Return of tourists after earthquakes | Is It Safe to Travel to Nepal Now after the Tragic Earthquake?
Nepal is hoping to welcome tourists back to the country in time for the next trekking season in the autumn
Nepal is hoping to welcome tourists back to the country in time for the next trekking season in the autumn, with attractions being rebuilt and trekking routes in the foothills of Mount Everest reopening.
Following the recent devastating earthquakes that killed more than 9,000 people, most hotels and restaurants in Nepal shut down, tourism numbers fell significantly and thousands of porters were left out of work.
“It has been hard,” said Sujan Sijapati, operations manager for Intrepid Travel in Nepal. "The earthquake meant that the season finished early and we’ve already written off the coming month to focus on rebuilding for the coming season."
Two trekking routes, including the popular Langtang trekking route, were closed and hotels damaged in the quakes on April 25, the worst natural disaster in the country since 1934, and its aftershock on May 12, which destroyed nearly half a million houses and left thousands without food or water.
Earthquakes killed more than 9,000 people this year
The aftermath saw holidays cancelled for May, before spreading to the rest of the year. Relief and aid workers were soon filling the hotels left empty by tourists.
There is hope for the next season however, with tourism experts and officials suggesting that the effect of the Gorkha quake will not be long term. Most trekking routes are still intact and could all be reopened by the autumn.
Several of the heritage sites damaged in the Kathmandu Valley are reopening this month, the Nepali Times reports, with Boudhanath stupa, Budanilkantha and Pashupatinath temples, among those that have been declared safe.
Boudhanath stupa
Meanwhile, the vast majority of hotels are apparently being restored as they did not suffer structural damage.
“People are keen for tourists to return – not just hotels and tour operators, but restaurants, gear companies, even those in remote areas rely on tourism. Now there is no work at all,” said Mr Sijapati.
He explained that most tourism companies are privately owned by Nepalese people on a local scale, and so he expects they will have a tough time.
“People have been traumatised, but you can’t cry all the time. People are united to work together to overcome the national crisis. There is a strong sense of patriotism. Things are getting better and becoming more normal. Schools have opened. People are quite positive, they have started laughing and partying and voluntarily clearing debris. There is a strong sense of unity to rebuild Nepal.”
Monkeys outside of Pashupatinath temple
The UN’s World Food Programme revealed last week that thousands of out-of-work porters are being hired to deliver aid to the most remote parts of the quake.
Ang Tsering Sherpa, president of Nepal's mountaineering association, said the scheme would "support the livelihoods of mountain communities who are facing great problems because of the quake".
He said: “This is the time to help the Nepalese people. If you are serious about helping Nepal, don’t just give money, come to Nepal as a tourist.”
People also ask
Independent assessments are being carried out to determine which trekking routes should reopen. Intrepid said it is working with independent safety experts and other government and industry organisations to start an infrastructure assessment on areas like Annapurna.
Mr Sijapati said that travellers he meets on the ground in Nepal seem eager to help a country focused on rebuilding itself.
Intrepid has launched a million pound fundraising campaign that will see all profits from the company’s next season of Nepal trips donated to local and international charities working to rebuild it. The adventure travel specialist is also running three charity treks in the autumn, including one to Everest Base Camp.
For world-wide tourists, Nepal has always been well-known for being an ideal country to explore exotic culture and history, and have thrilling adventures. Yet, the devastating earthquake on April,25 this year brought severe blow to a country whose economy depends heavily on its tourism. With over 8,700 people killed in this tragic earthquake, Nepal had been in chaos for quite a while. Till now, Six months after the quake, was it safe to resume travel in Nepal? The answer was definitely yes!
This map shows where the earthquake and its aftershock took place.
In fact, of the 75districts in Nepal only 14 suffered damage. The hardest hit areas were mostly in the central part of Nepal, including Langtang, Gorkha, Rolwaling, Ganesh Himal (Ruby Valley), Manaslu and Tsum Valley. Though the Everest region suffered deadly avalanche during the quake, the Everest Base Camp sites on both side of Nepal and Tibet were safe to travel under the guidance of professional guide. And part of the trekking routes in Everest regions had already been resumed in autumn to tourists with some alterations to original trekking routes.
Fortunately, many other hot trekking areas and the most of the national parks located in the western and southern Nepal respectively were exempt from this earthquake. Annapurna region, Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, Lumbini, the Upper and the Lower Dolpa, Bardiya, Illam remained safe to visit with stunning beauty and intriguing locals and flora and fauna to explore.
Nepal Top Tourist Attractions
Tourists and locals wandered around the collapsed sites in Durbar Square in Kathmandu.
A bulldozer was cleaning the damaged site in Durbar Square in Patan city.
Tourists ascended Nyatapola temple of Durbar Square in Bhaktapur City
Overall, Three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu, Patan City and Bhaktapur respectively suffered tremendous damage. While the Durbar Square in Bhaktapur City reopened to public on Jun, 15, 2015.
Swayambhunath suffered catastrophic damage with the central white stupa stay intact.
Boudhanath stupa was barely affected by the earthquake.
Pashupatinath Temple remained intact and survived from 7.9-magnitude earthquake.
Unfortunately, Dharhara tower was collapsed and killed many visitors as it fell.
Current life of Nepalese
Shortly after the natural disaster, Nepalese people together with international disaster-relief efforts were busy involving in the rescuing the victims and rebuilding their community. Now the optimistic Nepalese’s life was back to track and kept moving forward.
Ason,on of the oldest neighbors in Kathmandu, became alive again with bustling crowds.
A street vendor is selling chilly soda to passerby in the local market.
A sign signals the steady recovery of tourism in Durbar Square of Bhaktapur City.
.jpg)
Tourists revisit the Durbar Square in Kathmandu after the tragic earthquake.
Nepalese enjoy a peaceful afternoon.
Locals are having their favourite pastime-playing poker.
Souvenir shops reopen and are ready to receive upcoming tourists.
A pottery maker is carrrying newly-made jars around collapsed buildings.
The road to Durbar Square in Kathmandu resumed its usual bustling scene.
The city of Kathmandu got back on track with busy traffic.
Finally, As to the safety of travel in Nepal after the earthquake, Tibet Vista had an exclusive interview with Mr. Ram Pd. Silwal, the president of Friendship Nepal Travel Agency,asking him about disaster relief efforts in Nepal and current recovery situation of Nepalese tourism. check the vid and find out more.
nepal earthquake 2015 effects on tourismimpact of earthquake on tourism industry in nepal
impact on tourism after nepal earthquake
nepal after earthquake
tourism in nepal
steps taken by nepal government after earthquake
effects of nepal earthquake
nepal earthquake 2019
kathmandu post earthquake
nepal earthquakes
earthquake reconstruction nepal
tourism in nepal
nepal after earthquake 2019
nepal earthquake
