TAAN hikes daily wages of trekking workers

                                                TAAN hikes daily wages of trekking workers

  The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and representatives of four unions of trekking workers -- All Nepal Revolutionary Tourism Workers Union (ANRTWU); Union of Nepal Travel, Trekking, Rafting and Airlines Workers; Nepal Tourism Workers Association (NTWA); All Nepal Tourism Workers Union (ANTWU); and Nepal Tourism Workers Association (NTWA) – have decided to raise daily wages of trekking porter by Rs 300 and guides/cooks by Rs 250 with effect from October 1, 2014.
The hike is based on the understanding that the previous executive committee of TAAN had reached with the worker unions.The two sides have also agreed to form Workers’ Welfare Fund under Social Security Scheme of the government and deposit Rs 15 million from the TIMS Fund after guidelines for the ope rationalization of the fund is finalized by the government. The two sides also decided to lobby with the government to prepare guidelines for ope rationalization of the fund within a month.

              TAAN and worker unions have formed a task force under the 2nd vice president Kul Bahadur Gurung to look into issues related to trekking workers. The task force consists of TAAN executive members as well as representatives of different workers unions.The task force has decided that every company should have to provide identification card to all their field staff. Similarly, the task force has decided that TAAN and worker unions will jointly lobby with the concerned agency to implement ‘no trekking without guide porter’ system. Regarding hike in insurance cover for trekking workers, the task force decided to work in cooperation with insurance companies that agrees to provide maximum insurance cover.
It also decided to strictly implement the agreement signed between TAAN Pokhara and Sanctuary Tourism Entrepreneurs’ Committee in December last year.The task force has decided that trekking companies will have to provide Rs 8,000 per person to guides, cooks and Sherpa as festival allowance once a year. Similarly, companies will have to provide pay and perks to their employees as per the minimum pay enforced by the government. Likewise, trekking companies will have to compulsorily send budget list of every groups with the guides.The task force has decided to allow only the licensed guides to lead trekking groups from January 1, 2015 onwards. Similarly, the task force has decided that representatives of TAAN and all four trekking workers will visit all check posts before October 1 to inform trekking guides and porters about the hike in their daily wage. Similarly, the task force has asked TAAN and tourism workers unions to take joint initiatives for requesting companies to provide appointment letters to cooks, Sherpas and guides who have worked for the company regularly since two years. Source By TAAN

Makalu and Sherpani Col Pass trekking

Makalu and Sherpani Col Pass trekking:

Makalu Base Camp has been compared to the Yosemite Valley, on a grand scale! To reach some of the most amazing mountain scenery in the Himalaya, you first have to cross the challenging Kongma Danda covered in cloud forest draped in hanging orchids. There are few villages along the approach to the fifth highest peak in the world, Mt Makalu (8485m), the summit of which stands 3km above Base Camp. The mountaineering route over the glaciated Sherpani Col (6180m), West Col (6190m) and Amphu Labsta (5845m) to the Everest region involves the highest and hardest passes in the entire Himalaya, however the rewards of such an undertaking are more than worthwhile! During this trek there will be sections where the trail is very rugged or ill-defined, some trails have been trekked only once by a small party, and so the going will be tough. Space in some camp sites will also be very limited. It may be necessary to make changes to the itinerary at any time due to unforeseen circumstances such as adverse weather, snow or trail conditions, river water levels, or group movement. Your trip leader will advise any changes should this occur. source by TAAN

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Transport syndicate on beni jomsom road broken finally

                                      Transport syndicate on beni jomsom road broken finally

            Are you planning to visit Mustang in a private vehicle or a hired jeep? If yes, you can now be sure that there will not be any disturbances during the journey like in the past. If you face any disturbance, the regional administration will immediately swing into action.The Western Regional Administration Office has finally managed to break the syndicate on the 75-kilometer Beni-Jomsom road enforced by the local transport entrepreneurs. Now onwards, one can drive their vehicles on the road without any obstacles. The office has said it would take immediate action if anyone obstructs movement of vehicles on the road.“If anyone obstructs movement of vehicles on the road, we will not call them for negotiation like in the past. We will immediately initiate legal action against them,” Karki said, “This is not a private road. No one has the authority to create disturbance on public road.”The office has directed local administration to do the needful for ensuring smooth movement of vehicles on the road.
Now onwards, passengers needn´t change vehicles between Beni and Jomsom. Earlier, they had to change vehicles at Ghasa.“

         We will immediate action against those collecting excessive fare or creating problem to passengers. If passengers are disembarked from private vehicles and forced to board local vehicles, those involved in such act will be dealt with seriously,” he added. Karki, who was recently appointed as Western Regional Administrator, said his first priority was to end the transporters´ syndicate on Beni-Jomsom road.“I will not allow anyone to enforce syndicate system on public roads as I am aware of the consequences of such system," added Karki. He assured that any type of vehicles can ply the Beni-Jomson road now onwards.The Western Regional Administration Office is also doing necessary homework for determining the standards for tourist vehicles. It is having discussion with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on whether tourist vehicles need to get route permit like other vehicles and whether tourist vehicles registered before 2012 need to follow standards issued in 2012.The office has fixed fare on Beni-Jomsom road at Rs 800 on temporary basis.

