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Trekking agencies urge authorities to open restricted areas

The government has turned a deaf ear to the request of tourism entrepreneurs to amend the restriction on some trekking routes.

It has already been around five years since people related to trekking and mountaineering businesses urged the government to remove the restriction imposed on Upper Dolpo, Mustang, Manaslu area, Chun Valley and Nangpa area but the government has not seriously addressed the issue.

According to trekking agencies, the government should declare them as normal regions and reduce the royalty charged on tourists visiting these areas. The government has strictly controlled some adventure tourism destinations, which hold high prospects.

“The destinations were restricted as they do not have proper infrastructure but now things have changed, therefore these regions should also be proclaimed normal areas,” said former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association Ang Tshering Sherpa.

According to Sherpa, trekking agencies now have the capacity to handle more than two lakh tourists at a time, therefore these destinations should be handed over to the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) for infrastructure development.

He also said that the government is charging a high royalty of $500 per person for a 10-day trek. However, for regular areas one has to pay only $10 as Trekking Information Management System charge. TAAN has also asked the government to reduce the royalty for restricted areas to $50.

In 2012, more than one lakh tourists visited the Annapurna region, whereas the number of visitors to Manaslu area was around 4000. The Annapurna region is quite similar to Manaslu in many aspects, but Manaslu is a restricted area and the royalty charge is high.

“It’s time that the government introduce a flexible policy regarding the restricted areas and allow trekking agencies to develop the infrastructure of those areas,” said Sherpa.

However, according to sources at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), the government is preparing to review the restricted areas though the ministry is still not clear on whether or not to remove the restriction.

For restricted trekking routes, one is required to take permission from MoCTCA and the Home Ministry, which is quite annoying, trekking agencies say.

According to the tourism ministry, the restricted trekking areas are different in many ways from ordinary trails. Trekkers are not allowed to trek alone in these areas. One needs to travel with a professional guide and have a special permit.

source:the himalayan times,6 Sep 2013