Reality of Tourism in Nepal

Tourism is not contributing to the Nepalese economy significantly. Its contribution in GDP is roughly 2 to 3%. Some people argue that the “Tourism Satellite Accounting” would produce exact contribution. That’s right, but there are some problems. First, it’s very difficult and costly to conduct the TSA. Second, the figure really doesn’t contribute really to the economy. In other words, suppose the contribution has been doubled, it doesn’t uplift the living standard of the people more than now, does it? The answer is negative. So, it’s only the play of words and figures. The benefit of the conducting the TSA is to know more accurately the contribution of tourism so that the policy makers can use this information for their decision making. In the absence of the right information the trial and error methods applied by policy makers would cost precious time and scarce resources. However, this has been little in practice in our context.

Tourism in Nepal is neither a mass nor niche tourism. Even if we claim our tourism is mass tourism, it’s not like that. The fact is that our tourism policy is open to tourists, but this has not been able to create a mass market as in the countries like France, Spain, Japan and US. In fact, it’s not possible to have mass tourism in our country with host of reasons. First, we don’t have the supportive infrastructures and superstructures. Second, the geographical setting is also responsible for this. Third, the economy itself is not so helping. Our economy is so small that virtually it has no effect even in our trading partners. Fourth, the private entrepreneurs are not capable enough to handle the tourism business. Fifth, no good air connections with various generating markets. Last but not the least, airfare is costly.

The various names of tourism are just the names of the games given by the players. Neither the government nor the entreprenuer wants tourists without money. Tourism be flourished in our country, there should be a strong mechanism of supervision and monitoring. Unless and until this is in place we can't get benefits out of tourism. There are always complaints by stakeholders; in fact they are not really the stakeholders.

Dhorpatan: Tourism Potentiality

"Deurali" is a gateway into Dhorpatan valley from Baglung – Burtibang - Bobang trek route. It elevates approximately from 3000 to 7000 m. above sea level in north-west of Baglung district. The peaceful valley is covered normally by snow in the winter season from January to February. It would be suitable for skiing. Habitants shift to their lower settlements before winter starts with their domestic animals, and vice versa. The valley turns into a beautiful landscapes with colorful green carpets everywhere and possesses pleasant weather in other seasons except rainy seasons. Beautiful sceneries and picturesque landscapes are seen from any of the surrounding peaks. Putha, Churen and Gurja Himal extend over the northern boundary.

One of the main attractions of Dhorpatan is the Hunting Reserve which stretches into Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung districts. The Reserve was established in 1983 (2039 B.S.) and was gazetted in 1987 (2044 B.S.) whose main objectives are to allow sports hunting and preserve various high altitude ecosystem in that region. The reserve has been separated in seven different blocks for proper hunting management. It covers an area of 1325 sq. km and is famous among foreigners for hunting blue sheep, a highly coveted trophy and other game animals. Many foreigners come for trophy hunting each year. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation issues the hunting license.

In fact, the valley is a marshland meadow. Thousands of domestic animals such as sheep, donkeys, buffalos, cows, goats, horses are seen grazing in the open fields. In the jungle, leopard, goral, serow, himalayan tahr, hirnalayan black bear, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur and mouse hare are found. Pheasants and partridge are common. Similarly, endangered species like musk deer, wolf, red panda, cheer pheasant and danphe are found here.

A festival is observed in Janai Purnima each year in Uttarganga in which a lot of pilgrims come from surrounding villages and districts to worship the Baraha, a hindu god. It is an important religious site, and has a potentiality of domestic religious tourism.

A river, Uttarganga originates and flows towards the north through the valley and meets another river from the east and jointly moves smoothly towards the west of the valley. This river would produce electricity of around 300 MW, in that case the valley would be transformed into a huge scenic lake. That would be a great manmade tourism attraction. But, it's a distant dream.

Magar, Kami, Nauthar live here creating a mixed pattern of cultures. They do farming and animal husbandry. There is abundance of herbs. The systematic farming of herbs also could be a lucrative source of income. The Tibetan refugee camp near the reserve is another attraction. Fluttering prayer flags above their settlement are unique identity of them. Bonpo monastery in Chhentung at the rear end of the valley is also a place to visit.

Simple lodging and fooding facilities are available in Dhorpatan valley. Camping is another option. Home-stay accommodations could be started with proper training to the villagers. The congregated villages are suitable for such facilities.

Limited telephone lines are available, and some of them are not working properly. They are just operators, and can't fix even simple problems. The only source of electricity is the solar-power. Some hotels and the office of the hunting reserve have installed solar-power for lighting.

A rough road has been constructed upto Burtibang, Budathok and then it takes one day’s trek to Dhorpatan. This road is supposed to be the mid-hill-highway which passes through Dhorpatan. An airport was operational in 1962 to 1972 but now no more in operation. There are other trekking routes as well from Mustang and Palpa towards Dhorpatan.

Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011)

Government of Nepal has declared year 2011 as the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 with an objective to achieve substantial growth in national economy at large and tourism industry in particular through new programs in the wake of historical transformation. Since peace and stability have been reestablished in the country, it has become imperative to reposition and revive Nepal’s image as a prime tourist destination. To address it, government of Nepal announced to celebrate ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’ in the Budget speech made by Finance Minister Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai on 19 September 2008. The national campaign of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 is a result of a rigorous exercise carried out by government and private sector to rejuvenate tourism industry once again giving impetus to effort made by people of different walks of life to establish tourism as backbone of Nepal’s economy.

