Despite the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) claiming that foreign travel advice has been toned down in the last year, the over-cautious warnings are still deterring tourists from visiting Nepal.
“The number of tourists could be much bigger if there was no travel advice from foreign ministries,’’ says Sarad Pradham, NTB’s media consultant, “unforeseen things happen everywhere, everyday and Nepal is no different’’. He argues that there is no threat of terrorism in Nepal.
At least seven countries advise tourists not to travel to Nepal because it’s too dangerous. “The US is always trying to link Nepalese organisations with terrorism,’’ he says.
The NTB recently wrote a letter to all western ambassadors in Nepal requesting them to review their advice and Nepal’s Foreign Ministry was also copied in on the letter.
As part of NTY all political parties signed an agreement ensuring the NTB that they will not disrupt 2011 with any strikes or protests that will affect the safety of tourists. The NTB is confident that this agreement will not be broken. “We believe the parties will stick to their word,’’ he says.
The US councilor for public affairs, Terry J White, says the US Embassy has an obligation to provide the American people with fact-based information. “This information is gathered, sifted and distilled into what we think would be useful to our constituents,’’ White says.
President of the Tours and Travel Agents Association, Arjun Prasad Sharma, says this kind of travel advice is produced to prevent foreign ministries from being sued. “This is to protect the jobs of the embassy people and the government people,’’ he says, “the benefit of tourism goes to the grass level people in Nepal, the embassies have to support the people and stop this (travel advice), we don’t need aid, we need business.’’
A British embassy spokesman says there is a general threat of terrorism with any British and American tie. The UK advises all British citizens that there is a threat of terrorism where ever they choose to travel. He says they’re not singling out Nepal. “I think it’s fairly balanced (advice), we have a duty to give advice. Travelers expect to know about potential risks,’’ the spokesman says.
The Australian Embassy updates its travel advice every three months and its intelligence is based on anything that affects Australians. An Australian Embassy spokesman says “I wouldn’t say we’re over cautious, we’re trying to be right on the money to reflect the situation.’’
Michael Cox
Despite the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) claiming that foreign travel advice has been toned down in the last year, the over-cautious warnings are still deterring tourists from visiting Nepal.“The number of tourists could be much bigger if there was no travel advice from foreign ministries,’’ says Sarad Pradham, NTB’s media consultant, “unforeseen things happen everywhere, everyday and Nepal is no different’’. He argues that there is no threat of terrorism in Nepal.
At least seven countries advise tourists not to travel to Nepal because it’s too dangerous. “The US is always trying to link Nepalese organisations with terrorism,’’ he says.
The NTB recently wrote a letter to all western ambassadors in Nepal requesting them to review their advice and Nepal’s Foreign Ministry was also copied in on the letter. As part of NTY all political parties signed an agreement ensuring the NTB that they will not disrupt 2011 with any strikes or protests that will affect the safety of tourists.
The NTB is confident that this agreement will not be broken. “We believe the parties will stick to their word,’’ he says. The US councilor for public affairs, Terry J White, says the US Embassy has an obligation to provide the American people with fact-based information. “This information is gathered, sifted and distilled into what we think would be useful to our constituents,’’ White says.
President of the Tours and Travel Agents Association, Arjun Prasad Sharma, says this kind of travel advice is produced to prevent foreign ministries from being sued. “This is to protect the jobs of the embassy people and the government people,’’ he says, “the benefit of tourism goes to the grass level people in Nepal, the embassies have to support the people and stop this (travel advice), we don’t need aid, we need business.’’
A British embassy spokesman says there is a general threat of terrorism with any British and American tie. The UK advises all British citizens that there is a threat of terrorism where ever they choose to travel. He says they’re not singling out Nepal. “I think it’s fairly balanced (advice), we have a duty to give advice. Travelers expect to know about potential risks,’’ the spokesman says.
The Australian Embassy updates its travel advice every three months and its intelligence is based on anything that affects Australians. An Australian Embassy spokesman says “I wouldn’t say we’re over cautious, we’re trying to be right on the money to reflect the situation.’’
Michael Cox
