal was that of a country of peace. But people have been compelled to change their impression. There is still time to prove again that Nepal is a peaceful country.

Is Nepal as unsafe as projected in the media?

Actually, I have not seen anything that would make me worry. I have not seen the situation described in the newspapers. I find the city quite safe for visitors. You need to publicize the positive things about your country. As you know, the media are so powerful that they can change the mind of the people. The time has come for Nepalis to prove that this country is safe again.

How do you see the environment of Kathmandu valley?

Because of the rain, we have not seen the clear sky. I got the impression that the city is fairly good in terms of environment. Your city needs to restrict the number of vehicles and maintain strict vigilance over polluted vehicles. Kathmandu is an ancient and historical city. Everyone has to keep in mind these historical facts before starting development initiatives.

What can Nepal learn from your city?

Your city needs to encourage public participation in maintaining and managing development and other works. As an ancient city, you need to protect the temples and architectures. As an elected mayor, we are accountable to the people. So our actions must be guided by the wishes of the people.

How do you see people-to-people contact between the two cities?

People-to-people contact between the two cities can be increased. The contribution of Dr. Kill to Maiti Nepal has opened a new opportunity to explore people-to-people contact. In the coming days, more people would want to know about Nepal and Maiti Nepal. This is a good beginning. As you know, Honorary Royal Nepalese consul Ram Thapa is also from my city. He is also doing his best to encourage more German people to visit Nepal.

Do you plan to visit Nepal again?

Definitely, I would like to visit Nepal again to see more things the country has to offer. My first visit allowed me to see only a few things about Nepal. I hope peace will be restored and normalcy will return in Nepal. If Royal Nepal Airlines restarts its direct flights, it will make it easier for Germans to visit Nepal.