Group trekkers down 77 percent in September

KATHMANDU, Nov 2 : Although the number of free individual trekkers (FITs) hasn’t seen much decline in the wake of the earthquake, the number of group trekkers seems to have plunged.

Figures from the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) show that the number of group trekkers who have taken Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) cards in September went down by 77 percent compared to the same month last year.

TAAN distributes TIMS cards to trekkers traveling in groups while Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) issues TIMS cards to FITs.

As per the TAAN data, a total of 3,284 group trekkers received TIMS cards in September this year, down from 14,286 in September 2014.

Chandra Rijal, president of TAAN, said that this year the earthquake affected the spring trekking season while the economic blockade and protests in the Tarai have affected the autumn season.

“It is very disappointing that the number of group trekkers has gone down drastically compared to last year. Group trekkers are high spenders and benefit people at all level, from porters and guides to the locals of the trekking areas, besides the travel and trekking agents,” said Rijal.

A total of 117,404 trekkers received group TIMS in 2014 and this is expected to go down more than 50 percent this year, according to tourism entrepreneurs.
However, the number of FITs went down only 19 percent. According to NTB, a total of 895 FITs applied for TIMS cards in September. Of them, only 53 cancelled their trips. Last year, 1,009 FITs trekked in Nepal in September.

Rijal said that FITs make decisions on their own and are not afraid to take risks. Hence the number of FITs is not as badly affected as that of group trekkers who cancel their trips if just one member of the group does not want to take any risk at the time.

NTB and TAAN figures show that more than 6,326 trekkers trekked in Nepal after the earthquake until August. A total of 1,229 FITs and 5,097 group trekkers trekked in Nepal after the April earthquake until September.

Group tourists also take their decisions on the basis of travel advisories, and when travel advisories are tightened by different countries, this has a serious impact on the number of group travelers.

Raj Gyawali of Social Tours said group travelers make bookings in advance and at the time of the bookings there were insurance issues due to the backlash from travel advisories.

“When travel advisories are issued and insurance is affected, group travelers cancel their trips in advance,” said Gyawali.

Tourism entrepreneurs say that it is adventure tourists that help recovery in Nepal’s tourism. But adventure tourism has been badly hit since a few years due to natural causes and this year was no exception. The two trekking seasons were badly hit by the earthquake and the blockade respectively.