HISTORY OF TOURISM IN NEPAL

HISTORY OF TOURISM IN NEPAL

Exact date and history of tourist coming in Nepal is still unknown.
Tourism, despite having a long history has really appeared for development since 1950’s after the end of autocratic Rana Regime in 1950, when Nepal came out of century’s old-isolation. The road network established connecting some place of Nepal with Indian border.

Before 1950’s, only hand full of tourist visited Nepal under the strict permission of Rana Regime. In 1924, George Mallory & Andrew Irvine attempted Everest summit and went missing. And some other mountaineers were given permission to climb +8000mtrs mountain.

HERE, I POINTED OUT SOME OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES THAT HAS DIRECT AND INDIRECT INFLUENCE IN TOURISM HISTORY OF NEPAL.

- 1950 : Tony Hagen, a Swiss geologist first came Nepal with Swiss Development mission. And in 1952, he was employed by Nepal Government for exploring and mapping geography of Nepal. He traveled 14000km across the Himalaya of Nepal until he retired in 1972 AD.  

Tony Hagen

- 1950 : Maurice Herzog became the first person to summit Annapurna I.

Slowly small group of wealthy tourist, sponsored student start travelling from England to Nepal overland via Eastern Europe, Turkey, Kasmir, Manali and to Nepal for research and climbing purpose.

- 1953 :  Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa climbed Mt. Everest and became first to do so.

- 1955 : Nepal issued first tourist visa to Boris Lisanevich, a legendary hotelier invited by King Mahendra to allow Thomas Cook company to send tourist to Nepal. Boris established first hotel “Royal Hotel” and began catering tourist.  Coronation of Late king in 1956, with the assembly of large number of foreign dignitaries exposed Nepal as potential tourist destination in international community.

The first private airline “Himalaya Airways” began its operations.

Boris Lisanevich

Royal Hotel

- 1956 : National tourism council set up five year tourism development plan under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

- 1957 : Nepal Transportation Department was established to paved the way of Civil Aviation. In 1960’s, Nepal began direct links to Indian Cities and this land-locked country became more accessible to outside world.  

- 1958 : Royal Nepal Airlines Cooperation (RNAC) now Nepal Airlines CO-operation (NAC) came in operation. Nepal became member of International Union of Official Travel Organization.

- 1964 : Colonel Jimmy Robert established first travel agency “Mountain Travel Nepal” now is “Tiger Mountain” to offer opportunity for wealthy travelers to enjoy trekking and climbing in Nepal with any problems. Also established “Tiger Tops” in Chitwan to accommodate tourist who enjoy jungle activities. He initiated orientation to Nepalese Government about potentiality of tourism in Nepal. Became a role model in teaching and implementing Management in the Tourism in Nepal. So, he is taken as “Father of Nepalese tourism”

Jimmy Roberts

- 1960’s & 1970’S : Nepal became prime tourist destination as Hippie trail started to take off. They were followed by radical and liberal anti-war philosophy with “mind exploring” activities that involved experimentation with “Sex, drug, religion”

50% of hippies were 16 to 30 years of age. They came Nepal because Hassish was legal at that time which ended up in 1979 after established of Drug Enforcement Administration, then drug became illegal.

They became good ambassador of Nepal and keep on telling the cultural and natural beauties of Nepal to the outer world. Hippies played crucial role in advertising and promoting Nepal as the tourist attraction in the international arena.

Hippie Trial marked by red. 

-1972 : Tourism master plan was formulated with German assistance that led to concept of spreading economic activity in Nepal and Nepal-Style tour packages to maintain special destination.

- 1972 : NATHM was established by Government of Nepal with technical assistance of UNDP/ILO with aim to produce skilled workforce required by hospitality and tourism industry. More than 20,000 professionals has trained from NATHM till date in different sector such as hotel management, tour and trekking guide etc.

- 1973 : Chitwan National Park (CNP) was established.

During 1975-1991, Nepal became hot spot for holiday makers, adventure seekers and cultural tourists.

- 1998 : Nepal celebrated “Visit Nepal 98” to strengthen Nepal tourism. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) was established to promote tourism sector.

- 1992 : Necon Air and Asian Airlines came into existence.

- 1999 : Fall of Nepal Tourism with hijacking of INDIAN AIRLINES fleet from Tribhuwan International Airport. Nepal tourism began tackling downfall of tourist.

- 2001 : Black day in Nepalese history as Royal massacre took place. This has given message in international arena that Nepal is no safe for tourist. Almost 50% of travel agencies were shut down with lack of tourist arrivals.

Present day tourism in Nepal

Tourism in Nepal began slowly picking up after the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed in 2006 between Nepalese Government and Moist party. Tourism began booming with the Nepal being peace zone for travelers.

- Global economic crisis brought downfall in American and European visitors whereas converted into hot tourism destination for Chinese Travelers’.

- 2011 : Nepal Tourism Year was celebrated. 700000+ visitors, Slogan –”Naturally Nepal Once is Not Enough”

- 2012 : Lumbini Visit Year was celebrated.

CHALLENGES IN NEPALESE TOURISM SECTOR OF NEPAL

- Political instability
- Lack of infrastructure
- Security of tourists
- Lack of skilled man power
- Lack of effective marketing & investment opportunities.
- Threat of socio-cultural degradation and disappearance of traditional good culture.

CONCLUSION
- Tourism in Nepal faced lots of up’s and downs.
- Great potential in tourism industry
- Proper marketing/promotion needed to increase number of tourist.
- Rural tourism & domestic tourism is to be encouraged.
- Investment in tourism sector is must important.
- Crucial role of government in management, control of illegal activities, development of new destination, and vision for tourism development is needed.

Written by : Raju Lama Dong

Reference :
- Note by Prof. Dr. Hari Prasad Shrestha
- Different blogs
- Wikipedia ; history of tourism in Nepal