Tourism in New Nepal
By Raman Grandon
It was close to midnight on the twenty-seventh day of the month of May in the year 2008 AD when Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic. Nepal is no more a kingdom and it is likely that the country will have a President in the near future as the head of state. This epochal change in the state structure has brought new implications in the form of opportunities and challenges in all economic spheres including tourism.
For over 50 years, Nepal was promoted as the Himalayan Kingdom and the only Hindu state in the world. Since then Nepal has attracted a fair share of world’s most reputed personalities not to mention kings and queens, prince, princess, billionaires, rock stars, tennis icons, and tourists of all shades. Given the revelry and the occasional glamorous rituals commanded within the cultural and social life of Nepalese the royal family held its own charm and charisma for tourists and travelers coming from far and wide.
The first batch of tourists is believed to have come in the year 1955 in the initiation of the legendary Boris Lissanevitch of the Royal Hotel. Their fascination to buy handicraft and take up sightseeing tours in Nepal made late Crown Prince Mahendra grant ‘tourist visas’ to the foreigners. That is how Nepal’s tourism got a jump start.
The 1956 coronation of King Mahendra is regarded as another milestone in tourism promotion when heads of state from various countries visited Nepal along with their international press entourage. One of the high-profile state visit was made by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in 1961 during which the entire airstrip of Meghauli was carved out. This has today become a tourist destination along with annual events like Elephant Polo. Some of the other dignitaries who visited Nepal include Emperor of Japan, Queen of Denmark, President of Romania, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Princess Anne and Princess Diana. The construction of Chaysalin Mandap in Bhaktapur Durbar Square by German Chancellor Kohl and the popularity of ‘Royal Trek’ pioneered by Prince of Wales himself were just a few of the memorable events that had lasting impression on Nepal’s tourism image.
In the changed context, although the nation’s fundamental structure has changed, the importance of tourism for Nepal and for those tourists visiting here will be unequivocally as important and interesting as before. The fact is that Nepal will forever remain the country of the Himalayas with pristine nature and diverse culture. And for the large part, the culture, nature and people were and will remain to exist as the primary attraction for majority of tourists and visitors.
If it was not for the unflinching service provided by Pasang Sherpa of Khumbu Lodge, Jimmy Carter would not have gone to climb Kala Pathar and popularized Namche by staying in his hotel. He even wrote letters to Pasang thanking him for his kind hospitality. Former first lady Hillary Clinton would surely not have mentioned about her and her daughter’s trip to Chitwan in her best-selling book ‘Living History’, had she not loved the wilderness and the thrill of Nepal’s bounty nature. Likewise Late Sir Hillary would never have started Nepal’s largest humanitarian cause ever if it was not for the love and warmth he shared with the local people. And Steven Seagal would not walk in streets of Thamel openly had he not believed in the soul sacrifice of Buddhist religion.
And what about common tourists? Even today roughly 50
percent of the tourists who come to Nepal come through recommendations and as part of VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) scheme. The strongest asset of Nepal’s tourism promotion is but its gentle, peace-loving people, culture and Nature. They do not just want to see the real lifestyle of Nepalese culture they want to be part of it. They want to revel and feel the aura and serenity of Nature that Nepal is so replete with.
Therefore it is the diversity of culture, secularity of faith and the abundance of Nature that we have to capitalize on to reap benefits from tourism in the days ahead. There are more than hundred ethnic groups with their distinct set of lifestyles and culture. Look for instance what Sherpas as a mountaineering community have achieved, look how Gandharbas have set name for themselves singing in streets of Thamel. Look how Gurungs in Sirubari and Newars in Bandipur have come as one force. Today Sherpas are recognized as the authority in mountaineering not only in the Nepal Himalaya part but all across the Himalayan region. Likewise, Sirubari has been declared a SAARC model village and Bandipur is, we can firmly say, one of the best preserved and promoted community tourism village in Nepal. Further, we should not forget to appreciate the significance gained by Tharu as indispensable part of Chitwan tour. Similar efforts must be raised by cross-section of ethnic groups so that they become part of tourism be it Deuki of western Nepal, Chhetris of highlands or Madhesis of eastern Nepal.
Himalayas, mountaineering and trekking are not the only products we have. We have the dense jungle and rare wildlife in Tarai, we have great natural and historical landmarks like Lumbini, Janakpur and Humla, we have such rich tradition as that of Tharus and Satar, we have beautiful handiworks carved by various ethnic groups, we have ancient civilizations like Kirat and Mithila, we have unique traditions like Panche Baja, Garra, to cite just a few.
Tourism will play a major contribution in the national economy in future provided policies are planned and properly implemented. It is not impossible to get 2 million tourists by 2015, as the Maoist election-manifesto would tell you, it is only about how we move ahead. 2007 was a historic year in that the total tourist arrival crossed the half a million mark and with political stability in place, we will surely have a great increase in the number of tourists.
In a New Nepal, we should make tourism industry more inclusive cutting across the barriers of ethnicity, religion, geography and custom. There are many areas we are yet to explore, many ethnic communities we are yet to bring into our fold and unlimited opportunities of creating unique tourism products. New Nepal demands us to make a united effort at promoting tourism in the country.
Expression of Tourism
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