Policy reform necessary to foster domestic tourism

KATHMANDU, Nov 6: Due to the growing traveling habits among Nepalis, the country’s tourist destinations are full of visitors at present. Nepal's primary destinations, especially those in high mountain regions, have become full of domestic tourists.

In Nepal, there is a tradition of exploring new places during the autumn season, which falls under the season of hiking and the long holiday of Dashain and Tihar. On the occasion of Dashain and Tihar holidays, Nepalis embark on visits to various tourist destinations.

According to Netra Sharma, in-charge at the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), there has been a noticeable surge in domestic tourists visiting Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) during the Dashain and Tihar holidays in recent years.

Sharma said, "Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a significant influx of domestic tourists during Dashain and Tihar, with more Nepalis than foreigners visiting."

Sharma added, "On the third day of Dashain Tika, 526 domestic tourists entered ABC, while 253 foreigners visited. On an average, around 200 Nepali and foreign tourists continue to visit ABC every day."

Laxman Adhikari, the ward chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-4, reported that the Khumbu region has also seen a considerable increase in domestic tourists. He mentioned, "Until a few years ago, many people believed that the Khumbu area was expensive. However, that belief is gradually fading, and nowadays, more and more Nepalis are visiting the Khumbu region."

Adhikari further explained, "Many Nepalis travel to Khumbu between Dashain and Tihar, with a particular influx of Nepali youth, expatriates, and retired employees."

Chin Narayan Gautam, the owner of Excellent View Hotel, stated that the high camp of the Mardi Himal Trek receives more Nepali tourists than foreigners. He attributed this trend to the numerous government holidays during Dashain and Tihar, which allow Nepalis to make the most of their time for travel.

Gautam stated, "Around 75 percent of our hotel guests are domestic tourists, with the remaining 25 percent being foreigners. Over the past few years, there has been a significant surge in domestic tourists during the Dashain and Tihar holidays."

“The government should come up with a policy action plan that prioritizes tourism. Now is the best time to identify the country's tourist destinations and motivate its citizens by developing the necessary infrastructure,” he said.

In order to promote tourism, the government had announced plans to give tourism jobs to civil servants in the fiscal year 2021/22. The then finance minister Bishnu Paudel had announced through the budget that aimed to grant civil and public sector employees an amount equivalent to 10 days' wages to promote domestic tourism. Unfortunately, these initiatives were not implemented due to procedural hurdles.

“Today, the government must implement policy programs that promote and encourage tourism,” said traveler Kanchan Rai.

Rai, who is promoting tourism by sharing videos with detailed information about various tourist destinations in Nepal, says, "First of all, people need free time and money to travel. It will be good for tourism if a policy can be made to allow working people to take paid leave for a certain period of time."

He said that the related agencies should also minimize the situation where domestic tourists have to face discrimination while visiting various tourist destinations in the season. He said, "When foreign tourists get tickets during the season, Nepalis are not getting them on the pretext that foreigners buy tickets for higher prices.”

“It is essential for the relevant agencies to maintain accurate and up-to-date information about domestic tourists at all tourist destinations. Such data is valuable not only for statistical purposes but also for security and effective waste management. Properly regulated tourist spots with designated checkpoints and official entrances will enhance the safety and experience of travelers, “Rai added.

He said the pricing of services at tourist sites should be standardized to prevent discrepancies at the same destination. “A uniform pricing structure for services in a particular tourist area will create a more favorable impression and encourage clean and responsible tourism,” he stated.

Lately, people have been inclined towards going for vacations, particularly during holiday seasons. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel was not a widespread practice among the general population. However, post-pandemic, there has been a growing trend of travel. On top of that, there is a need for the government to adopt policies that empower working individuals to travel during holiday periods.

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