Miyamoto’s report will help in tourism recovery
Assessment of trekking trails in two popular trekking areas of the country by an internationally acclaimed engineering company must have instilled confidence on foreign tourists coming to visit Nepal this autumn. Unveiling its assessment reports earlier this month, Miyamoto International – a global earthquake and structural engineering company — termed Annapurna Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit trek in the Annapurna Region and Everest Base Camp trek in the Everest Region safe to travel.
The assessment, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), has declared that Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary trails are safe for trekking. The assessment report states that only 3 percent i.e. 6 out of 250 accommodations along the trails have suffered minor repairable damages and that only around 250 meters track on the trails needs to be rerouted. The study team, however, has suggested carrying out a detailed assessment after the monsoon. “It is recommended that a detailed hazard and risk assessment is undertaken at Bagarchhap to better understand the slope stability and rapid deposition risk to villagers and tourists staying in the area. Until such time as this is complete, we recommend that the risk present at the village is considered intolerably high for overnight occupancy,” the report stated.
Similarly, Miyamoto’s assessment report of Everest Base Camp states 83 percent of the total 710 accommodation facilities — lodges and hotels — along the trail are safe and ready for occupancy. Similarly, none of the bridged along the trail got damaged. In Everest region, the report has suggested rerouting a section of the trail, as well as relocating buildings in the villages of Tok Tok and Benkar to the opposite side of the river in order to reduce risks in the region to tourists and locals. It has also recommended conducting a follow up assessment after the monsoon.
Government officials and travel trade entrepreneurs have long been saying that the earthquake made minimal impact on tourism infrastructures and that the country is ready to welcome visitors for the coming autumn season. Annapurna Region and trekking trails to the west of it and Everest Region and trekking trails to the east of it are untouched by the earthquake. Of the popular trekking areas in the country, only the Langtang Valley trail and Manaslu trail have been damaged. Efforts are underway to restore trails in these areas at the earliest.
Good thing is locals themselves have taken initiative to restore trails and tell tour operators that their villages are safe. Couple of weeks ago, locals of villages on the Tamang Heritage Trail were in Kathmandu, urging tour operators to operate groups in their villages. Similarly, locals of Khumjung in the Everest region also told media persons that the Everest trail and accommodations along the trail are safe.
Miyamoto’s trail assessment strengthens the government’s assortments that trekking areas in the country are safe. It will not only make foreign tourists confident before their visit to Nepal, but will also help to lower travel insurance of potential tourists. Though most of the tourist areas are safe, Nepal’s tourism is suffering because of negative media reports by western media. The challenge at present is to clear negative perception about Nepal. Nepal should tell rest of the world that the country has recovered from the quake and that it is ready to host tourists.
