TAAN for diversification of trekking routes

The Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN), an umbrella organization of trekking entrepreneurs, has emphasized the need for diversifying the trekking routes to attract more tourists every year.

The TAAN is for indentifying further trekking destinations as numbers of trekkers in Sagarmatha, Annapurna and Langtang areas were on the rise.

TAAN Chairman Mahendra Thapa said the government has not taken any decision to find new trekking routes due to lack of full budget though the TAAN suggested the government to add a dozen more trekking destinations.

He said large numbers of tourists thronged the Sagarmatha, Annapurna and Langtang regions when new destinations were not developed. He added that the TAAN is making preparations to find new trekking routes to Humla by the March.

Thapa complained that the new trekking destinations could not be developed due to lack of sufficient infrastructures, publicity and budget.

He said trekking to lower Dolpa, Mt. Ganesh, Mt. Manasulu, Manang district and Chum Valley should be opened soon. The government has not given permission for trekking in these destinations though a large numbers of tourists have been attracted to these places.

Thapa also said government Chief Secretary Leela Mani Poudyal had informed him that the government had already directed the line agencies to promote the new trekking destinations.

The TAAN had arranged trekking of some 87,000 tourists for in 2012. It was 83,000 in 2011 and 68,000 in 2010.

source: The Himalayan Times,22 Jan 2013