Tourists coming to Nepal for Mountain Biking tripled in the last 3 years

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: The number of tourists coming to Nepal for mountain biking has tripled over the last three years.

Ranjan Rajbhandari, director of Nepal Mountain Bike Tours, said the number of foreigners as well as Nepalis preferring mountain biking has shot up mainly because of increasing public consciousness about health and shortening of trekking trails.

“Our record shows that around 20 percent of the tourists visiting Nepal go for mountain biking compared to around eight to 10 percent in 2009/10,” said Rajbhandari who is also the executive member of Trekking Agencies´ Association of Nepal (TAAN).


According to figure compiled by TAAN, around 120,000 tourists went for mountain biking in 2011/12 compared to around 40,000 in 2009/10. “The number has been increasing constantly,” added Rajbhandari.

The company which started its operation in 2005 operates mountain biking in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Daman, Hetauda, Chitwan, Lumbini, Tansen, Mustang and Jomsom to Muktinath, among others.

The company charges Rs 1,000 per day for Nepalis which includes cycle only while it charges Rs 5,000 for foreigners that include cycle, lunch and a guide facility.
Foreigners, however, have to pay Rs 3,000 extra for accommodation in case they have to stay at various places while cycling.

Mountain bike tour operators said almost 20 percent of the total tourists visiting Nepal went for mountain biking in 2011/12. During the year 2009/10, around eight percent tourists were mountain-bikers.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) in 2012, number of tourists coming for trekking and mountaineering has jumped to 105,015 from 70,218 recorded in 2010.

However, the data does not separate the tourists coming for mountain biking.  Mountain biking in Nepal is usually carried out up to an altitude of 4,500 meters.
However some companies even offer biking services to Thorong La Pass which is at the height of 5,416 meters.

Nepal is considered as the best destination for mountain biking.

The number of tourists preferring mountain biking in Nepal increased noticeably after the government recognized mountain biking as adventure sports for Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign.

“With the recognition of mountain biking as sports tourism, the number of tourists coming for mountain biking has started to increase,” said Jagan Biswokarma, manager of Pokhara Mountain Bike Adventure (PMBA).

PMBA which started its operation in 2004 offers high altitude mountain biking from 2,800 meters in Jomsom to 5,416 meters in Thorong La Pass. The charge ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per day depending on the location. 

Source: myrepublica.com, 1st Feb 2014
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Tourism in Nepal a major economic activity

KATHMANDU, JAN 10 -

Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel has said tourism has emerged as a major economic activity in Nepal and is expected to do wonders in the coming years in terms of employment generation and poverty alleviation.

At the time when other sectors are not performing well, tourism is only the sector that could benefit Nepal in the short-run, said Paudel addressing the 50th annual general meeting of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) here on Thursday.

Saying that attracting 100,000 tourists means adding 50,000 jobs, he said: “Hence, in the present context, tourism can change the fortunes of remote areas as well other places with potential but lacking infrastructure.

Areas such as far-west have a lot of potential to attract visitors, but it is disappointing that the areas have not been explored yet.”

He urged the private sector to come up with a strategic plan, under which the government can mobilise resources to develop a particular sector, eventually benefiting the rural areas.
Tourism Secretary Sushil Ghimire said a strong national flag career plays a crucial role in the development of tourism. “In Nepal, it took almost 26 years to buy planes for the national flag carrier. This fact has shown why Nepal is lagging behind,” he said, adding planners and policymakers must realise the fact.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Suraj Vaidya said the country is receiving huge investment in tourism after hydropower. He said Nepal has observed sustained growth in terms of the number of tourists, but has not been able to attract quality tourists.

“We should not run after the numbers. We need to look what is the value of tourism or what quality tourism means to Nepal,” he said, adding the private sector has expected the new government will bring a Labour Bill to ensure and create business-friendly environment.

Outgoing NATTA President Pavitra Kumar Karki lamented the country has not been able to increase the average length stay of tourists.

Poor airport infrastructure, weak performance of Nepal Airlines and uncontrolled airfare are some challenges for the country’s tourism, he said.

 
Post journo Prasain awarded

Nepal Associ-ation of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has felicitated The Kathmandu Post scribe Sangam Prasain with the NATTA Media Award 2013 for his significant contribution to the development of Nepal’s tourism through journalism.

 Prasain was conferred a plaque and cash award by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ram Kumar Shrestha amid NATTA’s 50th annual general meeting. Ramesh Tiwari from an online media and Kedar Koirala of Mountain TV were also honoured. Tourism entrepreneur Bikram Pandey was awarded with NATTA Bhaskar Award 2013. (PR).

Source:ekantipur.com, Jan 10th 2014
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Nepal experiencing negative Tourism inflow growth rate

Rising trade unionism backed by political parties has hurt the tourism sector, according to tourism entrepreneurs.

“Repeated strikes by politically backed trade unions have hit the tourist inflow growth rate,” said vice president of Thamel Tourism Council Ramsharan Thapaliya, addressing an interaction here today.

Tourists do not come to Nepal to remain confined to a room, he said, adding that guests come here to visit various sites. “But repeated strikes by politically backed trade unions have forced entrepreneurs to serve them in hotel rooms, which is not sending a good message.”

The country has witnessed a fall in the growth rate of arrivals in 2012 as compared to 2011 and 2010. According to figures from Nepal Tourism Board, tourist arrivals in 2012 increased by only 9.8 per cent to 598,204, as compared to 2011, when some 544,985 tourists visited Nepal. In 2011, arrivals had recorded a growth of 21.4 per cent as compared to 2010.

The government must create an environment whereby tourists can easily visit Nepal, said another tourism entrepreneur Khum Bahadur Subedi, on the occasion.

Despite the huge potential in the country to attract tourists, Nepal has not been able to exploit it, said president of Nepal Association of Rafting Agents Nanikaji Thapa. “The country has not been able to conserve cultural and natural heritages that are the key attractions for tourists,” he said, adding that the government must conserve them as tourism is the lifeline of the economy. “But due to the lack of a tourist-friendly environment, the country is losing billions.”


Likewise, tourism entrepreneurs, on the occasion, also asked the government to bring tourism favourable policies to promote the country, apart from adding aircraft for the ailing national flag carrier. “Due to the lack of aircraft with Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the country is losing billions as international airlines have been enjoying the monopoly market,” they blamed.

Tourism secretary and newly appointed chairman of the corporation Sushil Ghimire consoled entrepreneurs saying that NAC will buy new aircraft in a few days. “The long wait of 25 years to buy aircraft is coming to an end,” he said, adding that NAC will get the aircraft soon.

Since the peak tourist season in the country lasts for only six months, the government must develop packages to expand it to throughout the year, suggested president of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal Mahendra Singh Thapa. “There is cut-throat competition in the trekking sector which has fuelled illegal trekking, and the government must control that trend,” he said, asking the government to bring a security plan for tourists.

Source: The Himalayan Times (Jan 30th, 2013)

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