Trekkers cut short length of stay

Due to access to motorable roads to trekking destinations, trekkers have cut short the length of stay. Earlier trekkers usually had at least a 10-day trekking schedule, but the length of both treks and stays has gone down due to motorable roads to trekking destinations.

According to chief executive officer of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Ganga Sagar Pant, trekkers arrive here for adventure tourism and they are ready to take risks. Therefore, there are hardly any cancellations in this sector because of political disturbances.

“Trekkers come here for adventure but motorable roads have had an adverse impact on adventure that trekkers look for,” said Pant, adding that trekkers here are not for sight seeing and holidays, but want peace and opportunities to explore.

He said that the adventure and thrill that they used to get is gradually decreasing due to disturbances caused by transport services in trekking areas. “Earlier, tourists had to trek to Muktinath Temple but now there are transportation services available,” he said.

According to TAAN, it will now coordinate with local communities to explore new trekking routes for Humla and Upper Mustang. “We are preparing to explore new trekking routes this month for Humla region and simultaneously we are also looking for alternative routes for Manang from Ghalegaun,” said Pant.

Transportation services have hurt the earnings of locals at trekking regions. “The trekking sector has good prospects in the tourism industry of the country, and the number of TIMS cards being issued is increasing and we are expecting quality tourists for trekking this season — March-April-May,” he said.

The central bank’s statistics for the seven months state that the percentage of loans floated to the tourism sector has increased by 25 per cent. Total loans floated by banks and financial institute is at around Rs 1140.4 million. During the same period last year, the total percentage share of loans floated to the sector was 11.4 per cent amounting to Rs 450.8 million.

However, the percentage share of total loans floated to the hotel sector this year has decreased to eight per cent, which was 16.8 per cent in the same period last year.

source: The Himalayan Times,24 march 2013