January 2014 Tourism Service Fee revised February 2014 Royalty for mountaineering in Nepal March 2014 New trail explored in Round Dhaulagiri Trek May 2014 Govt opens 104 peaks for expedition July 2014 TAAN hikes daily wage of trekking workers January 2014 Online Visa Application system February 2014 New Guerilla Trek launched March 2014 Domestic airlines raise airfare August 2014 Everest region New road Project

As per the directive of the Executive Committee of Nepal Tourism Board underthe sub-rule (2) and (3) of Rule 3 of Nepal Tourism Board Regulations, 2055 and approved by the Ministry of Finance, the Government of Nepal, the Tourism Service Fee(TSF) has been revised from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000/- (excluding VAT) effective from March 1, 2014. The TSF will be levied on the outgoing foreign travelers departing from all airports in Nepal. However, it will be implemented only from Tribhuvan International Airport at present. Commenting on the new change, Mr. Subash Nirola, Acting Chief Executive of Nepal Tourism Board says that it would enable the Nepal Tourism Board to concentrate more on internationalpromotionand domestic tourism development. " With a bigger budget, Nepal Tourism Board will now prepare and implement5 years plan to penetrate the market that has been unexplored before," says Mr. Nirola. " I now urgeall members of Nepalese travel trade industry to join in hands with us in promoting, expanding and developingNepalese tourism industry also in regional level by putting effort in increasing length of stay, tourist arrivals and average income per visitor per day," he adds.

Over the last few years, the price rise in the international market coupled with the devaluation of Nepalese currency andstiff competition among destinations,for their presence in the international tourism market,has made it difficult for Nepal Tourism Board to fare wellin the internationalpromotion. So, it has become inevitable for Nepal Tourism Board to increase TSF to meet the expectation of Nepalese tourism industry and to cope with the paradigm shift in the international tourism promotion and marketing.

Nepal Tourism Board thanked especially Nepal Airlines Corporation, the National Flag Carrier along with all international airlines for their continued support and cooperation andlook forward to receive same kind ofcooperation as before.

The Tourism Service Fee was introduced in 1999 to fund the promotional activities of Nepal Tourism Board levying2% service charge in tourism services. However,the funding mechanism was later changed in January 14, 2005 with the levy of Rs. 500/- (excluding VAT) to all outgoing foreign travelersexiting from Tribhuvan International Airport. The Tourism Service Fee has been revised after 9 years.

Nepal Royalty for mountaineering in Nepal

In an attempt to offer better quality and smart services to our esteemed guest, the Department of Immigration has launched Online Application system for its valued customers. Since the system consumes less paper, it is also a part of our commitment to the environment friendly service.

Foreigners, who want to apply visa to visit or stay in Nepal can apply for Visa through this application system. The Online system could be log in to www.online.nepalimmigration.gov.np or www.nepalimmigration.gov.np from any place and at any time. The Online Application System can preserve your application for 15 days in its system, so you can apply at your convenience and produce it before Immigration Authority at the time of entry and visa extension. Department of Immigration is committed to provide quality and smart services to its online applicants.

Initially, the online service is available at the Department of Immigration, Kathmandu and one of the ports of entry of Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. You can apply online for all types of Visa except Diplomatic and Official at the Department. For Diplomatic and Official Visa, one has to apply online at Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For detail visa information,you can browse at www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

The Department of Immigration request all its valued customers to avail this Online Application facility and to get better quality and smarter services from us.

Nepal Royalty for mountaineering in Nepal

As per the notice published in Nepal gazette on 12 February 2014, the Royalty for mountaineering in Nepal has been amended for foreign and Nepalese climbers.

Royalty for Nepalese climbers will come into effect from 13 February 2014 (B.S.2070/11/01).
The Mountaineering Royalty has been totally waived to the mountains situated on Mid Western and Far Western Development Region of Nepal for 5 years effecting from 2070/04/01-2075/03/32 (16 July 2013 to 15 July 2018).

Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal has expected that the timely amendment in Royalty for mountaineering in Nepal will be the milestone for the promotion of Nepalese Mountaineering Sector around the World.

Nepal Royalty for mountaineering in Nepal

The Guerrilla Trek, a two-week to four-week hike depending on the itinerary which stretches across central and western Nepal, is designed to draw in more foreigners as the Himalayan nation seeks to rebuild an economy devastated by the 1996-2006 "People's War".

The Guerrilla Trek offers a remarkable journey through the heartland of post-conflict territory. The route passes through Myagdi, Rukum, and Rolpa, spectacular districts with low population density at the epicenter of Nepal's ten year conflict (1996 to 2006), and homeland to many revolutionaries. At one time during this period, the region had an autonomous government in Banphikot, Rukum.

Nepal Guerrilla tourist trail launched

Nepal Peace & Democracy Process from War to Peace 2000-2008

Airfare for domestic destinations with departure from Kathmandu have become dearer by around two percent with effect from March 17, 2014.

Domestic airlines raised the airfare after Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) hiked price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) by around Rs 6 per liter to Rs 143.

A meeting of Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) had taken the decision to raise airfare on March 14, 2014.

The government allows doemstic airlines to hike fuel surchage if ATF price his hiked by more than Rs 4 per liter.

The decision means airfare has increased in the range of Rs 65 to Rs 235 depending on routes. Airfare to Simara - the nearest destination from Kathmandu - has increased by Rs 65, while tickets to Dhangadhi - the farthest destination from Kathmandu - has become dearer by Rs 265.