            It has asked Dhaulagiri Transportation Management Committee to fix new fare by mid-August.Earlier, local transport entrepreneurs were charging arbitrary fares. They also used to charge fare from passengers traveling in tourist vehicles.Local transport entrepreneurs are also positive about fixing new fare. “Local transport entrepreneurs have expressed commitment to not obstruct movement of private vehicles on Beni-Jomsom road,” Madhu Karanjit, officiating chief of the committee, said.

Source by TAAN

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Tourist arrivals down marginally in June

Total tourist arrivals to Nepal via in June dropped by a marginal 0.3 percent to 41,137 compared to arrival figures of the same month last year. According to the Immigration Office at the Tribhuvan International Airport, arrivals from South Asia segment dropped by 1.04 percent, largely due to arrival in the number of tourists from India – the major market – by 2.21 percent. Arrivals from Pakistan and Sri Lanka were also down 5.54 percent and 28.97 percent, respectively. However, arrivals from Bangladesh increased by 17.43 percent. In Asia (other than South Asia) segment, total arrivals went up by 0.49 percent helped in rise in the number of Chinese tourists by 10 percent. Similarly, number of visitors from Singapore and Thailand increased by 12.56 percent and 5.79 percent, respectively. However, arrivals from Japan, South Korea and Malaysia declined by 13 percent, 31.8 percent and1.98 percent, respectively. Total arrivals from the Europe segment went down by 13.27 percent thanks to drop in the number of visitors from the UK (10.24 percent) Spain (3.5 percent), Italy (24.64 percent), the Netherlands (13.9 percent), France (16.25 percent) and Germany (17.85 percent). However, arrivals from Austria, Czech Republic and Poland increased by 71.05 percent, 6.67 percent and 12.77 percent respectively, compared to the same month last year. Visitor arrivals from Australia, New Zealand and the USA increased by 18.69 percent, 37.65 percent and 5.68 percent, respectively, compared to figures of June 2013.

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Nepali women climb Mt Denali

Members of Seven Summits Women Team reached the summit of Mt Denali – the highest mountain on North America – on June 24.
The women are on a bid to climb the highest peaks in all seven continents.
According to team leader Shaili Basnet, Chunu Shrestha, Asha Kumari Singh, Nimdoma Sherpa and Pema Diki Sherpa, along with cameraperson Ang Tshering Lama, reached the summit at 1 pm (local time). Other members -- Pujan Acharya, Maya Gurung and team leader Shailee Basnet, could not continue with the climb because of health issues.
The team aims to complete their campaign by climbing Vinson Massif – the tallest peak on Antarctica – this December.
TAAN has provided financial assistance to the team.

TAAN Organizes tree plantation program

             Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) celebrated World Environment Day 2014 on Thursday by organizing a tree plantation program in Jalbinayak Community Forest of Kirtipur.Office-bearers and executive committee members of TAAN, representatives of different travel trade associations, tourism entrepreneurs, media persons, and members of Jalbinayak Community Forest Users’ Group participated in the plantation program. Around 500 saplings of different species were planted on the occasion.World Environment Day 2014 is being organized all over the world on Thursday with the slogan ‘Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level’.TAAN President Ramesh Dhamala inaugurated the program by planting the sapling of pine tree. Speaking on the occasion, Dhamala said TAAN would join hands with the local community to protect the plantation area.Speaking on the occasion, Sagar Pandey, general secretary of TAAN, said the association would give continuity to similar programs in the coming year as well. Vida Hirachan, coordinator of Sustainable and Eco-Tourism Department of TAAN, said TAAN plans to promote the area as TAAN Forest. “We will erect fences and appoint gardener to make sure that the plants are not destroyed by cattle,” she added.Indra Maharjan, president of Jalbinayak Community Forest Users Group, expressed commitment to preserve the plantation area. TAAN has been organizing different programs to celebrate World Environment Day. Last year, it had organized plantation program in Martyrs Memorial Park in Kavresthali VDC, Kathmandu. Source by TAAN

Bardiya wildlite

 Bardiya nationalpark lies in the western plains of Nepal and is the home to the last remaining wild elephants of south Asia this tour offer 250 species of birds and 30 species of mammals in their natural habitat . the park comprises of grasslands and forests . Bardia has a large humber of deer species like the chita the hog deer barasingha sambar and  the swamp deer among others other animals included the antelope the blue bull and Himalayan tanr langur monkey rhesus macaque and the sloth bear