kabarsula ‘Don’t cancel Nepal’: Travel industry urges travellers to return after devastating floods bandar SLOT INDONESIA

Travel operators are urging travellers not to abandon Nepal following devastating flooding and landslides, warning that cancellations to unaffected regions could inflict further damage on communities heavily reliant on tourism.

World Expeditions CEO Sue Badyari said the scale of the disaster was unlike the seasonal flooding and landslides Nepal typically experiences during its monsoon.

“This was completely unprecedented,” Badyari told Travel Weekly.

“The scale of this has never been seen before.”

However, Badyari stressed that the devastation has been concentrated in a particular corridor and that many of Nepal’s major tourism regions remain unaffected.

“Places like the Everest area, Annapurna, Manaslu [and] Mustang… they are all open, and the autumn season has really started well,” she said.

Kathmandu was also avoided by the disaster, Badyari said, with the airport and services in the capital continuing to operate as normal.

With Nepal now entering its peak trekking season, Badyari said staying away from unaffected regions could have unintended consequences for communities dependent on tourism.

“Continuing to travel to the unaffected regions of Nepal really, though, is the most useful thing that a visitor can do right now,” she said.

“Tourism supports such a huge amount of Nepal’s community – the guides, porters, the lodge owners, drivers, families across the country – and any cancellations really just hurt those people.”

Intrepid: Tourism can support recovery

Intrepid Travel has echoed the call, saying tourism has an important role to play in Nepal’s recovery.

“The recent flooding and landslides have had a significant impact on many local communities, but there is also an important role for tourism to play in the country’s recovery,” Yalamber Rai, general manager Nepal at Intrepid Travel, said.

“Many parts of Nepal remain open to travellers, and where it is safe to operate, our trips are continuing.”

Intrepid said none of its groups were in the affected areas at the time of the incident and its local teams have been monitoring conditions and adapting itineraries where necessary.

The operator has made precautionary changes to some trips, including replacing white-water rafting with alternative activities on selected departures and using alternative road routes between Kathmandu and Pokhara where required.

“For travellers considering Nepal, we want people to know that the country remains a welcoming destination and that travelling responsibly can be part of supporting its recovery,” Rai said.

“Tourism provides vital income for guides, porters, hotels, lodges, drivers, restaurants and many other local businesses, so choosing to travel, stay locally and spend with local businesses can have a direct and positive impact on communities.”

Rai advised travellers to stay informed, monitor government travel advice and ensure they have appropriate travel insurance.

“Recovery will take time, but responsible tourism can play an important role in helping communities rebuild, while giving travellers the opportunity to experience the country and support the people who make it so special,” he said.

‘That border is completely obliterated’

While many of Nepal’s best-known tourism regions remain open, Badyari said the impact on the Nepal-Tibet border region was significant.

The disaster destroyed a major border crossing between Nepal and Tibet, disrupting a route used by thousands of pilgrims and travellers.

“That border is completely obliterated. It’s gone,” Badyari said.

“Currently there is no way to get from Nepal into Tibet other than flying or coming in via China.”

She said the impact on Tibetan tourism businesses had received comparatively little attention.

“The impact on Tibetan families and businesses, which gets far less attention, is also very real because tourism is such a vital source of income for Tibetans as well,” she said.

Tourism seasons are shifting

Badyari also said World Expeditions was already adjusting its Nepal program as changing weather patterns push the monsoon season later.

“The monsoon is going probably two weeks later,” she said.

“It used to really be quite clear cut. Middle of September, it finished, but [it’s] pushing into later September.”

World Expeditions is consequently moving departures later and generally avoiding trekking trips until very late September, outside areas that sit within Nepal’s rain shadow.

Badyari said October was now the real beginning of Nepal’s peak trekking season.

Despite the devastation experienced by affected communities, her message from World Expeditions’ teams on the ground was simple.

“Come with enthusiasm. The people are really excited that people are still coming,” she said.

“We’ve been up there for 45 years operating, and we’ve got a lot of guides and porters and cooks and drivers, and they’re all [of] the same sentiment: please don’t hesitate to come to Nepal at this point.”