The Last Resort, Nepal's only bungee jumping company, has played a major role in developing adventure tourism here. It was padlocked by locals Tuesday evening. The suspension bridge from which bungee jumping takes place was built though the joint investment of Nepali and foreign nationals in 2000 and spans the Bhote Kosi River in Sindhupalchok District, but locals are now claiming ownership.

"The locals have padlocked the doors at the jumping point in the middle of the bridge," says Bishnu Neupane, director of The Last Resort. "They have demanded that the ownership of the bridge be handed over to the VDCs and that the resort should rent it to use it."

Listi and Marming VDCs lie on the periphery of the resort, and locals from these VDCs have been making such demands over the last 14 months. Although meetings were held between the officials of the resort and the representatives of the VDCs all day on Tuesday, they could not come to an agreement.

"This bridge is private property, built on land we own. The locals of both VDCs have been allowed to use the bridge," explains Neupane. "We have contributed Rs 3.3 million to the two VDCs for their development."

During the meeting, Neupane offered the VDCs an additional Rs 4 million each. Although Marming agreed to the proposal, Listi did not. Another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday with the mediation of the district administration.
Neupane adds: "We have had a smooth relationship with the locals for many years. This sudden action has baffled our foreign partners. They say that they cannot understand why they are not being allowed to work even though they had helped the locals with honest intentions." Neupane has warned that this incident will send out negative messages in the run-up to Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

The Last Resort was set up 11 years ago for the purpose of bungee jumping, through a joint investment of Rs 15 million from four individuals from New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, and Nepal. The resort is spread over an area of 0.63 hectares and has 25 two-person tents.

Over 15,000 people have visited The Last Resort to dive from the bridge into a narrow gorge from a height of 160 metres. Nepali nationals are charged Rs 3,000 while foreigners are charged 65 Euros, for a package including transportation and lunch.

Editor's Note: The locals agreed on Wednesday to allow the resort's continued operation in exchange for additional financial support to the VDCs.

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