Nepal’s tourism sector most affected by corona virus ?

Although only one person in Nepal has been infected with the corona virus so far, the mountaineering, trekking and hotel business, which is dependent on foreign tourists, has been affected. The government has said it will open for mountaineering in the coming spring, including Mount Everest. Although the government has not imposed a direct ban on pedestrians, pedestrians are required to submit a health certificate and be allowed to walk after being isolated for 14 days.

Photo by Googel.

China is a major source of tourism in Nepal. The corona virus was first reported in China and another source in India.

Badly affected. Nepal has declared 2020 as the International Year of Tourism and started a campaign to attract 2 million foreign tourists.Even major tourist destinations, such as North America and Europe, are struggling with the epidemic. Many countries have called for a citywide lockdown and social distance from meetings and gatherings. Although the impact of COVID-19 is global and multidimensional, we have prepared an informative material on its impact on mountaineering, trekking and hotel business in Nepal’s tourism sector.

What is the impact of corona virus in the tourism sector ?

The hotels, restaurants and streets of Thamel in Kathmandu, Lakeside in Pokhara and Sauraha in Chitwan are deserted at this time of the year when the tourist season begins. This is because the tourism sector is most affected as soon as any epidemic or disaster strikes. This is due to the travel advisory issued by different countries and the decision to be made by the tourists themselves. The economic downturn in the source country and natural disasters and other man-made events in the destination country also lead to a decline in the number of tourists.

Mount climb

The ‘branding’ of Nepal’s tourism activities depends on the highest peak, Mount Everest. Climbing Mount Everest was postponed for the third time since 2014 after the government banned spring climbing last year.

About 300 to 400 foreign climbers come to Nepal every year to climb Mt. Everest. About the same number of their assistants (guides, cooks, porters, managers, etc.) get jobs during the season. Up to 600 climbers come to Nepal in the spring to climb other mountains. Some climbers climb the mountain alone, but most seek the help of guides, cooks, porters, managers, and so on. The government collects about Rs 410 million in revenue from climbing mountains including Mount Everest in the spring.

Walking

The main attraction of the trek is the mountains. Nepal’s major footpaths are near protected mountains like Sagarmatha, Annapurna, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Makalu and protected areas like Langtang and Dolpo. According to Sarita Lama, general secretary of the Taking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAN), 180,000 tourists trek in Nepal every year. Citizens of European countries are more likely to walk that way.

Hotel business

Hotels are the first destination for other tourists, including those who come for trekking or mountaineering. Hotels in the capital Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and homestays and tea houses along the footpath have also been affected. Some hotels have sent their employees on leave, while others have reduced their working hours.

Why is the tourism sector more affected ?

Tourism is basically a service business. Therefore, experts say that the effect will be more than expected. According to a 2018 report by the World Travel and Tourism Council, headquartered in London, the tourism sector contributes 6.9 percent to Nepal’s GDP. The sector, which provides direct and indirect employment to more than one million people, has contributed about Rs 40 billion to the country’s economy. According to a study, a tourist employs at least eight people. Since most families in a country like Nepal depend on one person’s income, it can be estimated that a large population will be affected.

People working in the fields of transportation, aviation, entertainment, sports, etc. are directly and indirectly affected when the tourism business is affected. According to Tanki Secretary General Lama, hotels, transport and air services were the first to be affected by the impact on tourism.

How is Nepal’s tourism sector facing this crisis ?

For the past few months, tourism entrepreneurs have been discussing various relief packages and discounts with the concerned stakeholders. All the sectors under tourism have put forward their demands. Entrepreneurs say salaries, bank loans and rent are the main challenges for their employees. Concessional loans, rescheduling of loans and tax exemptions are their main demands. The loan taken from the bank by the members of Hotel Association Nepal is around one billion rupees, said the chairman of the association, Sirjana Rana.