Expert Insight: Revitalizing Nepal's Tourism Sector Post-Unrest

The Gen-Z uprising on Bhadra 23 caused significant damage to Nepal's tourism sector. Foreign bookings for travel to Nepal were cancelled in rapid succession. The tourism industry, which was just returning to form after COVID-19, was hit hard again. Government data indicates that the Gen-Z movement caused losses worth 25 billion rupees in the tourism sector. The scenes of the Gen-Z movement in Nepal, along with photos and videos posted on social media regarding escaped prisoners and looted weapons, negatively impacted the international image of the tourism sector.

Tourism entrepreneur and founder of the Nepal Mountain Academy, Lakpa Futi Sherpa, shared her experiences with Ratopati regarding the impact of the Gen-Z uprising on Nepal's tourism sector, potential solutions, and the steps the new government should take. She is one of the key founders who established Nepal's first Mountain Academy. Here are the edited excerpts of the conversation with Sherpa, who made history in 1993 by joining the Everest expedition team alongside Pasang Lhamu Sherpa:

• The interim government formed after the Gen-Z uprising in Nepal did not immediately appoint a Tourism Minister. What impact did this have on Nepal's tourism sector?

The Government of Nepal has never prioritized tourism. It is not a priority even now. After the Gen-Z uprising, a negative message about Nepal spread. Immediately after the movement, they should have appointed a Tourism Minister and a Foreign Minister, and summoned ambassadors from various countries to convey the message that Nepal is safe for tourists. But that did not happen.

Positive promotion of Nepal should have been carried out under the coordination of the Tourism Minister. The Gen-Z movement was not targeted at tourists or tourism. The positive message that Gen-Z always welcomes tourists did not reach the world. Tourists planning to visit Nepal for holidays could not come due to fear. In my own company, two or three groups of foreign tourists cancelled their bookings. Bookings were cancelled in many other companies as well.

When we replied that 'Nepal is safe,' they would ask, 'Can you take responsibility?' Tourists are primarily concerned about safety. They want to travel, have fun, climb mountains, and trek safely. The Government of Nepal could not take any initiative for the safety of tourists. If a Tourism Minister had been appointed immediately, all these problems could have been solved. As a result, our tourism has declined by 60 percent compared to last year.

• Could that work not have been done through staff when there was no Tourism Minister?

A Tourism Minister must be appointed, and specifically, a tourism expert should be appointed. Another thing is that we, the Sherpa community, also have a contribution to the tourism sector. The fame and recognition Nepal and Nepalis have earned worldwide is also due to the support and cooperation of us Sherpas. Some people in the world do not recognize Nepal, but they recognize Sherpas. Sherpa is a brand in the world. We have contributed to the nation as much as we know, understand, and can.

However, the Government of Nepal never prioritized Sherpas by appointing them to relevant bodies. Sherpas were not given importance at the policy-making or decision-making levels, which saddens me. If a tourism expert, someone who understands tourism, had been appointed immediately after the Gen-Z movement, a positive message about Nepal could have been conveyed worldwide. But the state never prioritized us. To answer your question, it is not very easy to get work done by staff in place of a minister. Our experience so far shows the same.

• After the election, the newly formed Balen government has appointed Ganesh Paudel from the tourist area of Pokhara as the Tourism Minister. What kind of person do you think a Tourism Minister should be?

They should be knowledgeable about tourism, understanding, and practical. If there is a person who knows what tourists want, what kind of services they expect, how to treat tourists from different countries, and how to treat domestic and foreign tourists, it will be easier to uplift Nepal's tourism. There is an urgent need for someone who can spread the message worldwide that Nepal is safe for travel. We are between two large neighbors. The sad thing is that we have not been able to promote Nepal's tourist destinations sufficiently even in the neighboring countries.

• As you mentioned above and as everyone feels, the Sherpa community has a huge contribution to introducing Nepal's tourism at the international level. How can the newly formed government include the Sherpa community?

It is true that the Sherpa community has made a huge contribution to the tourism sector. The good thing about the Sherpa community is that once they decide to do something, they do it. That is why tourists from all over the world trust Sherpas. Nepalis also trust Sherpas. Edmund Hillary climbed Everest with the help of Sherpas. Since then, the Sherpa brand has been established.

But for some reason, the Government of Nepal has not been able to include that community. We feel that the state has ignored us. This also makes me sad. Therefore, the new government should be able to ensure the representation of the Sherpa community in the government. Especially if they are given the responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism, individuals from this community can work in a way that makes the state and the government proud.

• What can be done to break the negative message about tourism that has gone around the world after the Gen-Z movement?

The Government of Nepal needs to bring new policies and rules related to tourism. A one-door system should be adopted. Attention should be paid to ensuring that foreign visitors do not face hassles when doing any work. There is a lot of potential for film tourism in Nepal. There should be an easy environment for those who want to make films. There is a cumbersome law where one has to take permits from 10 places to shoot a film. One has to go to 10 places to take permits to organize an expedition. Everything is delayed; at least that should not happen.

