Increase in tourist arrivels fails to boost trekking business

 The Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) has said that the number of trekkers has not increased as expected despite an increase in tourist arrivals. TAAN cited inadequate marketing and inability to compete with India and China in offering tour packages for the poor performance in attracting trekkers.
Although Nepal received a greater number of tourists during Nepal Tourism Year 2011 and the arrivals momentum kept up in the first quarter of 2012, there has been no matching growth in the number of trekkers.
“The number of tourists coming for trekking has not been so good as expected compared to the total arrivals,” said Rana Bahadur Khadka, first vice-president of TAAN. He added that trekking was one of the major tourism activities in the past years but it has remained stagnant presently.
Trekking agents blamed high trekking and mountaineering fees levied by the government compared to India and China which has made trekking an expensive adventure activity. Potential trekking visitors have thus dropped their plans to visit Nepal, they said. Trekking packages in Nepal start at US$ 70 per day.
Khadka said that the country was also lacking advertising and promotion to boost the adventure segment which India and China are doing recently. “The Indian government is providing tax waivers to entrepreneurs dealing with foreign exchange in the travel trade sector.”
Meanwhile, Arjun Prasad Sharma, immediate past president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, said that the number of trekkers has not dropped but has remained stagnant. “Increased options in leisure and other segments have affected the share of trekking in tourist activities,” Sharma said.
He added that Nepal had become a year-round destination for all activities due to improved peace and that the number of leisure and pilgrimage visitors had been growing. The number of tourists coming for leisure activities is shown by Indian and Chinese arrivals last year. “Visitors from both these countries are counted under leisure activities.” 
TAAN said that spending by trekkers had also decreased along with their falling  numbers. Normally, the length of stay of trekkers is 15 days.
According to a preliminary study of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, arrivals reached an all-time high of 735,965 in 2011, but average daily spending dropped to US$ 39.90 last year from US$ 43.20 in 2010. Government statistics show that average spending has been dropping since 2008. If foreign visitors spent US$ 73.00 per day in 2008, they spent US$ 65.30 in 2009 and US$ 43.20 in 2010.
Trekking in Nepal is an all-season activity. It is possible at any time of the year depending on where one goes. However, the most popular seasons are spring (February-May) and autumn (September-November)

Langtang Lirung

You can see the upper bit of Langtang Lirung 7,234 meters from Kathmandu valley, but getting there is a problem.

First you have got to find Langtang which is one of those hidden beyuls or meyuls or sanctuaries concealed by the gods of Buddhism.

So you travel to Tarke Ghyang, the biggest village in the Helambu region roughly north of Kathmandu it is a fascinating place, known for its beautiful women, its small, sweet apples and the magical monk of Tarke Ghyang village.

In the early quarter of the 18^th century a terrible plague struck Kathmandu and the king sent for the Magical Monk. The plague was stopped and as reward the Monk asked for 100 horses which he took back to Helambu. around the monk and his horses a village sprang and a gompa, a Buddhist shrine. it was called Tarke Ghyang or the shrine of 100 horses.

The village of Tarke Ghyang is still there and so is the strangely Bhutanese looking shrine. A faintly ribald Nepali refrain is sung about the shrine which says.

 Tarke Ghyang shrine, Now listen all of you has phalluses at each corner.

Now listen all of you. The protective phalluses are common in Bhutan but worth singing about in Nepal.it was from Tarke Ghyang or so I like to believe, that long, long ago, a Yak strayaed and got lost. But it was a considerate yak and it left its hoof prints on rocks as it went. its keeper, coincidently a monk, followed its trail, crossed a ridge a few days later and stumbled into a beautiful valley-Langtang valley.

Tourist increasing in 2012

The numbers of foreign tourists arriving Nepal though aerial route increased by 19.2 percent to over the first six months of the same period last year.

According to arrival figures disseminated by immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport, a total of 294,019 tourists visited the country via air in the first half of 2012. Total arrivals in June increased by 16.2 percent to 42,238, compared to arrival figures of June, 2011.

