Rafting operators report drop in business

Despite October being the peak tourist season, rafting business dropped by around 15 percent compared to same period last year.

The Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) attributes this to decrease in the number of adventure tourists, inability to address safety issues by many companies, increase in pollution in the rivers and most importantly due to the fear of violence and insecurity due to the schedules election.

Nani Kaji Thapa, president of the NARA said most of the rafting operators have reported 10 to 20 percent drop in their business this season compared to same season last year.

“Even though we increased the tariff for rafting on the Trishuli and the Bhotekoshi to US$ 30 and $50 per day, respectively, up by just $5 per day for tourists other than from China and the SAARC countries, the revenue from the business went down as there were a very few rafters this season,” said Thapa.

The association has set tariff for rafting on the Trishuli River for tourists from China and the SAARC countries at $25 per day.
He further said that due to the decline in business, rafting operators could not fully follow the increased rate and even sold the package at cheaper rates.

Apart from the drop in booking, unhealthy competition among operators themselves is also hitting revenue.

“The unhealthy competition is there in terms of tariff and this has hindered the rafting business,” said Bishnu Silwal, director of Royal Beach Camp.

Silwal added that of more than 100 rafting operators only around 10 percent follow the international safety norms, have trained manpower and provides better services of lodging, food and transportation.

However, Silwal said that they are hopeful about the domestic market for the upcoming season to begin in March /April.
The NARA has been demanding for a dedicated segment for water activities like rafting, canoeing and kayaking, saying that the number of foreign tourists coming for rafting was decreasing because of shortening of trips due to construction of dams and availability of attractive river trips in other countries in the recent years.

Mahendra Singh Thapa, who operates Equator Expedition, said that the government should soon dedicate the rivers to promote the rafting business. “Rafting business in terms of both sales and revenue has gone down this year even though the tariff has increased because of tourist spending lesser time due to the fear of insecurity and violence during election.

Thapa said that this season the Bhotekoshi attracted more tourists than the Trishuli due to short traveling distance, lesser traffic jam on the way and the availability of good resorts in the area compared to that of the Trishuli.

source: republica,2 Nov 2013