BMD

Nepal’s tourism has yet to revive despite a launch of the vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic and a remarkable drop in the number of infections. The mandatory weeklong quarantine, unavailability of on-arrival visa for tourists have dissuaded them to plan for a trip to the country. The US$ 5,000-coronavirus insurance has also been another hitch.
However, as demanded by the tourism industry, the government is said to be relaxing these provisions. Tourism entrepreneurs say that the country’s tourism sector will bounce back once the aforementioned issues are addressed. Many foreign international airlines have already resumed their flights to and from Kathmandu.
But Germany, Poland and some other European countries have re-imposed coronavirus lockdowns following the emergence of the third wave of the contagion there. Since these countries are a major tourist source market for Nepal, the new restrictions are sure to affect our ailing tourism.
The recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in some Indian states such as Maharastra is also a matter of concern for our tourism at a time when Indian tourists have been showing their interest in visiting Nepal. However, the country is going to see hundreds of foreign climbers returning to Sagarmatha and several other peaks this spring. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all the mountains remained closed for a year.
The Department of Tourism stated that some 300 foreign climbers may attempt to climb Sagarmatha alone during this spring. More than 380 climbers were in the country to scale the 8,848.86-metre peak in 2019.
A 16-member Everest expedition that also includes Bahraini Prince Sheikh Mohamed Hamad Mohamed Al Khalifa has been in Kathmandu for a week. The team incorporates 12 other Bahraini nationals and three British climbers. As part of preparations for conquering Sagarmatha, the Bahraini team had climbed Mt. Manaslu (8,163m) and Mt. Lobuche (6,619m) in last October. It was the first ascent of the country’s mountains above 8,000 metres in 2020.
As a team with a high-profile climber, the Bahraini team will be in the spotlight globally. The team, however, landed in controversy after it was found importing 2,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has initiated a probe into the import of the jabs to settle the issue. The team is reported to have brought the vaccine as a gift to the locals of a village in Gorkha district.
The country may welcome more expeditions this season. According to expedition organisers, as the Chinese side of Sagarmatha is likely to remain closed for this season as well, there is possibility for an increase in the number of mountaineers scaling from the Nepal side.
Meanwhile, a Nepali climber, Purnima Shrestha, has aimed to become the first Nepali woman to climb Annapurna I (8,091m). A photojournalist by profession, Purnima has already reached the summits of Sagarmatha, Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Amadablam. Her team has 17 Nepali as well as foreign climbers as members.
The Gandaki Province has extended a financial support of Rs. 800,000 to Purnima. Handing over the national flag to her, Chief Minister of the Province Prithvi Subba Gurung said that he wished to parade her around Pokhara on a chariot upon her successful ascent of Mt. Annapurna I, which is regarded as one of the most technically difficult peaks above 8,000 metres.
Similarly, another Nepali climber Maya Sherpa is also going to attempt Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Annapurna. Having started her mountaineering career in 2003, Maya aims to climber all the 14 peaks above 8,000. She has already scaled five of them.