The Nepal Tourism Year 2011, which started with the ambitious aim of bringing in one million tourists, is half way through. Yet, we do not seem close to achieving our targets. The five-star hotels are not satisfied with the room occupancy, the locals who invested in home stays are now skeptical about it, and tourism festivals do not look very encouraging.
It is time for us to now evaluate our shortcomings in promoting Nepal internationally. Perhaps we announced the tourism year too soon, without considering the support system required for it. Not enough effort was put in to develop the required infrastructure and little work that had been started was stalled because of the delayed budget. Yes, the budget was delayed, but the Tourism Year Secretariat and the Tourism Board cannot pass the blame on budget delay The truth is both the government and the private sector have failed in promoting the tourism year. Distributing few brochures and posters is not enough to change the perception of Nepal internationally. Little has been done to attract internal tourists.
The politicians too have forgotten their promise of not calling any bandas during 2011. They have conveniently deployed their sister-organisations to call strikes, even against the arrest of a criminal. The best thing to do would be to evaluate tourism year and develop a new strategy for a half-year success.
