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Have a look at the tourists arrival for the last two years from January to August. What goes through your mind when you look at the following chart?

The chart. Red is last Year, and Blue is this year.

Why ? is on my mine. And I have a few thoughts or perhaps my own answers to that question you may not agree.

The year 09 is only a shy by 7K so far. A part of it is  due to the global Economic Crises instead of Nepal’s own fault.

People are traveling less, saving money and trying to avoid higher cost on airfare, hotels and so on.  Speaking of airfare, cost for travelling from one part of the earth to another has never been cheaper.  For Nepal, cost comprises the major portion of the total travel cost for any family.

From US to Nepal or say from UK to Nepal, (just as an example) air cost is a big deal and even the Nepalese who live in those countries can only manage to come back and visit their families once or twice in a decade. That’s something to ponder about. Airfare is a big cost. Which has never declined why would they,  at the center of  one of the world’s worst Economic Crises – the 2008 Economic Fall.

So what else can Nepal do to boost tourism in this tough times ?

• Find ways to cut down cost on travel packages. How is the question here and its difficult. Perhaps, providing whatever the country can to careers International careers. Waiving of fees that’s necessary but perhaps for a period. Fees like permits etc.
• Nepal’s flag ship to reduce fare cost. I wonder this will ever happen though.
• Provide incentive for repeated visitors, perhaps something that our Nepal Tourism Board could keep track. What kind of incentives are we talking about ? Well, how about a free night at a hotel if someone has spend thousands of dollars in Nepal. Shouldn’t they deserve a good deal. Well, it’s too much to ask for an organization that does so much. How about a Hotel who has introduced such package but not a single traveler knows about it ? Is it out there ? Where ? What’s missing then ?. Are our newspapers or the web only filled with political stuffs or have all become the helping hands for the business that  that feeds the nation — still  tourism is the #1 business of Nepal. Argue with me if I am wrong.
• I wrote some-what mixed feeling about sending tourists to Nepal without a penny you could have to spend, a post that’s here. Dig in. If you are a Nepali living away from Nepal. ACT NOW! Send someone. What you need to do ? nothing. “Hope you will visit Nepal someday” is a phrase you could say it, write it in your email signature or even make a banner if you want. Tiny little phrase would ignite the fire for someone to learn more about the country and perhaps visit someday.
• Lack of collective force and the lack of plans could be some reasons. But what do I know, I’m just one who loves my country and likes to keep an eye on tourism.
• June, July is always the same; lots of rain and what else can you expect. But why is it that this year, the numbers are lower than last year ?
• Good season are coming soon — which hopefully should bring the overall tourists arrival up by good fold. Beginning Mid September and onwards are considered the best season for tourism. So hang in there Nepal!

I gave my answers to the Why, what is yours ?

I, and the readers would love to know from some of you. Answers from Nepali travel companies or experts in tourism field would be great. But Tourism students could have even greater thoughts, inputs.  Are you one of them ?

Why ? – I created this chart and hope this is it.

Talk to you all later.

Have  a wonderful week.

Namastay.

for NV Team,

– bhupen

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