In 2009, when former minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hishila Yami spelled out to mark 2011 as national campaign and to allure one million tourist in home. It was nothing more than “tall tale”. Obviously, media and concerned parties yielded Yami’s speech as an ambitious aim of the then government. Nevertheless, her words to some extent have succeeded to grab the attention of outer world followed by hasty preparation form inside home.
Well, but the story is not over! The race has just begin and everyone is counting days to mark whether its success or failure. Media publicity is not enough to allure one million tourists in the nation which has not been recovered yet from a decade long armed conflict.
Undoubtedly, Nepal is one of top 10 tourism destination in the world. Furnish by natural beauty and its diverse culture, no tourist will deny chance to visit Nepal at any cost. But time has come to interrogate our policy makers and system drivers are we prepared to bear responsibility of one million people? Will we be able to provide shelter to those one million people? To cater them? To retreat them? And series of question continues….
At the time when the nation has been trapped to prove itself sustaining peace and security to country people how does it going to bear responsibility of one million tourists? Apart from this hectic tottering question, there must be some positive attempt concealed somewhere.
As we all know after foreign employment, tourism is the key pillar of Nepal’s economy. Tourism not only uplifts the livelihood of urban people but also improves lifestyle of rural dwellers. Moreover, ray of hope is high at the movement as Nepal moves ahead to conclude reconciliation. Once again tourism entrepreneur have stood up to invest their hard earned capital in this sector. And no doubt, if peace sustains in the nation, current figure of visitor arrivals 509,752 will double within two year materializing one million target.
However, to transform this dream into reality, efforts need to sweat out. For sure, 2010 is the year of real challenge for Nepal’s tourism industry to synthesized resources as this is the year Nepal needs to work harder to prepare to allure one million tourists.
If we count on the challenges ahead that Nepal may face during the national campaign-political commitment and regular strikes called on by trade unions and groups comes at the top. Infrastructure and accommodation accessibility are something that can be worked if well planned.
But, major background for tourism “air connectivity” seems tougher to manage within one year to carry on one million tourists. Recently there are 25 airlines connecting various countries to bring 500,000 tourists in the country. This figure of 25 is said to be extend to 32 by the year 2011. Assurance of extending 32 airlines from 25 somehow seems imaginary at the time when Nepal Airlines has halted its connectivity from various destinations. In 1999, tourist arrivals by air were 421,243 but there were hardly 12 international airlines flying to Nepal. In contrast, there were 21 airlines in 2008, and the tourists they carried were 374,661. Similarly, Nepal Airlines brought 123,458 tourists in 1999 but it reduced to 21,000 in 2008. Let’s hope 32 airlines will be operating fly target tourists in the country.
In addition to this, one and only one international airport in the country needs heavy adjustment. The high ambitious scheme of erecting five international airports in five development region by NTY-2011 spelled by former Tourism Minister Yami in 2008 have been despaired in the air.
Aside of all aforesaid challenges, focused one is commitment of political parties and assurance of halting strikes from trade unions. An irony here is that NTY-2011 which had been proposed by Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) is facing rock side from the initiator itself.
NTY-2011 Secretariat has succeeded to collect written commitment from some of the ruling parties but is still striving to convince UCPN-M to materialize their own dream project.  Overall, the hope of hundreds of tourism entrepreneurs and concerned parties has hooked on political parties and their sister wings from calling on strikes and bandhs. This is the time for our political parties and their responsible leaders to prove themselves too. The battle is not between ruling parties and single but the largest opposition party but the battle is all about Nepal and its countrymen.