Nepalese Tourism in Conflict
Published in The Kathmandu Post on June 17, 2007
In October 1950, Tony Hegan, a renowned Swiss Geologist came to Nepal for his long quest to explore the length and breath of Nepal. Just five months before he came, French climber Mauric Herzog made ascent on Annapurna I becoming first person to climb a peak above 8,000 meter high. In the summer of 1949, H.W. Tilman visited Nepal with a small British team of climbers and scientists, and explored Lantang and Ganesh Himal on either side of the Trisuli river. That year an America naturalist expedition led by Ripley visited Rekcha(West Nepal) and Chainpur(East Nepal). Almost half century before they came, in March,1899 a Japanese monk Ekai Kawaguchi traveled to Tibet passing through Pokhara and Mustang. Though the contribution made by Tony Hagen to Nepal is colossal, he was surely not the first person to step beyond the Kathmandu Valley as stated by the author of the book under review -Nepal Tourism- The Challenges- in his essay Two Juggernauts.
The history of Nepalese tourism has many facets; more adventurous and intriguing than anything else in the country. However, after the emergence of Maoist insurgency in late '90s, tourism in Nepal saw its bleak future forcing many travel and trekking agencies to close down their shops; in Kathmandu alone three four star hotels suspended their operation and converted their property into departmental store. All and sundry people found partial relief when democracy was restored last year followed by signing of Peace Agreement. The intricacies that entangled tourism industry for a decade have been widely discussed by Raman Grandon in his book Nepal Tourism- The Challenges. He has made all efforts to include all incidents that have made major impacts on the tourism industry of Nepal. In many places, he appears to be sharp in harping on some issues and organizations which makes writing repetitive. He raises many issues that are relevant and pertinent, and need to be addressed by the concerned authorities.
In this book, he chronologically writes about the history of conflict related to tourism aftermath of Visit Nepal Year '98. However, he makes some minor mistakes that he needs to correct in its second edition. For example, bizarre incident that took place in Kathmandu after 12 Nepalese killed in Iraq was September 2004, not 2003(Page 26). Similarly, Indian Airlines plane was hijacked from Tribhuvan International Airport on 24th December, 1999, not 9th December(Page 39) and Lufthansa was withdrawn in 1997, not in 1998(page 46).
Impact of conflict is immense but there is no yardstick to measure the losses that tourism industry incurred. This book would contribute substantially to the empirical studies of impact of conflict on tourism, had it made any attempt to analyze the multiplier effect of tourism in the Nepalese economy vis-a-vis conflict and its impact. Over the years, many hotels, travel and trekking agencies have laid off their staff due to lack of tourists. This apart, small and medium scale industries likes poultry, garment, dairy and other services which are directly related to tourism industry have suffered tremendously because of lack of demand. Discussion on these issues could make this book quite interesting.
Raman has potentiality to do better that what he did. So often we find him repeating same incidents twice and thrice which makes tedious reading. The book is worth for understanding the tourism scenario especially after 1999. Despite some shortcomings, it is advisable for tourism entrepreneurs, researchers and enthusiasts to go through this book once to keep their memory alive of bad days that tourism industry suffered in Nepal during insurgency. They sustained extortion and donation, and had to run the business without tourists. But those who passed through this ordeal will definitely have better future in tourism because in tourism, continuity and consistency are important, and they proved their mettle.
I have been to Everest Region seven times since 2003. Every time I go, I see the new progress and development in Lukla, Phakding, Monjo and Namche. Hotels where we stay are getting face-lift with new added facility every year. It shows that conflict has not affected Everest Region as it should have. Perhaps, many trekkers have found Everest Region different than what Raman has portrayed it in his initial pages of the book.
Reviewed by Sarad Pradhan
Book: Nepalese Tourism : The Challenges
Author: Raman Grandon
Publisher: Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents
Price: Not Mentioned
Edition: 2007
In October 1950, Tony Hegan, a renowned Swiss Geologist came to Nepal for his long quest to explore the length and breath of Nepal. Just five months before he came, French climber Mauric Herzog made ascent on Annapurna I becoming first person to climb a peak above 8,000 meter high. In the summer of 1949, H.W. Tilman visited Nepal with a small British team of climbers and scientists, and explored Lantang and Ganesh Himal on either side of the Trisuli river. That year an America naturalist expedition led by Ripley visited Rekcha(West Nepal) and Chainpur(East Nepal). Almost half century before they came, in March,1899 a Japanese monk Ekai Kawaguchi traveled to Tibet passing through Pokhara and Mustang. Though the contribution made by Tony Hagen to Nepal is colossal, he was surely not the first person to step beyond the Kathmandu Valley as stated by the author of the book under review -Nepal Tourism- The Challenges- in his essay Two Juggernauts.
The history of Nepalese tourism has many facets; more adventurous and intriguing than anything else in the country. However, after the emergence of Maoist insurgency in late '90s, tourism in Nepal saw its bleak future forcing many travel and trekking agencies to close down their shops; in Kathmandu alone three four star hotels suspended their operation and converted their property into departmental store. All and sundry people found partial relief when democracy was restored last year followed by signing of Peace Agreement. The intricacies that entangled tourism industry for a decade have been widely discussed by Raman Grandon in his book Nepal Tourism- The Challenges. He has made all efforts to include all incidents that have made major impacts on the tourism industry of Nepal. In many places, he appears to be sharp in harping on some issues and organizations which makes writing repetitive. He raises many issues that are relevant and pertinent, and need to be addressed by the concerned authorities.
In this book, he chronologically writes about the history of conflict related to tourism aftermath of Visit Nepal Year '98. However, he makes some minor mistakes that he needs to correct in its second edition. For example, bizarre incident that took place in Kathmandu after 12 Nepalese killed in Iraq was September 2004, not 2003(Page 26). Similarly, Indian Airlines plane was hijacked from Tribhuvan International Airport on 24th December, 1999, not 9th December(Page 39) and Lufthansa was withdrawn in 1997, not in 1998(page 46).
Impact of conflict is immense but there is no yardstick to measure the losses that tourism industry incurred. This book would contribute substantially to the empirical studies of impact of conflict on tourism, had it made any attempt to analyze the multiplier effect of tourism in the Nepalese economy vis-a-vis conflict and its impact. Over the years, many hotels, travel and trekking agencies have laid off their staff due to lack of tourists. This apart, small and medium scale industries likes poultry, garment, dairy and other services which are directly related to tourism industry have suffered tremendously because of lack of demand. Discussion on these issues could make this book quite interesting.
Raman has potentiality to do better that what he did. So often we find him repeating same incidents twice and thrice which makes tedious reading. The book is worth for understanding the tourism scenario especially after 1999. Despite some shortcomings, it is advisable for tourism entrepreneurs, researchers and enthusiasts to go through this book once to keep their memory alive of bad days that tourism industry suffered in Nepal during insurgency. They sustained extortion and donation, and had to run the business without tourists. But those who passed through this ordeal will definitely have better future in tourism because in tourism, continuity and consistency are important, and they proved their mettle.
I have been to Everest Region seven times since 2003. Every time I go, I see the new progress and development in Lukla, Phakding, Monjo and Namche. Hotels where we stay are getting face-lift with new added facility every year. It shows that conflict has not affected Everest Region as it should have. Perhaps, many trekkers have found Everest Region different than what Raman has portrayed it in his initial pages of the book.
Reviewed by Sarad Pradhan
Book: Nepalese Tourism : The Challenges
Author: Raman Grandon
Publisher: Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents
Price: Not Mentioned
Edition: 2007
posted by Sarad @ 6:40 AM
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