Airlines have raised airfare for mountian flights by Rs 225, Pokhara by Rs 100, Bhairahawa by Rs 120, Biratnagar by Rs 140, Nepalgunj by Rs 180, Tumlingtar by Rs 100, Janakpur by Rs 90, Bharatpur by Rs 80 and Lukla by Rs 85.

Airfare for mountain flights will now cost Rs 10,660.

Similarly, it will cost Rs 4,970 for a flight to Pokhara, Rs 6,085 for Bhairahawa, Rs 6,835 for Biratnagar, Rs 8,435 for Nepalgunj, Rs 7,765 for Bhadrapur, Rs 5,080 for Tumlingtar, Rs 4,250 for Janakpur, Rs 3,670 for Bharatpur and Rs 4,450 for Lukla.

Nepal Flights to Nepal

An alternative trekking trail for the Beni-Darbang section of Round Dhaulagiri trekking route has been identified.

The new trail was explored as the existing Beni-Singa-Tatopani-Babiyachaur-Darbang trail became of new use due to construction of motor roads.

The new trail starts from Beni and progresses through Pachhai, Dholthan, Jagannath, Purnagaun and Darbang.
Local Development Officer of Myagdi Bishnu Prasad Sharma said the new trail was identified with the funding of District Development Committee, Myagdi. He said the survey team has proposed for a budget of Rs 10 million to develop necessary infrastructures along the new trail.

The new trail can be completed in two days. It meets the Round Dhaulagiri Trekking Route at Bim Village Development COmmittee (VDC).

The new trail passes through important historical and religious sites like Dholthan and Jangannath, and viewpoints like Todke.

The DDC Myagdi took the initiative to explore new trail after trekkers started moving to other trekking areas in the country due to movement of vehicles as well as pollution on the existing Beni-Darbang section.
Meanwhile, the DDC Myagdi has set aside Rs 500,000 to develop infrastructures on Todke-Malika section of the new trail.(

Nepal Trekkings in Nepal

The government has opened 104 new peaks, including a new eight-thousander - Mt Yalunga Kang (8077m), or Kanchanjunga West - for commercial expedition.

It has also begun the process to give international recognition to the new 8,000-meter peak. A proposal to give recognition to five Nepali 8,000-meter peaks, including Yalung Kang, is under consideration at the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation popularly known as the UAAA.

With this, the number of 8,000-meters peaks in the country has reached nine. Other proposed 8,000-meter peaks include Kanchanjunga South (8,476m), Kanchanjunga Central (8,473m), Lhotse Middle (8,413m) and Lhotse Shar (8,400m).

Along with Yalung Kang, the government opened 103 other peaks for commercial expedition. Within this, the number of peaks opened for mountaineering has reached 414.

Among the newly opened peaks, nine are above 7,000m, 90 above 6,000m and 4 above 5,000m. The government has also decided to promote peaks, measuring less than 5,800 meters as trekking peaks.
Nepal has a total of 3,310 peaks including 1,913 climbing peaks.

Nepal Mountaineering in Nepal

The Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) and representatives of four unions of trekking workers - All Nepal Revolutionary Tourism Workers Union (ANRTWU); Union of Nepal Travel, Trekking, Rafting and Airlines Workers; Nepal Tourism Workers Association (NTWA); All Nepal Tourism Workers Union (ANTWU); and Nepal Tourism Workers Association (NTWA) - have decided to raise daily wages of trekking porter by Rs 300 and guides/cooks by Rs 250 with effect from October 1, 2014.

The hike is based on the understanding that the previous executive committee of TAAN had reached with the worker unions.

The two sides have also agreed to form Workers' Welfare Fund under Social Security Scheme of the government and deposit Rs 15 million from the TIMS Fund after guidelines for the operationalization of the fund is finalized by the government. The two sides also decided to lobby with the government to prepare guidelines for operationalization of the fund within a month.

TAAN and worker unions have formed a taskforce under the 2nd vice president Kul Bahadur Gurung to look into issues related to trekking workers. The taskforce consists of TAAN executive members as well as representatives of different workers unions.

The taskforce has decided that every company should have to provide identification card to all their field staff. Similarly, the taskforce has decided that TAAN and worker unions will jointly lobby with the concerned agency to implement 'no trekking without guide/porter' system. Regarding hike in insurance cover for trekking workers, the taskforce decided to work in cooperation with insurance companies that agrees to provide maximum insurance cover.

It also decided to strictly implement the agreement signed between TAAN Pokhara and Sanctuary Tourism Entrepreneurs' Committee in December last year.

The taskforce has decided that trekking companies will have to provide Rs 8,000 per person to guides, cooks and Sherpas as festival allowance once a year. Similarly, companies will have to provide pay and perks to their employees as per the minimum pay enforced by the government. Likewise, trekking companies will have to compulsorily send budget list of every groups with the guides.

The taskforce has decided to allow only the licensed guides to lead trekking groups from January 1, 2015 onwards. Similarly, the taskforce has decided that representatives of TAAN and all four trekking workers will visit all check posts before October 1 to inform trekking guides and porters about the hike in their daily wage. Similarly, the taskforce has asked TAAN and tourism workers unions to take joint initiatives for requesting companies to provide appointment letters to cooks, Sherpas and guides who have worked for the company regularly since two years.

Nepal Trekkings in Nepal