Evolution of Tourism in Nepal

Evolution of Tourism in Nepal

Tourism in Ancient Nepal

• Ancient history is mainly based on cultural purpose.
• Manjushree (Tibet) is regarded as first to come Nepal who cut Chobhar hill and let all water go outside making Kathmandu valley liveable.
• Ashoka (India) visited Lumbini, and built Ashoka pillar in (Evidence that Buddha was born in Nepal)
• Famous Chinese traveler, Huien Tsang, visited Lumbini in 643AD.
• Regular visits by Buddhism followere sush as Santarakshit (742 AD), Padma Sambhav (474 AD), Kamalsheel (760 AD), Atisha Dipankar (1000 AD), Milarepa (1010 AD)

Lichhavi Dynasty (400-750AD)

• Marriage relationship between daughter of Amshuverma, Bhrikuti and Tibet king Srong Sten Gampo.
• Established Bilateral linkage established between Tibet and Nepal.
• Araniko visited Tibet and flourished Nepali art there.

Malla Dynasty (750-1480AD)

• In reign of Malla king, westerners began coming Nepal with aim to spread and publicize Christianity.
• Establish good trade link between Tibet and India.
• During Lichhavi and Malla period there had been enormous progress of art and culture. Architecture, paintings and sculpture were tremendously developed.
• Many temples, monuments, sculpture & inscription, festivals stills exists of that time which are center of tourist attraction.
• Chinese, Tibetan and Indians used to visit Nepal specially with religious and commercial motives.

TOURISM AFTER UNIFICATION OF NEPAL (1767 – 1950 AD)

• 1767 AD: Prithivi Narayan Shah unified scattered territories into bigger Nepal.
• 1792 AD: Captain Kirk Patric, a military official came to collect facts about Nepal. He wrote a book “An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal” helped to introduce Nepal to outsiders.
• 1816 AD: Agreement of Sugauli was signed between Nepal and British East India Company.  (Beginning of regular visit of British nationals in Kathmandu. )
• 1850-51 AD: Rana Prime Minister Junga Bdr. Rana visited Britain which brought Kingdom of Nepal into limelight in Europe.
• 1911/21:  King George V & Prince of wales visited Nepal for hunting Tiber.
• Regular visit of Rana Prime Minister to Britain and British officials to Nepal.
• Earliest published record foreign visitors to Nepal found in Percival London’s book ‘Nepal’, where 153 Europeans mostly British are listed to have visited Kathmandu in a period between 1881 to 1925 AD.

TOURISM AFTER 1950

• 104 years autocracy of Rana Regime was ended in 1950.
• Development in Nepal slowly started taking place.
• Road network was established connecting some place of Nepal with Indian Border.
• Only finger count foreigners were given permission to enter Nepal. Mainly for trading, climbing and pilgrimage purpose before 1950.
• 1950: Maurice Herzog became the first person to summit Annapurna I.
• 1952 AD: Swiss geologist Tony Hagen was employed by Nepal Government for mapping geography of Nepal. Travelled 14000km in Himalaya of Nepal and retired in 1972AD.
• Group of wealthy tourist, sponsored student start travelling from England to Nepal overland via Eastern Europe, Turkey, Kasmir, Manali and to Nepal for research and climbing purpose.
• 1953 AD:  Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa climbed Mt. Everest and became first to do so.
• 1950’s is considered most important period in Nepal’s Tourism development.
  World famous 14 over 8000m peaks 7 of 8 in Nepal were conquered.  Annapurna I, Everest, Chooyu, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Lhotse, Dhaulagiri.
• The role of mountain tourism is very significant in the overall tourism sector.
  In fact, tourism in Nepal began with mountain tourism.
• 1955 AD: First tourist visa was issued to Russian citizen Boris Lisanevich, a legendary Hotelier & pioneer in Nepalese tourism. He was invited by King Mahendra to allow Thomas Cook Company to Send Tourist to Nepal. Boris established first hotel “Royal Hotel”.
• 1955 AD: First private airline “Himalaya Airways” began its operations.
• 1956 AD: National Tourism Council set up five year tourism development plan under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
• 1958 AD: Royal Nepal Airlines Cooperation (RNAC) now NAC came in operation.
  Nepal began direct links to Indian Cities and this land locked country became more accessible to outside world.
• Nepal became member of International Union Of official Travel Organization (IUOTO) now World Tourism Organization (WTO) in 1959.
• 1959, tourist info center was established.
• 1959, civil aviation act was introduced.
• 1960, Nepal became member of ICA
• 1960, direct air liked to Delhi and Kolkata
• 1962, taking Tourism statistics started
• 1964, government passed tourism rule
• 1964, Hotel Shankar and 1965, Hotel Annapurna established
• 1964 AD: Jimmy Robert established first Travel agency “Mountain Travel Nepal” to organize trekking and climbing.  Established “Tiger Tops” in Chitwan National Park began promoting and conserving wildlife. Initiated orientation to Nepalese Government about potentiality of Tourism in Nepal. Became a role model in teaching and implementing management in Tourism in Nepal. Considered as “Father of Nepalese Tourism.

