National 4 (Spotlight Weekly)

Desperate Times

Tourism entrepreneurs are desperately looking up to the government for some relief

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Already battered by the Maoist unrest and hotel bombings, the tourism sector had to suffer yet another major blow last week when riots broke out in the capital vandalizing the offices of international airlines and throwing cold water over the burgeoning industry.

Just as it was about to recover from the damaging fallout of the Kathmandu blockade, the industry suffered heavy casualties when the unruly mobs attacked offices of airlines like Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and others. The mob that was protesting the killing of 12 Nepalese hostages in Iraq went on a rampage targeting these airlines for no obvious reasons.

These airlines used to bring in a substantial number of tourists to the country at a time when the national flag carrier Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) is unable to conduct many flights owing to the lack of aircraft. Nepal has no other option than to depend on reliable international airlines to bring in tourists till the RNAC becomes fully capable on its own – which appear to be a far cry at these times.

“These airlines used to bring in thousands of tourists every year. We are concerned by the attack against them,” said Tek Bahadur Dangi, chief executive of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Particularly, the Qatar Airways had to face the worst of mob fury. And this was the airlines that had been conducting most flights into the country.

In the face of the mob attacks, the tourism entrepreneurs have asked the government to highlight the information that the operation of international flights have resumed and situation has returned to normal in the country. Thankfully, most of the international airlines that had suspended their flights after the riots have resumed their operation. Gulf Airways, Biman Bangladesh have already resumed their operation whereas the Qatar Airways and PIA will do so shortly.

Not only the international airlines, the domestic air traffic, too, had come to virtual standstill for two days due to the unrest. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), thanks to curfew there were no passengers in the domestic sector.

At a program organized by the Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) and the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), the entrepreneurs said they were concerned over growing cancellation of visits by the tourists. According to them, a number of tour operators in North America and Europe have already de-listed Nepal from the tourist destination for the year 2004 due to the unrest here.

“The news of curfew in the capital and the prolonged unrest here has made them do so,” said Basanta Raj Mishra, president of the NATO. These half a dozen tour operators used to send around 5000 quality tourists a year to Nepal.

At the same program the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Deep Kumar Upadhyaya assured the entrepreneurs that the government would soon announce a special package aimed at short-term and long-term promotion of tourism sector.

According to Mishra, the government needs to activate a crisis management unit in order to cope with situations like these.

According to the NTB, the visitors coming to Nepal by air route during the month of August 2004 recorded an increment of mere 3 percent compared to same period last year. The growth observed for the non-Indian market stood at 17% while the Indian market crashed by 22%.

"In comparison to August 2003, among the non-Indian segments the biggest growth came from Spanish and Italian markets by 91% and 102% respectively. These two markets have singly contributed to 25% of share in arrivals for the month. Arrival from these markets normally peaks up during the month of August. The arrival of French visitors has also gone up by 7%. However, the other major non-Indian markets for Nepal, American, German and British have all gone down. Similarly, Indian market has gone down to contribute only 27% in arrival number due to its sharp decline. This is the third consecutive month that Indian visitors arrivals has shown a steady decline for the year," the NTB stated. "The strikes called at various times are partially responsible for the decline in visitors' numbers from some markets."