Secondly, attention should be paid to hygienic food and dishes of the tourists' choice. When a foreign tourist comes to visit, they look for food from their own country. For that, the workforce needs to be provided with the necessary training. The government and the private sector should work together to make honest efforts to uplift the declining tourism market for the long term. And, important steps should be taken to spread such a message worldwide. We must keep in mind that the more positive messages about Nepal's tourism spread worldwide, the more tourists will come. If only tourists from India and China come in sufficient numbers, it would be enough for us. But for that, there must be long-term thinking and strategy.

• There are Nepali embassies in important countries of the world. What role can those embassies play?

A separate office for tourism can be kept in every embassy. The Tourism Board can be activated. We don't hear about American and European countries promoting themselves, but we are desperate to go there. Similarly, an environment for tourists to come to Nepal must be created. An environment should be created where there are no strikes or shutdowns in Nepal. If there is peace, security, and stability, wealthy tourists will come with their families. Tourism policy also needs to be revised immediately. By putting forward the concept of 'Retired Tourism,' residence visas should be given to retirees.

• Please clarify the concept of 'Retired Tourism'.

In most countries of the world, it is customary to retire after reaching the age of 65. They get a pension after retirement. It is a bit expensive for them to live in their own country with that retirement pension. But in Nepal, they can live comfortably with 1,500 dollars a month. We should be able to attract that class. Such individuals must live by following the laws of Nepal.

Another thing is that in many countries of the world, the sun does not shine for three to four months a year. They come to Nepal for 'sun baths' to get Vitamin 'D'. But we have no plans to attract them further. I have seen people coming to Nepal from Germany and Canada to sunbathe. The number of people who are tired of taking medicine due to Vitamin 'D' deficiency and come to sunbathe is not something that can be ignored, but we must be able to make policy decisions on what we can offer such tourists from the state's side. Therefore, I think we should identify such a class and be clear in terms of policy.

• How long have you found such tourists staying in Nepal?

Retired tourists want to sunbathe, see the mountains, and enjoy the natural environment here in Nepal. They want to stay in Nepal for a long time. Along with this, 'Dental Tourism' can also flourish in Nepal. Dental treatment is expensive abroad. It is relatively cheap in Nepal. Foreigners come to Nepal for the first time to climb mountains, the second time to trek, and then they form family relationships with Nepalis. Tourists from any country are fond of Nepal. In the future, an environment will be created where foreigners will look for employment in Nepal.

• Speaking of tourism, what potential do you see for skiing in Nepal?

There is huge potential. There is high potential for this in the Far West, Dhorpatan, and Khaptad regions. For that, investment should be made in infrastructure. Skiing covers the winter gap in Nepal's tourism. Skiing is also an expensive sport. In Europe and America, the wealthy and well-off invest and play. Even the entire family members are involved in this. Age groups from 5 to 100 years are excited to ski. This is very important.

When I was the Executive Director at the Nepal Mountain Academy, we developed ski training in collaboration with the Nepal National Guide Association. We provided basic ski training in various places in Nepal and conducted advanced training in Switzerland with the help of the Swiss. A professional ski license is mandatory for an international guide license. In our Nepal, Sunam Sherpa had a ski license. Since then, many people have already taken ski licenses. If this can be promoted, it can contribute greatly to Nepal's economic prosperity.

I have experience skiing in the mountains of Europe. I skied in the mountains of France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. It has been published about me in a famous European magazine as 'The First Nepalese who skied the whole European Alps'.

• Can a large number of tourists be brought to Nepal for skiing as well?

It is very possible. There is potential for skiing in Khaptad in the Far West. It is not enough to sit in Kathmandu and make plans. If our own Nepali instructors go to Muslim-majority countries to give ski training there, why is it not possible in Nepal? It is possible. But there must be the willpower to work. The government should be able to invest. In our Nepal, investment is being wasted in unnecessary places, and we have not been able to invest in the places where it is needed.

• What other possibilities are there in Nepal?

We started Bachelors in Mountaineering and Masters in Mountaineering Tourism. If we can establish that kind of academic education, the future is bright. Tourists might come for two months to climb mountains and set aside two weeks for trekking and tours. But if they come to study in Nepal, they can stay for 2 years, 6 years. If an international-level university, a Mountain Tourism University, can be established in Nepal, an environment will be created where experts will also come from the international sector. The Nepal Mountain Academy has produced students. Nepal is a very suitable place to study mountains and tourism.

Another thing is that we should never look only at air travel. For example, there are historical paths between Nepal and China. Those border points should be opened. We should be able to attract tourists coming to Everest Base Camp by opening the borders. If we can attract tourists coming from China's road, there is very good potential in Nepal.