 |
||
|
||
TOURIST ARRIVALS |
|
||
|
||
TOURIST ARRIVALS |
Pall Of Gloom The abrupt breakdown in
peace talks sends a chill down the spine of tourism entrepreneurs By SANJAYA DHAKAL When comrade Prachanda, chairman of the
Maoists, released a statement announcing his intention to walk out from the peace process
on August 27, it was the tourism entrepreneurs who were one of the most disappointed lot
around.
“Just as we were looking forward
to having a wonderful season, this terrible news came. I don’t know how we will fare
now,” said Hari Man Lama, chief executive of Incentive Tours and Travels. According to Yogendra Sakya, a reputed
tourism entrepreneur who owns the Ace Group of Hotels and Resorts and is a member of Nepal
Tourism Board (NTB), the tourism entrepreneurs had received favorable booking inquiries
for the upcoming tourist season that will begin in September. “But all the great
expectations could now be dashed,” said another entrepreneur. In the last couple of months following the
January ceasefire, the Nepalese tourism sector basked in the glory of the successful
Everest jubilee celebrations and continued growth in arrivals particularly from the Indian
market. The substantial growth in the number of
Indian tourists had pushed the overall tourist arrivals for the past couple of months.
According to NTB, the arrival of Indian tourists, by air, grew by around 40 percent in the
month of June and July. Likewise, the government had just recently
signed an agreement with the Chinese government to increase flights. In its budget, the
government had announced waiver of visa fees to tourists from SAARC nations and China in
order to lure around 200,000 tourists a year from this region alone. “The return to violence could undo all
of these efforts,” said Nima Nuru Sherpa, chief executive of Cho Oyu Treks. The officials at NTB, too, are looking
bewildered over the recent developments. “We were really hoping that the peace
process would succeed and we would be able to lure large number of tourists. But that
doesn’t seem possible now,” said an official at the board. Although the Maoists have not hurt a single
tourist in the last seven years of its insurgency, the travel advisories by the western
countries and frequent reports of violence and extortion is sure to affect the visit. At a
time when travelers around the world are concerned over the terrorist attacks, the news of
violence will definitely act as a great obstruction for Nepalese tourism sector. Fake Scandals By A CORRESPONDENT The incidents of the involvement of
Pakistan Embassy staff in Kathmandu in fake currency scandals are surfacing too frequently
to merit any credibility. The latest episode happened a few days back when Muhammad
Masood, an upper division clerk at the Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu was apprehended by
some petty police officials on charges of possessing fake Indian currency to the tune of
forty five thousand rupees. His subsequent deportation, even though no fake currency was
found on his person and neither the local police could produce any conclusive evidence of
the possession of fake currency by the said Pakistani official could not be in strict
consonance with the diplomatic norms. Pakistan is not only a friendly country but Nepal
has excellent relations with her. Moreover, in the context of Nepal’s
physical vulnerabilities and Pakistan’s emergence as a nuclear power, the power
equation in South Asia has undergone a sharp change. Besides, the urgency of making the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation a really effective institution if the
poor region and even poorer nations are going to have a stronger say in the global
economic arena. And this demands that all member nations sink whatever differences they
have between themselves. Instead, such trumped up charges against the officials of a
friendly country can never contribute to cement the bilateral relations. Such
irresponsible behavior of petty police officials can seriously affect the friendly
relations, if such incidents are permitted to happen again and again. Nation’s
interests should not be compromised to fulfill the whims of certain unscrupulous elements.
Although it is not too difficult to guess who is behind all these machinations, it becomes
really difficult to swallow that the whole police department is impervious to safeguard
the nation’s interests. It is time that all those responsible to preserve the clean
and unsullied images of the police force must take strong steps against all those who are
hurting the country. Since such incidents directly affect
Nepal’s relations with friendly countries, it becomes the imperative duty of the
foreign office not only to put a stop to such activities but also to bring the culprits to
justice. Ghulam's Ghazals Ghulam Ali, the noted Pakistani Ghazalist
of international fame, gave a scintillating performance of vocal music a few days back at
Hotel Yak and Yeti in Kathmandu. Ali, the peerless ghazalist who is an old hand and
perhaps, the most popular foreign ghazalist for Nepalis, also loves to come to Nepal
“Where I might be in the world,” said he, “if there is a call from Nepal I
will leave everything and rush to Nepal.” He was also all praise for the Pakistani
Ambassador Zamir Akram who should get all the credit for arranging his visit this time.
Although it is his third visit, he always finds new charms. He was very nostalgic about
his former visits when he had performed for his royal admirers. “Unfortunately,”
he said, “His Majesty happened to be out of the country, which has robbed me a great
part of my pleasure and happiness. I am definite I will come again soon.” The regal
hall at Yak and Yeti was packed to capacity by music lovers of Kathmandu to hear their
beloved singer. While congratulating the Pakistani Ambassador for bringing Ali to
Kathmandu, the Kathmanduites hope he will arrange some thing as enchanting in the days to
come. |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
