Nepal prepares to welcome tourists in autumn

• Hit Thapa

Kathmandu: As Nepal is preparing to be ushered into autumn season, foreign tourists are planning to visit Nepal in this season.

Tourists can now enter inside Kathmandu valley as four month long lockdown imposed in the valley due to Covid-19 has been lifted on Wednesday according to Xinhua.

Despite lift on ban, certain restriction will continue to be imposed to contain the lethal contagion said the Nepal government sources too. Kali Prasad Prajauli, who is Chief District Officer of Kathmandu district, also confirmed that the lockdown has been lifted after analyzing the situation that the number of Covid-19 cases have significantly decreased and are no longer going to pose risk for the people.

The media reports also carried news about some schools opening in some urban areas and rural areas after seeing no risk for the students. The lift on lockdown has also been looked at favorably as needful thing as Nepal’s national festivals like “Teej” and “Dashain” are coming up soon.

This is a good tiding for some foreigners as 72 hour PCR test is enough to enter Nepal. More over Nepal government has specified that only 7 days quarantine in a hotel and negative report on the 5^th day will allow foreigners to head towards their destinations. It has given a new jest and zeal for the potentially incoming tourists in Nepal.

The latent potential situation for tourism is further motivated by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation that clarified in a statement issued on 9^th May 2021that there is no fear of infection at Mt Everest base camp.

This news also has prodded many of the trekkers and mountaineers to book their adventures with the respective travel agents in Nepal for this upcoming autumn season.

According to the Ministry, 774 people of 86 expedition teams from 79 countries had acquired permission to climb Everest in the last season by following safe healthy measures.

Nepal government has also formed a Covid-19 Crisis facilitation and coordination unit under the command of the ministry’s Joint Secretary Buddisagar Lamichhane to look into any urgency and rescue operation of any tourists stuck up in any adverse situation.

The icefall doctors are also on their way up to Khumbu Icefall to clear hurdles and set up routes to the arrival of this season’s expeditions.

The regular international flights from Nepal to various destinations has also encouraged people to travel without a fear of Covid-19 despite rumors about spreading second variant of Covid-19 in the country.

Nepal’s emigration department has also issued notices that those foreign tourists who are stuck up in Nepal after nationwide lockdowns can renew their visas and continue their stay in Nepal after December 2020.

The department has also opened options for seeking visa on arrival and taking visa from the Nepali embassies abroad to enter Nepal with all safety measures adopted.

One of the easiest processes to come to Nepal is to submit essential papers to the respective agents in Nepal who in their turn submit those documents to Nepal Tourism Board-NTB- that can finally give a green signal for your easy entry in Nepal without much hurdles.

The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municpality has already issued notices to the foreigners that they might visit Everest region by landing at Lukla Airport with proof of PCR test or Vaccination report that provides evidence to the local authorities that your are free from Covid-19. Then there is no hassle to travel around Lukla region or further region.

Even India as opened around 35 border points that are connected with Nepal border to allow tourists to enter Nepal. The recent reports regarding upcoming direct flight operation between Colombo and Nepal by Srilankan Air has also enhanced the chances of tourists’ advent in the country.