Government should help me promote Nepal throughout the world

Eric Valli, the renowned French photographer and director of movies like Caravan, Honey Hunters of Nepal, and Himalayan Gold Rush, among others, was recently awarded with Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA) Sagarmatha Award.

The association honored Valli recognizing his contribution to promotion of Nepali tourism industry in international arena. Kriti Bhuju of Republica talked to Valli to know about his future plans and his expectations from Nepal. Excerpts:

You were recently honored with NATTA Sagarmatha Award for promoting Nepal's tourism industry through your works. What do you plan to do further for the promotion of tourism in Nepal?

What I want to make clear is that I have never promoted Nepal. I have fallen in love with this country and it's a love story for me. I am in love with the beauty of architecture and landscape of villages, as well as tradition, culture, coolness and openness of people living here.

I have been doing my job. Taking pictures, writing books, telling stories and making films related to travel is my profession. While doing my job, I am promoting Nepal knowingly or unknowingly.

What can we expect from this visit?

I am currently busy promoting 'Living Yangtze', which is about the world's largest waterway - the Yangtze River -- in different parts of the world. It is a multi-media work that has explored the link between the untouched natural wisdom of Chinese people and the simplicity of a life in harmony with their lifeblood, the Yangtze River.

My movie Himalayan Gold Rush, which is a Chinese co-production, had 600 million viewers. The movie helped a lot to promote Nepal in China. What can I do better than this?

I arrived here on September 19. Since then I have been visiting mountains, doing research for my new film on resilience of Nepalis. This movie will give an example of tolerance and cooperation of Nepalis to the world mainly after the earthquake till this date when they are facing numerous problems. I plan to launch this film on April 25, 2016.

Do you have any plans to bring more tourists to Nepal?

I have not helped any country to bring tourists and Nepal is not an exception to it. I have been traveling and doing my job and this has helped in bringing more tourists to Nepal. I have written more than 10 books about Nepal and made half a dozen films about different places, culture and tradition of this country. I want to make 'Cultural Encyclopedia' of Nepal and all my works are focused on it.

However, I have to go through different hassles while doing my works in Nepal. I wish that to be facilitated.

What should the government do so that you can work here without any hassles?

I have been facing problems with visa and trekking permits. I have been doing my best without wanting to promote Nepal in the best way I can. You do not have to pay for that. I published 32-page article in National Geographic. It is worth advertisement of millions of dollars.

I would like to continue what I have been doing. But I have never received any help from the government. I would love to have medals and awards. But it would be more beneficial for me if the government waived off visa fee. The government can facilitate me on trekking permits so that I can travel easily as I have portrayed Nepal nicely throughout the world.

I have to wait for more than a week to get a permit. It's ridiculous as I have been portraying good image of Nepal throughout the world.

What message do you want to give to Nepal and Nepalis?

They should stand on their ground and be proud of being a Nepali because it's a beautiful country with rich culture that no one else has. I wish that political parties are not be affected by bigger countries.

The government should make a plan, make a slogan like other countries, film and document its tourism attractions and become stronger so that tourists can come and see incredible culture, tradition and natural beauty. When I come back again I want Nepal to be more peaceful.