TAAN proposes lowering TIMS fee for SAARC nationals

KATHMANDU, Nov 15: Considering the growing attraction of South Asian tourists toward Nepal´s adventure tourism, Trekking Agencies´ Association of Nepal (TAAN) has proposed to the government to issue Trekkers´ Information Management System (TIMS) cards to tourists from South Asian countries at a discounted rate.



Mahindra Singh Thapa, president of TAAN, told Republica that the association has proposed to the government to fix the rate at Rs 200 per person. [break]



At present trekkers traveling in groups need to pay $10 per person, while FITs are required to pay $20 per person.



“The number of South Asian tourists, Indians to be particular, going for short treks is growing in recent months. We should tap this potential segment,” added Thapa. He said the new rates might be enforced from January next year.



According to arrival figures of the first 10 months of 2011, arrivals from South Asia constituted one-third of the total tourist arrivals to the country. Arrivals from India accounted for 27.5 percent of the total arrivals to Nepal.



The country welcomed nearly 120,000 Indian visitors (via air only) over the first 10 months of 2011, a rise of 42.4 percent as compared to figures of the same period of last year.



Not just the numbers, travel agents and hoteliers said daily expenditure of these tourists is also growing. They said South Asian tourists are slowly switching to adventure activities from excursions, religious trips and shopping.



Suraj Lamichhane, deputy general manager of Sita World Travels, said average expenditure of Indian tourists is higher than the average tourist spending, particularly due to their growing attraction toward adventure activities like trekking, rafting and mountain flights. “India is a huge market, but we are still not being able to exploit the potential in a proper way,” Lamichhane added.



Thapa said the number of Indian tourist trekking to Muktinath Temple in Mustang district is showing a steady rise in recent years. “Young India travelers are more interested toward rafting and short treks instead of religious trips and city tours,” he added.



Officials of Everest Hotel, a popular hotel amongst Indian travelers, said Indian visitors constitute more than one-third of their total clientele. “About 30-35 percent of the total tourists we serve are Indians,” Amir K Pradhananga, sales and marketing director of the hotel, told Republica.



He further added that the number of high-end Indian tourist was increasing as compared to the previous year.

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