Evolution of Tourism in Nepal

Deepan June 13, 2020

Evolution of Tourism in Nepal

Nepal is rich in flora, fauna and has rich cultural and religious diversity. However, a country rich in natural resources with a shade of Lord Buddha, the height of Mount Everest was locked to foreigners until 1951.

The beginning of tourism in Nepal started through mountain tourism when Mr Hillary and Mr Tenzing successfully ascent mount Everest in 1953. The initial tourists who visited Nepal were American of retirement age.

Nepal issued its first tourist visa in 1955 on request by Borris lissanevitch who pleaded crown prince Mahendra to allow Thomas Cook and son limited to send tourists to Nepal. Mr Borris lissanevitch started the first tourist standard hotel, Hotel Royal. Similarly, Himalayan airlines also started operating flight in 1955 which was a big boon.

In 1956 First five year plan on tourism was developed and the National Tourist development board also came into existence. Similarly, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation started its operation in 1958. Nepal becomes a member of the International Union of Official Travel organization in 1959. There was an increment of tourist by 40% in 1965.

However, Hippies tourist trend started in late 1960. Almost 50% tourist was aged between 16 to 30 years travelling for sex drug as hashish was legal at that time. Hippie tourism lasted from 1960 to 1970 and ended when drugs enforcement administration was introduced in 1973 and hashish consider illegal. Hippie trail came to end in 1979. Hotel Management and Tourism training centre was established in 1972 to provide training to hotel employees and travel agency employee.

During 1975 to 1991, Nepal was in a hot spot for cultural Tourist, adventure seekers and holidaymakers. The tourist count increase from one lakh to 3-4 lakh every year. Nepal celebrated visit Nepal 98 to promote and strengthen tourism. There was a decrease in tourist when Indian Airlines flight was hijacked in 1999 and after the Royal massacre in 2001. Nepal tourism year was celebrated in 2011 and visit Nepal year was celebrated in the year 2020 but stopped due to Coronavirus pandemic.

Now tourism is important to the source of revenue and Nepal is visited by more than 1 million tourists every year. Tourism has now emerged as a major contributor to the country's economy. Nepal was ranked number one travel destination to travel in 2017.