As per the decision made by Cabinet Meeting on 2065/06/03, the Government of Nepal has formed the Main Organizing Committee under the convenership of Hon’ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation together with Joint convenership of the Hon'ble Vice Chairmanship of National Planning Commission. There will be 61 members in Main Organizing Committee that includes various line Ministries and Department, Chief of District Development Committees, Metropolitan, Sub-Metropolitan cities and Municipalities, presidents of travel trade and other related associations and institutions. Some 23 other institution/organization would be invitees in the same. The Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board has been designated as the Member-Secretary of the Committee.

The Main Organizing Committee meeting held on January 18, 2009 at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has decided to form 14 different functional sub committees and 5 regional sub committees to carry out different promotional, development and coordination works to make this mega event successful.

Fourteen Subcommittees that are being formed to carry out different activities and works are:

1. Policy Advocacy Sub-Committee
2. Physical Infrastructure and coordination Sub-Committee
3. Product Improvement and Development Sub-Committee
4. Events, Festivals and Activities coordination Sub-Committee
5. Marketing, Promotion and Publicity Sub-Committee
6. Human Resource and Capacity Building Sub-Committee
7. Aviation and Transport Coordination Sub-Committee
8. Resources Mobilization and Monitoring Sub-Committee
9. Natural and Culture Heritages Sub-Committee
11. Legal Affairs Coordination Sub-Committee
12. Diplomatic Relation Coordination Sub-Committee
10. Political Affairs coordination Sub-Committee
13. Crisis Management and Security Coordination Sub-Committee
14. Mountain Tourism coordination Sub-Committee

Similarly, regional sub committees will be formed in all five development regions.

1. Eastern Development Region Sub-Committee
2. Central Development Region Sub-Committee
3. Western Development Region Sub-Committee
4. Mid-western Development Region Sub-Committee
5. Far-western Development Region Sub-Committee

The Sub-Committees will draft respective Terms of Reference, Calendar of Events, Schedule of Programs, Action Plans, and Budget for implementation. The Secretariat has urged private sector travel trade, tourism related institutions and individuals for voluntarily contribution by participating at the desired sub-committee.

In addition to functioning as Secretariat of Nepal Tourism Year 2011, Nepal Tourism Board, will align its following programs and activities to promote and highlight the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign:

• Nepal Tourism Year 2011 will be promoted in 12 prominent travel trade fairs in the major source markets: Europe, Australia, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia. Similarly, NTY 2011 will be highlighted in the country focused programs being organised in Europe, Australia, China, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea,
• A high level delegation along with Nepalese travel trade will visit the major source market and will interact with local media and travel trade for effective promotion of NTY 2011
• Nepal Tourism Year 2011 will be promoted during UFTAA Congress, being organized by NTB and NATTA in November 2010 in Kathmandu
• Corporate houses in the source markets will be approached and invited to hold meetings, conferences and exhibitions ( MICE),
• NTY 2011 will be highlighted on all the promotional gateways of NTB. Private sector travel trade, at home and abroad, will be requested to promote NTY 2011,
• Promotional Affiliations will be developed with Non-Resident Nepali Associations, Friends of Nepal, International Travel Trade Associations, and Corporate Houses for NTY 2011 promotion,
• Promotion will be made through artists, mountaineers, actors and other celebrities
• Nepal Tourism Board will invite 300 international journalists for FAM tour from source countries like China, India, South East countries, Bangladesh and Europe to highlight Nepal Tourism Year 2011 in the international media. NTB is in process of signing MoU with international airlines flying to Nepal for promoting Nepal internationally.
• New posters and brochure will be designed for Nepal Tourism Year 2011. A new website will be launched soon about Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
• Felicitation desk at airport will be upgraded and made tourist friendly
• Community tourism and Home Stay will get a special focus to diversify tourism movement into potential tourism areas of the country such as in Shree Antu Danda, Basantapur area, Khaptad, Rara, Gorkha etc.
• In association with communities, local bodies and related institutions, NTB will develop trekking trails in the Mid-western and Far-Western Development Region.
• Training programs will be organized in new tourism areas
• NTB will review and revise the existing Tourism Marketing Strategy 2005-2020 in line with the targets declared by the government.
  

Main objectives of the campaign are to establish Nepal as a choice of premier holiday destination with a definite brand image; to improve and extend tourism related infrastructures in existing and new tourism sites; to enhance the capacity of service providers; to build community capacity in the new areas to cater the need of the tourists; and to promote domestic tourism for sustainability of the industry. Besides, some quantified targets are set to achieve one million international arrivals in a year, to see at least 40 percent of the arrivals beyond the present tourism sites, to encourage additional investment on tourism infrastructures by 50 percent as well as to maintain the record of domestic tourism in the country.

Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign will focus its marketing and promotion activities on regional and emerging markets, in exploring new tourism potential market segments, highlighting the tourism brand: Naturally Nepal - once is not enough!. It will also concentrate its effort for enhancement of air connectivity with the regional, emerging and potential markets; lobby with the government for sufficient budget allocation to improve and expand tourism related activities infrastructures in existing and new tourism areas; and attract and encourage private sector for investment in tourism sector.