1960’s & 1970’s : Hippie culture

Hippies are group of young people who followed liberal anti-war philosophy.

Prime destination for Hippie as buying & selling of Hassish was legal till 1979.

Played crucial role in advertising & promoting Nepal as tourism attraction.

Good ambassador of Nepal as they keep on telling cultural and natural beauties of Nepal on way back their home.

• Until 1965, all 8000+ mountains were captured. Established Nepal as best destination for expedition and climbing.
• 1966, Hotel Soaltee
• 1972, tourism master plan developed with German expertise.
• 1972: NATHM was established by Government of Nepal with UNDP/ILO to produce skilled workforce required by hospitality and tourism industry.
  More than 20,000 professionals has trained from NATHM in different sector such as hotel management, tour and trekking guide etc.
• 1973: Chitwan National Park (CNP) was established to preserve and conserve wildlife.
• 1976, HAN and Tourism Agency
• Feb 23, 1977, Ministry of Tourism
• 1977, election of chairperson of world tourism commission for south Asia.
• 1978, 2nd tourism master plan formulated (Lumbini Master Plan)
• 1979: TAAN was established to regulate, develop, and promote the trekking sector of Nepal.
• 1982, National Tourism Promotion Committee formed
• 4th priority for tourism in budget of fiscal year 1995/96
• 1995, tourism policy approved
• Feb 1997, Nepal tourism Board Act 2057 formulated.
• 1998: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) was established to promote tourism sector.
• 1992: Necon Air and Asian Airlines came into existence.
• 1998: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) was established to promote tourism sector.
• Nepal celebrated “Visit Nepal 98” to strengthen Nepal tourism.

Now, Nepal is member of UNWTO, PATA, ICAO, IAIA etc

During 1950-1998, Nepal became hot spot for holiday makers, adventure seekers and cultural tourists

PRESENT DAY TOURISM IN NEPAL (1999 TO UNTIL NOW)

DARK PERIOD (1999-2005)

• 1999: Hijack of Indian Airlines fleet from TIA.
• 2001 : “Royal Massacre”  Black day in Nepalese history
• 2005: King Gyanendra Coup and suspended constitution.
• Moist rebelled and were active in different part of Nepal.
• Travelers’ were not able to travel freely and felt unsecure.

Results:

• MESSAGE TO OUTER WORLD, NEPAL IS UNSAFE FOR TRAVELLING.
• 50% travel agencies were shut down
• Tourism only concentrated in city area.
• Decrease in length of stay.

PRESENT DAY TOURISM IN NEPAL (2006 TO UNTIL NOW)

• 2006: The comprehensive Peace agreement between Government and Moist was signed.
• Message to outside world, Nepal is now safe for travelling.
• Tourism slowly started picking up.
• The 1st election of the Constituent Assembly was held in Nepal on 10 April 2008.
• 2011: Nepal Tourism Year was celebrated.
• Due to its failure in drafting a new constitution, the CA was dissolved on 28 May 2012.
• Global economic crisis brought downfall in American and European visitors whereas converted into hot tourism destination for Chinese Travelers’.
• 2006: The comprehensive Peace agreement between Government and Moist was signed. Message to outside world, Nepal is now safe for travelling. Tourism slowly started picking up.
• The 1st election of the Constituent Assembly was held in Nepal on 10 April 2008.
• 2011: Nepal Tourism Year was celebrated.
• Due to its failure in drafting a new constitution, the CA was dissolved on 28 May 2012.
• Global economic crisis brought downfall in American and European visitors whereas converted into hot tourism destination for Chinese Travelers’.
• The Second Constituent Assembly election was held on 19 November 2013.
• On 25th April, 2015, at 11:56 local time, a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. But Most of the tourism products are safe, tourism sector in general is highly affected.
• The new constitution which came into effect on September 20, 2015.
• The 2015 Nepal blockade, which began on 23 September 2015 and backed down as of 4 February 2016, is an economic and humanitarian crisis which has severely affected Tourism Industry of Nepal and its economy.

CONCLUSION of Tourism Evolution in Nepal

• Tourism in Nepal faced lots of up’s and downs.
• Great potential in tourism industry
• Proper marketing/promotion needed to increase number of tourist.
• Rural tourism & domestic tourism is to be encouraged.
• Investment in tourism sector is must important.
• Crucial role of government in management, control of illegal activities, development of new destination, and vision for tourism development is needed.

The Evolution of Tourism in the SAARC Region

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