SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, APR 28 -
The banda organized on Wednesday could have dire consequences for the country’s tourism, said travel trade entrepreneurs complaining that political parties had gone back on their word not to hold strikes during Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
More than 22 political parties had signed a commitment letter not to organize strikes or any form of protest that would directly impact Nepal Tourism Year. The Newa Tamsaling Joint Struggle Committee called a general shutdown in the capital and adjoining districts on Wednesday hurting tourism activities.
“The commitment has not been translated into action,” said Aditya Baral, spokesperson of the Nepal Tourism Board. The government and the private sector have made large investments in tourism encouraged by the pledge made by political parties not to disrupt Nepal Tourism Year.
“Visitors come here for vacation and to observe the natural beauty of the country believing that it is a safe holiday destination,” Baral said.
Nepal’s tourism industry has been recovering from a massive beating it took during the decade-long armed conflict (1996-2006) and has been working to revive its image. The Nepal Tourism Year campaign is a bid to rejuvenate the tourism sector by sending a message to the international community that Nepal is safe to visit.
“Unfortunately, all the activities that tourists had planned for Wednesday had to be cancelled,” said Ashok Pokhrel, president of the Nepal Association of Tour Operators. Travel traders said that tourism had become a major part of the economy around the world, and that the sector had become more competitive. “In such a situation, strikes are likely to hurt Nepal’s tourism as their impact is seen only later,” Pokhrel added.
Meanwhile, hotels have been reporting cancellations of reservations for the days before and after the deadline for writing the constitution on May 28 fearing political trouble.
Arjun Prasad Sharma, president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, said that the culture of organizing strikes had been diminishing, but Wednesday’s strike could revive such tendencies. The Kathmandu Valley saw a strike announced by the political parties after a year’s gap. The last banda, called by Maoist trade unions, lasted from May 1-7, 2010.
Tourist arrivals in Nepal by air reached an all-time high of 448,769 in 2010. Entrepreneurs are optimistic that the target of one million arrivals can be achieved in 2011.
A similar campaign called Visit Nepal Year held in 1998 helped tourist arrivals to cross the 400,000 mark in 1999. However, it took another 11 years for arrivals to return to that level.
The possibility of a political crisis has always remained a major concern for tourism entrepreneurs. Though the parties have pledged that there would not be any bandas and strikes from their part during Nepal Tourism Year, the industry was doubtful they would keep their promise.
“Whatever little tourism activity is taking place will be stifled with bandas making a reappearance,” Sharma added.
