Some European countries still have negative travel advisory for Nepal

KATHMANDU, Aug 3:

Some European countries still have negative travel advisories for Nepal though situation in the country has returned to normalcy after the devastating earthquake.

An analysis of travel advisories of western countries done by Naut Kusters, director of European Center for Eco Agro Tourism (ECEAT), shows many European countries, including France, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Poland, maintain a negative travel advice for Nepal.

"We receive very few tourists from these countries. At a time when we are seeing very few bookings from the major source markets, negative travel advisory from these countries is not a serious matter," Ashok Pokharel, president of Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) said. "However, these countries should soften their advisories after studying the situation in Nepal."

However, it is good for Nepal that Switzerland and Japan never had a negative travel advice for Nepal. Similarly, major source markets have softened their advisories in recent weeks. USA, Finland and Italy recently changed their advice and only provide general precaution warnings. Likewise, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have changed their travel advisory status to a geo-specific advice.

"This also is in line with the UN World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) code of conduct for travel advisories. This is fair toward the destination and is more responsible toward the visitors who need specific information regarding risks," said Kusters also an expert of the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries, the Netherlands popularly known as CBI as per its Dutch acronym in the report.

With the change in travel advisories from major markets, tourism entrepreneurs are hopeful that the number of tourists will increase in the coming season as it will be easier for them to get travel insurance.

"Many countries have softened their travel advisories and we are hopeful that the remaining countries will follow suit. If the European countries do not change their advisory by mid-August, it will affect arrivals from those countries in the coming season," Bijay Amatya, CEO of Kora Tours, said.

Most of the tour operators and hotels in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan have received very nominal booking for September.

"The booking for this season is very nominal. For the coming season, hotels in Chitwan expect to have around 30 to 40 percent occupancy mostly from countries which have softened travel advice for Nepal," Suman Ghimire, first vice president of Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha, said. "We are hopeful that it will increase up to 80 percent in 2016."

Though hotels in Chitwan had launched discounts on roof tariff and meals, hoteliers say it did not help. "Initially we thought that discounts would help us to bring more tourists. Now, we have realized that discount is not everything. Safety is an important factor and travel advisories lower traveler's confidence," Ghimire added.

Source: Republica