Authorities in Nepal have banned passengers from riding on the back of motorcycles in the capital Kathmandu for security reasons. A government statement said that the country's Maoist rebels had been using motorcycles to launch attacks.
Nepal's newest travel product is the "Upper Mustang Trek". The recent opening of Mustang, an ancient Himalayan kingdom with some of the largest Tibetan monasteries means there is a new destination for those seeking true adventure among the wilds of the Himalayas. March-October is the best time of the year for a trek to Mustang, situated at an altitude of more than 4,000 metres above sea level. Another new trekking destination are the Nar-Phu Valleys, a hitherto restricted region in the remote Upper Manang valley that is home to just 850 inhabitants. Only a certain number of tourists are allowed at a given time. The region boasts of original Tibetan culture and you need to obtain a special permit to travel there. The more challenging treks are to Kang La, 5,322 metres above sea level and Thorong-La, 5,416 metres.
June 2005
Kathmandu is reeling under severe shortage of drinking water with soaring temperature and no rainfall. According to reports, Nepal Drinking Water Corporation (NDWC)- the only state-run agency for management and distribution of drinking water in Nepal- is supplying just about 100m liters water in Kathmandu daily against the demand of 294m liters. According to reports, due to the delay of monsoons in the country, water sources have decreased by two-thirds. On the contrary, the population of Kathmandu is increasing all the time. Though authorities cant provide exact data on population of Kathmandu, it is estimated that the figure stands over 2.5 million. May 2005
This
time of year, Jomsom should be bustling with trekkers headed down from
Thorung La and waiting for flights to Pokhara and pilgrims walking up to
Muktinath. This year, all you have are tumbleweeds blown up the dusty banks
of the Kali Gandaki by the fierce afternoon wind.
If
it is any consolation, Pokhara is even more deserted. In fact, the big
difference with previous years is that the tourists who are here seem to
have skipped Pokhara completely or just overnighted there.
The lodge owners are competing against each other for the stragglers. Undercutting is rife and trekkers have learnt to bargain hard and bring prices down. April 2005
On 19 March, I went to Thamel to a money exchange counter to change my hard-earned euros. At 8AM, I was standing outside the counter when a middle-aged man approached me. He asked me what I did for a living and thinking he might be a prospective client, I answered his questions. Then he took me to a corner, flipped an identity card (I couldn't see it properly) and said he was a CID police officer. .... I don't know his name and I never saw him again. I have thought about this man's language, demeanour and behaviour. I don't think he was a professional conman, in fact he really looked like a policeman. But the fact remains, I was conned out of two weeks of hard-earned money. March 2005
The
Department of Immigration has announced to carry out the renewal of
foreign tourist visa within in five minutes to half an hour anstead
of three hours before. The department has started providing this services
within this period in the circumstances of completion of the process including
the necessary documents and certificates.
The tourism entrepreneurs and experts have expressed a grave concern over the inability to present the true picture of Nepal abroad in order to attract more tourists. The past few years that saw record political instability, frequent strikes and violence had sent a bad message in the international arena that badly hit the tourism industry in Nepal. Now, the situation has changed in Nepal .... The tourism industry has also started recovering as the tourist arrival in Nepal has registered a slight growth. ... Those who are conspiring against the interest of Nepal have continued to spread negative propaganda and unnecessary rumours against Nepal in the international media. The concerned authorities, tourism entrepreneurs and Nepali media have not been able to counter these negative propaganda and portray Nepal's good image in the international arena. As a result, many foreigners are still not aware of the situation in Nepal. .... In fact, tourism industry is the backbone of Nepal's national economy. The share of tourism industry in the national income, foreign currency earning and employment opportunities is huge. Tourism industry is the country's largest source of foreign currency earning. .... People and parties may have ideological and political differences, which is natural in a democratic polity. But these differences must not harm the national interest... January 2005
According
to figures, tourist arrivals in Nepal dropped to 288,000 in 2004 from nearly
half a million in 1999 - the most successful year for the sector. Tourism
in Nepal has been badly hit since insurgency began in 1996; the political
landscape has been pitted with trouble, frightening away all except the
most stouthearted tourists. Meanwhile, Britain, Australia and America -
all major tourist markets for Nepal - continue to issue security warnings
to their nationals about the situation in Nepal.
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