Over 9000 trekkers received TIMS cards online

KATHMANDU, May 07:The number of trekkers who obtain the Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) card and trekking guide online has increased since the government made the TIMS card and trekking guide mandatory for foreign tourists going on a trekking trip.

The Nepal Tourism Board, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), and a combined tourism workers' group have enacted a law requiring foreign tourists visiting Nepal to have a Tims card and a guide.

Since April 1, 9320 trekkers have used the TIMS card. Similarly, over 1,500  trekking companies have accepted the TIMS card over this time period. The government charges Rs 2000 per person for a TIMS card.

According to TAAN President Nilhari Bastola, the Tims card is now available online for the convenience of travellers.

"To make the trek safe, reliable, and orderly, the government has arranged for mandatory guides and team cards," he explains. President Bastola every year claims that more than a dozen trekkers have gone missing while trekking alone, and that guides are required for visitor safety.

"When a tourist goes on a trek alone and gets lost, the message has gone abroad that Nepal is not a safe destination for trekking, and it is important to get rid of it," President Bastola explains.

According to TAAN, making TIMS cards and guides essential will keep tourists safe and provide jobs for Nepalese tourist guides, while companies will pay income to the state, benefiting everyone.