Arrivals from Asia have witnessed a positive growth by 45 percent during the six months, while tourists arrive from the china and India rose by 12.7 and 61 percent respectively. Likewise, arrivals from Pakistan soared by 35 percent whereas number of tourists from Bangladesh and sri lanka decreased by 3.7 and 14.7 percent respectively.

Similarly, an overall growth of 3.7 percent observed from European countries during the period. Arrivals from European countries including the UK, France, the Netherlands Belgium and Russia have increased, whereas number of arrivals from Germany, Spain and Italy is found to have declined.

Issuing a press statement, Nepal Tourism Board has attributed the rise in tourist arrivals to wide publicity of tourist arrivals to wide publicity of tourism heritages of the country during Nepal Tourism year 2011.

Jomsom Muktinath trekking

Jomsom Trekking is another wonderful short days trekking in the territory of Annapurna Conservation Area Nepal. For Jomsom trekking you take six hours scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. On the next morning of your arrival in Pokhara you take 25 minutes flight to Jomsom. Jomsom is the gate way of Muktinath as well as Upper Mustang, the forbidden kingdom of Nepal. After few moments of your arrival at Jomsom airport your trekking starts towards Kagbeni, the medieval looking Tibetan village. The trail goes along Kaligandaki River. You spend overnight at the local lodge/ hotel at Kagabeni. On the next morning you move up to Muktinath. Muktinath is the pilgrimage center of Hindus as well as Buddhist. In Muktinath you see Tibetan traders and sadhus (holy men) from as far away as the south of India. Here you visit Muktinath temple, shrines of different god and goddess, springs and natural gas spot. From Muktinath you retrace your steps to Jomsom

Dolpo Trekking

Dolpo trekking presents an exposure to the high & remote Himalayan valleys, resembling the Tibetan highlands. The main highlight of Dolpa trekking includes "Shey Phoksundo National Park" which is one of the major National Parks of Nepal. "Shey Phoksundo Lake" is another famous factor of this region. The lake is totally free of aquatic life, which the crystal waters clearly explain. Surrounded by rocks, forests, and snow-capped peaks, the area has been described as one of the World's "Natural Hidden Wonders". The other notable figures seen in Dolpo trek are snowy peaks, ancient and remote villages, rich wildlife, lovely Buddhist monasteries and wonderful lakes. The people of Dolpo area are simple and warm-hearted with enthralling culture and traditions. The cultural traditions of Dolpo are basically linked with Tibetan

Upper Mustang Trekking

Upper Mustang trekking is popularly known as Mustang trekking. Among more trekkers Upper Mustang trekking is also well-known as Lo Manthang Trekking. This is an interesting treking that takes you to unspoiled Tibetan villages situated at the northern border between Nepal and Tibet. Foreigners were restricted to visit Lo Manthang till 1992 AD. Lo Manthang is a small kingdom. Still it has a king. You visit the king’s palace surrounded by gompas and private houses. Upper Mustang Trekking gives you an opportunity to experience unique beauty of Himalayan desert, a strange and unusual landscape.

Damodar Kunda

Damodar Kunda trekking is one of the holiest lakes of all Hindus as well as Buddhists. The word kunda represents lake. Damodar Kunda is located in Mustang district at mid western Nepal. This area is very close to Nepal Tibet border. Lying at an altitude of 4890 meters, Damodar Kunda carries wonderful natural beauty. The Gandaki River, a major Himalayan river originates from this holy lake. The most of the part of Damodar Kunda trekking lies in rain shadow area. So here you experience unique barren landscape having low vegetation. While trekking you encounter coldness with sandy wind. You start this trekking from Jomsom following the route of Upper Mustang trail. After you get to Lomanthang you acclimatize there for a day. Then you proceed to north east. From Lomanthang it takes three days to arrive Damodar Kunda