After the 7.8 Richter scale earthquake and its devastation, Nepal has been struggling in reconstruction and finding a way out. Despite, the chaos, the post effect of the earthquake has created a situation of uncertainty and economic crisis as Nepal is one of the least developing country where Tourism contributes a major part in its revenue generation. Due to the devastation, Nepal has been blocked by major developed countries in terms of Travelling security and travelling alerts.
Nepal has witnessed minimal tourism infrastructure damage with almost 90 percent of hotels Operational. There is no scarcity of food and water and all forms of communication and highways are operational.
Various Social Media Campaigns have been launched to improve the marketing prospect of tourism industry in Nepal. Out of these, a recent one I AM IN NEPAL NOW is picking up people’s attention in and outside the country, spreading out the message of Nepal being safe for Travelling and other tourism activities. The Campaign is being endorsed by travellers and tourists from various parts of the world who are currently in Nepal, defying the current on going rumors of Nepal not being safe.
According to Raj Gyawali, Director of Social tours and initiator of the campaign, ” I AM IN NEPAL NOW, is reaching over half a million people, this campaign has been launched to get travellers who are in Nepal and who will come to Nepal to show their support and solidarity towards the project. A repository has been set up at Nepal Tourism Recovery | Strategies & Actions. If you are going to Nepal in 2015 / 2016, please announce it here by printing the placard, and posing with it and posting the picture online. Drop it here, or post it online with a #stillNepal #stillGoing or something funny hashtag. We will find it. Thank you for your help.”
The World Travel and Tourism Council had forecasted, “ The direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was NPR83.7bn (4.3% of total GDP) in 2014, and is forecast to rise by 5.4% in 2015, and to rise by 4.4% pa, from 2015-2025, to NPR135.7bn (4.8% of total GDP) in 2025.
The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was NPR171.6bn (8.9% of GDP) in 2014, and is forecast to rise by 5.8% in 2015, and to rise by 4.5% pa to NPR281.5bn (10.0% of GDP) in 2025. In 2014 Travel & Tourism directly supported 487,500 jobs (3.5% of total employment). This is expected to rise by 4.0% in 2015 and rise by 3.0% pa to 681,000 jobs (3.9% of total employment) in 2025. In 2014, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly. Travel & Tourism investment in 2014 was NPR15.7bn, or 3.6% of total investment. It should rise by 12.0% in 2015, and rise by 5.2% pa over the next ten years to NPR29.2bn in 2025 (4.6% of total).
Similarly, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has issued notice to its 35 embassies, permanent missions and consulates to organise a series of programmes and events to apprise the people in their receiving and accredited countries that Nepal is safe to visit.
After the earthquake, the Tourism entrepreneurs are expecting 70 percent reduction in business during October to May season this year. They have been demanding a recovery program at national level that would help them ease the problem.
Still with various independent efforts the tourism industry of Nepal looks beefed up and stiff, it may be considered down but not broken where time is yet to see, what lies hidden.