On April 1st, 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board provided new instructions for outlander trekkers to come to Nepal. In brief, whole trekkers – be they single or part of a team – will be required to go along with a licensed instruction. In this article, there will be a close discussion and what they indicate for individuals who plan to visit Nepal. There will also be discussion of the reason for the instruction for the trekking and the reason for the splitted judgment.
New trekking rules in Nepal
In accordance with the Nepal Tourism Board, “through the initial arrangements, all trekkers are needed to acquire TIMS Cars by approved trekking companies enlisted with the Government of Nepal”. A TIMS CARD (Trekking Information Management System) is a card the trekkers are required to go trekking in Nepal. The new rules have on the other hand appeared in the cost TIMS Card maximizing from 1,000 to 2,000 NPR for trekkers who come from outside Nepal. These new instructions are administered in Nepal’s safe guarded regions and national parks.
They also administer to cyclists and bikepackers (inside these regions). The instructions from the tourism authority also has a record of 44 trekking directions in which this is the situation, fundamentally, any direction in any area in which a TIMS card is needed. Hence, the Everest area is exclusion. At the same time the tourism authority at first involved the area – and treks like the Everest Base Camp trek, Gokyo Lakes trek and the Annapurna Circuit trek – in its instruction, the local committee refused to go with the instructions.
“Despite the government’s endeavor to enforce the new rule of restricting the solitary trekkers, the local authority refused to go with it. So solitary trekkers are allowed to trek Everest Region without a mentor. This still disputes the instructions initiated by the Tourism Authority but the local authority has the power to make choices separately.” describes Krishna Hari Khatri, of Freedom Adventure Treks in Nepal. Hence, with these instructions being vigorously disputed in the Everest region, they are content to alter. The instructions also express that trekkers noticed hiking on any of the appointed trails without a mentor or TIMs metro can be penalized with a charge of 12,000 rupees. Trekking agencies on the other hand can be charged for taking trekkers without TIMS cards on trekking (10,000 rupees).
Why in Nepal were the new Trekking policies initiated?
The significant reason for initiating these trekking instructions, in accordance with the tourism committee, is to enhance protection for trekkers. Nepal has some of the tallest mountains in the entire planet (8th of the world’s 14 8000ers) and the most famous trek in Nepal, to Everest Base Camp, reaches at the top at 5,364 meters. The uphill surrounding is a hazardous one, by unforeseeable weather conditions – snow, mist and rain can confuse landmarks and make challenging topography to handle. What’s further, altitude illness is an actual threat, significantly with absent trained mentors to assist the trekker habituate. The Nepal Tourism Board evaluates in Nepal every year, at the same time 40-50 trekkers are announced missing and obtains location and rescue assistance.
What are the advantages of the trekking rules?
Alongside enhancing trekking protection, the committee also intends that the effort will assist in suppressing unapproved trekking agencies (those without authority authorization). Some of whom may administer untrained guides, or be tight while on the trip. The measure will also supply more jobs in tourism for Nepalese citizens. “The evaluation shows that approximately 40,000 Nepalese people will get new jobs if the policy is accomplished. Nilhari Bastola, president of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, said in the Kathmandu post. “It will not make any huge financial load for trekkers as a guide’s charges extend from $25 to $50 each day, relying on the length.
Another advantage of the policy is that it can assist in stopping ecological humiliation. Depending upon marked decided trails – convenient if the traveler has somebody to assist – supports to stop corrosion of mountain surroundings, and vegetation being violated.
What are the disadvantages of the trekking rule?
The instructions have been against both individualistic outlander trekkers – significantly single travelers – and some local board within the Everest region. “ Competent trekkers who like the liberty of hiking alone and choose to take a role for their own well-being might sense the golden age of exploring Nepal is over and will go to other places.” states Ed Douglas, writer of Himalaya, in an opinion piece. He also recommends that creating instructions compulsory may not undoubtedly create trekking in Nepal guarded.
It needs a significant capability set and much competent level to guide trekkers appropriately and with safe instructions in the Himalayan region – in regards to Douglas, the government trekking course taught by most guides is not enough for this job. Sudeep Kundel, a licensed trekking guide and proprietor, told National News he opposed the decision. “Rather than enforcing a general rule, who not combined takes measures on training guides to offer a captivating alternative for people who hike? Additionally, if protection is the main concern, the rule must be administered to all individuals who hike, involving Nepali trekkers, who might be not much trained, compared to outlander travelers.”
A surprise broadcast of Nepal’s new trekking policies
March 2023: a combined broadcasting by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Trekking Agents Association in Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents (NATTA), The Trekking Guide and Trekking Porter’s Union dispatches traveling wave by the Himalayan trekking community – single trekking is prohibited in all National Parks in Nepal from 1st April, all outlanders should take a government-enlisted guide administered by a government-enlisted trekking agency. The broadcast drew support (through trekking agencies, guides and porters) on the other hand contempt from people who trek and over the announcement. The excuse for the ban cited health and safety initiatives for people who trek, that were hugely refuted by demographics and then criticized as (so far) one more flagrant effort to pull out more money from foreign travelers without financing in higher standard tourism involvement.
Author: khojnu
Nepal Local Travel and Tourism Promotion ( Local Business )