With an increasing number of tourists visiting Jiri, en route to Mt. Everest, local hotels, which were closed down due to the dwindled tourism business, have resumed their operation. Of the total 100 hotels, almost half of them were led to the verge of collapse during the last year. Those who relocated from Jiri, closing their hotels, have now begun returning for resuming their hotel operations, said the locals. According to the police office here, the number of tourists visiting the area during the last three months of the current year totalled to 1,000.

"The number has increased by two fold during the period as compared to the last year," said Raj Kumar Baidawar, Police Inspector. Norbu Sherpa, former president of Jiri Village Development Committee said that not only the hoteliers, but also a large number of industrialists and the businessmen had left Jiri during the last year after the tourists' arrival dramatically declined. "However, recently increased tourists have heaved a sigh of relief to the local hoteliers and other businessmen alike," said he. Harka Maya Jirel of the Hotel Gyabila Pvt. Ltd said that the tourism business is now quite satisfactory.

Jiri that had been recognised as a tourist destination after Admund Hilary and Tenjig Norge scaled Mt Everest for the first time. The locals, meanwhile, are going to establish Tourist Information Centre with a view to promote the tourism industry of the area. We are also trying to make the local hotels more comfortable so as to lengthen average stay of tourists visiting here, said Norbu.

OTHER NEWS

• Tourists' arrival surge by 23 pc in 2003: After three years of heavy decline in total tourist incoming, the Nepali tourism industry witnessed a significant surge of 23 percent in by-air tourist arrival during 2003 as compared to previous year. According to the latest tourism statistics disseminated by the Nepal Tourism Board recently, a total of 265,600 tourist came into Nepal by air in 2003, an increase from 215,922 tourists incoming of the previous year. The statistics reveals that the Indian tourists increased by 33 percent and the tourists from the other countries registered a growth of 23 percent. The NTB has attributed the mega-promotion through Mount Everest Golden Jubilee elebration last May, and the seven month long cease-fire between the government and the Maoists for such robust growth. During the review period, the tourist incoming from Japan, the second largest tourist exporter to Nepal surged by nine percent. Tourists from United States went up by eight percent, from UK by 11 percent and from France by 59 percent.
  
  
• Sherpa starts world tour on bicycle: Phurba Sherpa, 24, from Mamling, Sankhuwasabha commenced world tour on a bicycle painted red and black spreading the message of World Peace and Environment Conservation recently. Speaking at a programme organised to mark the beginning of his tour by May 29 Memorial Trust, the cyclist said, " I would be cycling around the world for the coming 16 years of my life. I hope to cover at least 14 countries on the first leg of my world tour beginning with Bangladesh".
  
  
• Top tourism entrepreneurs felicitated at NTB function: Top ten hotel operators and one each from travel and tours, trekking and rafting companies were felicitated amidst a special function organized on the 5th anniversary of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) recently. Speaking at the programme, Vice-Chairperson of NTB, Ambika Shrestha, said, " The financial contribution made by the awardees to the NTB in the form of Tourist Service Fees is significant since the Government so far has not offered any financial support for its upkeep." Similarly, Tek Bahadur Dangi, Chief Executive Officer of NTB, urged HMG to make available the fixed term budget to the NTB to compete in the regional and international market. He further said that tourism promotion plan depends on the flexibility of budget. Since 1999 there has been a declining trend in the arrival of tourists due to negative publicity, psychological terror and little access to airways. However, the figures of 2003 offer a glimmer of hope for the future. It was made possible due to Destination campaign, Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration and the liberal policy of HMG in recent years, Dangi said.
  
  
• Hearing on Sobhraj's bail appeal next week: The first day of 2004 was not fruitful for Charles Sobhraj. Hearing on his bail appeal that started recently at the Appellate Court, Patan, could not conclude due to time crunch. Advocates Sanjeev Ghimire and Basanta Ram Bhandari completed their part in the hearing, on behalf of Sobhraj. However, government advocates could not present their arguments as the Court hours ended. Sobhraj is currently in judicial custody for hearing on the murders of two foreigners, back in 1975, which Sobhraj is alleged to have committed. Sobhraj also faces a case filed by the Department of Immigration on allegations of using a fake passport for entering Nepal back then. However, the Kathmandu District Court released him on bail on the latter case.
  
  
• Emergency Hospital on Prithvi Highway: With the aims of providing emergency services to passengers injured in road mishaps in the most accident-prone section of the Prithvi Highway, which is Dhading, a Highway Emergency Hospital is being constructed at the Malekhu Bazaar. According to the agreement reached for the construction of this emergency hospital, a social organisation called Friendship Nepal has taken the responsibilities of the entire construction and management of this hospital, and will also be handling the entire financial aspects of this hospital.
  
  
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu