Post Covid-19 Tourism in Nepal

            

The whole world is struggling hard with Corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic. Virus out broke from Huwan state of China on late 2019 A.D is now spreaded over more than 210 countries of the world. It's quite difficult to estimate the actual loss on world economy as its not in the situation to be controlled soon.

According to the reports of United Nations, it predicted world economic downfall by 3.2% and total loss of 8.5 trillion dollar by the end of 2020.  So, in order to control the virus more than 100 vaccines are under process all over the world. But health experts predict that virus can't be eradicated totally even vaccines will be discovered. World Health organization (WHO) warned everyone saying that this virus can never be eradicated. It may take some more time but one day it will be under control. At present context, controlling it from further more spreading is best solution. 

Past world tourism scenario:

Tourism is taken as one of the most sensible business of world. Known as 'Pollution less business', it is also largely affected by pandemic and will further more in upcoming days. On reviewing few last years scenario of world tourism, it was found that different pandemic and critical situation had largely affected world's tourism. Struggling with pandemics like Sars, Bird flue, Swine flue and Ebola, world tourism had marched ahead with time. The greatest impact was seen due to Sars virus. About 4 months the movement of tourists around the world was stopped. To overcome the loss, it took around two years for the world. But the impact of corona virus on tourism is far more adverse than any pandemic before.

World Tourism Organization (WTO) released a report which predicted that by 2020 there will be economic loss by about 910 billion to 1.2 trillion dollar in world tourism. About 850 million to 1.1 billion tourist's movement around the world will be affected and it will create great risk of 100 to 120 millions people's employment directly involved in tourism.

Nepal's Tourism:

In context of Nepal, around 500 thousand and 750 thousand tourist visited in last Nepal Tourism Year 1998 and 2011. Later on shrawan 2074 B.S. Nepal government announced 2020 as Nepal Tourism Year with target of 2 millions of international tourists. According to the report of World Tourism and Travel Council, tourism of Nepal contributed 7.9% in GDP of Nepal. On that year around 1 million of tourists visited Nepal. With the target of double the number of tourist in 2020, Nepal government inaugurated Nepal Tourism Year on January 1^st. Along with the allocation of 617 million Nepali rupees, government had already conducted many programs.

Despite of the decrease in the number of Chinese tourists due to the outbreak of Corona virus at late 2019, Nepal government was continuing its previous plan of tourism year. Even after record of first corona victim on January 24 in Nepal, Tourism minister was busy on promoting tourism referring Nepal as 'Corona free destination'. But later after the rapid spread of virus all over the world and due to the all round pressure, Nepal government was forced to cancel tourism year on Feb. 19. It is obvious that 95% of tourists have cancelled their trip to Nepal till end of 2020. This clearly indicates that tourism entrepreneurs will have no earning this year. Even report indicates that Nepal government will be unable to earn 44 $ from each tourist visiting Nepal.

So, Nepal Tourism Board has forwarded step to collect data of peoples who are directly involved in tourism and planned to present the report of unemployed tourism entrepreneurs to Finance minister. Probably they will be incorporated in 'Prime Minister Employment Program' and for remaining ones plans will be formulated accordingly.

Immediate steps to be forwarded:

First step to be launched includes providing safety of both tourism industry and employees. Businessmen are not in the situation of providing salary to employees and it resulted in difficulty to run daily life of those employees. Most of the hotels are being run in rented land or building. They are already facing problem to pay the rent. Unlimited expenses like bank loan, governmental taxes, insurance, etc to be paid. Nepal government announced that there will be no fine charged in delay paying of loan and taxes till the mid of July. Probably this step should be applied till the control of the pandemic. Along with it, government should bring forward the policy to provide loan at minimum interest to those businessman.

It’s the right time to mobilize the service charge and other extra charges fund by the big hotels and restaurants. There should be provision to provide those employees the minimum level of salary allocated by government for next five to six months. Along with it, government should utilize the amount of social fund at this crucial moment.

Second it’s the perfect time to carry out cleanliness tasks at trekking and mountaineering trails. Tones of garbage's and wastes of Everest area or from Annapurna trail can be collected and disposed at this time. It is right time because tourists flow is almost zero at this time and unemployed guides, porters and whole team can be mobilized with proper arrangement of salary for them which can somehow provide compensation for them. Obviously it could also disseminate the positive message around the world.

Third alternative at present scenario is to generate alternative employment for them. Most of the renowned trekking routes of Nepal are in the verge of disappearance due to unplanned road expansion and launching hydroelectricity projects. So, this time can be utilized for carrying out research and feasibility study of alternative trekking routes. Even short term employment can be generated for local peoples by involving them to upgrade the existing trekking routes in their locality.

Future of Nepal's tourism:

No doubt, drastic changes will be arose in tourism after the corona pandemic. For next few years there will be no flow of tourists in Nepal. Till date there is only three deaths of corona victims, which obviously will spread positive message in world. It can provide some relief to Nepal's tourism. But there will be change in the way of travelling, their thoughts and in their behaviors' after pandemic. We should be capable to modify accordingly. Tourists will not be interested to be a part of 'Mass Tourism'. So, Nepal's trekking trails can be their first choice.

In upcoming days, first priority should be given to health and cleanliness in tourism sector. Tourists will be more responsible in matter of health. All those employees involved in this sector should compulsorily use masks, gloves, and sanitizer and should provide the feeling of safety to the clients. We should be able to make them insure that the hotels, transportation means, aero planes, etc they are using are safe.

 Peoples are forced to be within the four walls of a room since few months. After the control of the pandemic they will be eager to be back in the nature. So, Nepal can be the choice for them. Many of them will feel happy to get second life and they may plan to visit Pashupatinath, Lumbini, Muktinath etc as their religious beliefs. According to World Tourism Organization (WTO), 42% of tourists have keen interest for adventure tourism products. So, Nepal government should be able to develop it as a hub for adventure tourism destination by further more developing paragliding, hot air balloon, bungee jump, skating, mountain biking, rock climbing, triathlon, etc. For it, different multinational companies, beverages and industrialists can sponsor the events.

Out of total 61 crores of budget allocated for tourism year most of it remained unused. Primarily, some of the amount can be allocated to establish emergency relief fund and can be provided to tourism entrepreneurs as a grant to carry out employment. Such grants can be mobilized for organic farming, agro farming, animal husbandry which can later ultimately develop as agro tourism, and eco-tourism. And remaining budget can be mobilized to upgrade internal tourism of Nepal.

Alternative of Nepal tourism: Internal tourism

It is sure there will be no flow of international tourists for few next years. Reports claims that total money Nepalese tourists spent in foreign countries is far more than the money spent by foreign tourists in Nepal. Such Nepalese should be encouraged to promote internal tourism for next few years. Even the trend of travelling within country in last few years sharply increased in Nepal. So, to promote internal tourism there should be joint effort and collaboration of Nepal government, tourism entrepreneurs and related organizations. For it, the remaining budget of tourism year can be mobilized to develop tourism infrastructure, affordable travel packages, study and research of new trekking trails and promotion of internal tourism. Few days ago, Buddha Airlines had brought affordable travel package from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Chitwan which will be brought in practice after the normalization of pandemic situation. Similarly, all airlines companies, hotels as well as tours and travel companies should come up with such travel packages which somehow enhance the tourism of Nepal.

During the lockdown situation, it can be grabbed as an opportunity to study, research and further more discuss regarding tourism using social media platform. And the conclusions can be forwarded to stakeholders which can be incorporated in upcoming projects. Obviously it will take three to four years to be back in normal situation of Nepal tourism but the steps we forward wisely can somehow uplift the situation.