NTB bans solo trekking for foreigners from April 1

 

KATHMANDU, March 05: Nepal Tourism Board has closed 'Free Individual Trekker (FIT)' with effect from 1st April 2023.

With this arrangement, foreign tourists in Nepal have to mandatory go on a trek only with a guide through a trekking company.

The NTB has made this decision in accordance with Section 7 of the Nepal Tourism Act 2053 and Section 10 'A' of the trekkers Information Management System, Operation (First Amendment) Guidelines, 2066.

The NTB has said that this decision was made to guarantee the safety of tourists during trekking in Nepal's adventure destinations. In this way, both tourists and guides will be insured.

Nepal Tourism Board and Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) issued permission to sell the card, while traveling alone with the TIMS card, there were problems like tourists getting lost and unsafe during the trek.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, was also interested in this matter and in the discussion between the board of directors and the representatives of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the representatives of the Tourism Workers Trade Union, it was decided to close (FIT) keeping in mind the safety, rescue and management of tourists. Executive Head of Nepal Tourism Board Dr. Dhananjaya Regmi said.

It was said that Nepal should be made a safe tourist destination by all means. This decision has been taken to make the destination safe, easy to rescue and agile management based on the interest, instructions and consent of the stakeholders of the  minister. It will have an overall good message effect,” he said.

Dr. Regmi said that along with this decision, the employment and income of trekking guides in Nepal will also increase. According to the data of the Tourism Board, 30 percent of the total tourists coming to Nepal for trekking are FIT and the total income from them was around 47 percent.

Maniraj Lamichhane, director of the NTB, said that before the Covid-19, around 46,000 tourists came to Nepal annually as 'Free Individual Trekkers (FIT). He also said that after the NTB has discontinued the TIMS card issued for FIT, they will now distribute the same type of TIMS card to all tourists.

Previously, those going on a group tour paid 1,000 rupees per person and those going on a solo tour paid 2,000 rupees per person to get a TIMS card, but now the price of the TIMS card for all tourists will be 2,000 rupees per person.

Director Lamichhane said that in the case of citizens of SAARC countries, it was Rs 200, but now it will be Rs 1,000.

Longtime advocates for this cause include groups like Nepal Trekking, Travels Rafting, Airlines Labor Union  (UNITRAV), and others. Suman Prasad Parajuli, Chairman of UNITRAV, stated that this NTB  resolution is to be welcomed and carefully carried out.

Chairman Parajuli said that when this decision is implemented, the security interests of Nepal's mountain tourism will also be addressed.