{{TAG_OPEN_div_122} Kathmandu. The floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers on August 26 and the subsequent landslides caused an economic loss of Rs 52.67 billion to the tourism sector, according to a preliminary study.
According to the preliminary report prepared by the Rapid Response Team (QRT) of the Nepal Tourism Board, tourism infrastructure, hotels and tourism business, transportation, trekking routes and tourist management have suffered losses equal to this amount.TAG_OPEN_div_120
The report prepared by the group of Sahadev Dhamala, executive member of the board and QRT coordinator, mentioned this issue. The floods and landslides affected the tourism sector in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha districts. According to the preliminary report of the board, the damage to hotel business, tourism infrastructure, transport access, trekking routes and tourist management has affected the operation of tourism activities and businesses.TAG_OPEN_div_118
According to the report, floods and landslides have caused a loss of Rs 14.60 billion in income from foreign tourism and Rs 12.26 billion in tourism management.TAG_OPEN_div_116
} Similarly, the report states that the loss of business transactions in Langtang region amounted to Rs 1.27 billion. So far, 606 foreigners are out of contact, according to the data.
This incident took place only on August 10. After that, there is no mention of the incessant rain from September 8 to 10 and the damage caused by it. The flood in Budhigandaki on October 10 has also caused damage. It is yet to be accounted for.
This is the time of the season for tourists. Due to floods, landslides, and incessant rains during the season, there was a loss of Rs 52.67 billion. This is the current fear. Even more than that, the fear is that it will last for a long time.
TAG_OPEN_div_108 This area has also been affected by floods and landslides that have caused damage to all areas. But if these decreases continue to increase, then there is a growing concern about how to attract tourists coming to Nepal in the long run.
Bharat TAG_OPEN_div_106 Jung Pandey, president of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), said that the damage to the tourism sector is more in the long term than the immediate notice.
} “At present, due to the natural disasters that came on the verge of the tourist season and festivals, the damage is more than the visible ones,” he said. Nawaraj Dharel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guru Travels Pvt. Ltd., agrees with his statement. He said that tourists who had bought tickets to come to Nepal during the recent floods and landslides have come to Nepal, and those who return their tickets are looking for an alternative to Nepal.
“There are many options for foreigners to visit,” CEO Dharel said, “Now the natural disaster and Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s speech on behalf of Nepal in the United Nations General Assembly has given a lot of publicity to Nepal. If the government does not promote Nepal’s tourism sector properly, it will be a problem in the long run. ”
} The businessmen have a united voice to show that we are safe rather than being afraid of tourists coming here by showing the bad things here in the coming days. Recalling that the tourist area was soon in its old condition during the earthquake, he claimed that NATTA President Pandey can come out of the current situation soon.
} At present, along with foreign tourists, due to floods and landslides on the way, domestic tourists have also not been able to come out for sightseeing.
He said that the financial situation does not allow domestic tourists to travel by plane, and they do not feel safe on the way to travel by road. Even at this time, a bad message has been sent abroad.
Pradip Pandit, operator of Alpine Tour and Travels, said that the floods on August 10 will affect the tourist sector due to the damage caused by the Nepal-China border. He said that the floods have affected the tourists a lot at the main time when tourists go to Mansarovar.TAG_OPEN_div_95
Tourists visiting Kailash Mansarovar from Nepal also go through Rasuwa. The tourist sector will continue to be affected until the border point damaged by the floods is opened. “Kailash Mansarovar was a good destination for Nepalis. It has been stopped due to frequent floods, landslides and rains,” he said, adding, “Its impact will be visible until the border point is opened.” ”
There are also destinations like Upper Mustang, Muktinath, Pun Hill for Nepali domestic tourists. People traveling to these destinations are scared due to continuous rains, floods and landslides.
In this season, mountain tourists used to come from abroad and the activity of domestic tourists used to increase. This year, floods and landslides have stopped many things.
Dharel, CEO of Guru Travels Pvt. Ltd., said that floods, landslides, and incessant rains during Dashain have greatly affected the travel and tourism sector and its impact will be long-lasting. According to him, it will take about 2 years for the travel sector to return to its old state if the weather and nature cooperate.TAG_OPEN_div_87
Entrepreneurs say that this sector, which decreased by 100 percent during the Corona period, will now affect about 25 percent. Foreign tourists come to Nepal during the festival season and Nepalis also go to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, China and other countries.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stopped the tourists. That’s why Nepalis have started going to other countries. Thailand used to be a destination for Nepalis to go abroad. But lately, there has been a problem. Tickets that used to cost Rs 50,000 have now increased to Rs 90,000.TAG_OPEN_div_83
KATHMANDU: Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has demanded immediate resolution of the problems faced by Nepali travellers and travel entrepreneurs due to delays, uncertainty and advance booking of tourist visas in Thailand.TAG_OPEN_div_81
NATTA has warned that if the visa process is not made transparent, practical and time-bound, it will be forced to suspend the promotion of tourism in Thailand and the sale of new tourist packages.
According to NATTA, applicants are compelled to submit air tickets and hotel bookings in advance as there is no guarantee that the visa will be approved in the visa application process in Thailand. Passengers and businessmen are at further financial risk due to non-refundable fees for cheap fares of airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Lion Air, or high fees for cancellation of tickets.
NATTA said that millions of US dollars worth of Nepali passengers and businessmen are at risk due to the fact that the visa will be rejected even after submitting all the documents or the decision will be made only after the scheduled travel date. Therefore, they have warned that they will be forced to postpone the sale of packages.TAG_OPEN_div_76
NATTA has stated that it will completely stop the sale, distribution and promotion of new tourism packages of Thailand, stop advertising and digital market promotion, and suspend new group bookings and regular tourist tours.
NATTA has also demanded the government to clarify the real situation related to the visa process, carry out necessary investigations and find practical solutions to protect Nepali passengers and businesspersons from further financial loss.TAG_OPEN_div_73
The Royal Thai Embassy in Nepal has stepped up its activism to resolve the problem immediately after NATTA warned that Thailand would be blacklisted for Nepali outbound tourism.TAG_OPEN_div_71
The embassy has expressed serious concern over the non-refundable air tickets, the need for a separate confirmation letter from the concerned hotel in addition to the international booking system, and the long time taken to get the visa. The embassy’s top leadership has directed its consular branch to review the delay in visa applications and strict documentation rules.TAG_OPEN_div_69
He says that after the pressure from the businessmen, there has been a positive change in the working style of the embassy. The embassy has now said that instead of imposing the rules unilaterally, it will coordinate with the official travel agencies of Nepal. This has caused some happiness among the businessmen.TAG_OPEN_div_67
According to a businessman, it is not easy for tourists going to Thailand after the Jenji agitation on September 23 and 24. After the Genji movement, Thailand has also tightened restrictions for Nepali tourists. A businessman said that after the Jenji agitation, the visa of a group of doctors going from Nepal has also been rejected.
Around the last Dashain, 10,000 Nepalis went to Thailand. It is said that even 1,000 will not be enough this year. This year, it is not compulsory, there is less possibility of going abroad to visit Dashain. According to a businessman, Nepalis should go abroad to travel or the stock market should increase.
} “The number of Nepalese industrialists, businessmen, businessmen, and businessmen going abroad is very low due to the daily earnings of their hard work,” the businessman said, “If the stock market increases, the real estate business increases, they go abroad with the money they earn easily.” This year, even during Dashain, the market did not show any signs of improvement. Therefore, the number of people going abroad will be very low except compulsory. ”
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्