At a time when tourism industry is likely to suffer adversely, especially after the recent breakdown of cease-fire, the tourism entrepreneurs have requested the Maoists leaders to ensure that their activities will not hurt any tourist, and the entire tourism industry. "Maoists leaders had assured in the past, and we hope that they will issue a similar statement assuring that tourists will be safe and their movements would go unhindered," said Basanta Raj Mishra, President of Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO). The industry has suffered a lot in the past three years, and when it was showing signs of recovery, the breakdown of cease-fire and an announcement of Nepal bandhs is likely to worsen the situation, he said adding that Maoists' assurance could enlighten the industry.

Daman Nath Dhungana, former facilitator of the Government-Maoists talk said that the civil society should put on strong pressure to both the Maoists and the government so that they will obey the Geneva-3 convention. "If both sides strictly follow the convention, none of the arm-less people and the tourists will be affected from this war," Dhungana said adding that it is most likely that the Maoists would express their commitment in this regard. Dhungana was speaking at a programme organised by the NATO in the capital today seeking assurance from the major political parties and the Maoists that the tourism industry would remain untouched by the current political developments.

Another peace-negotiator Padma Ratna Tuladhar, speaking on the occasion said that his entire effort would be to bring both sides on a same negotiating table and restore peace in the country. "If peace prevails, not just the tourism industry, but the entire nation will progress," he said. Tek Bahadur Dangi, the Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board, expressed that it is evident that the tourist inflow could go down in the days to come as the negative news of breaking down of cease-fire has already spread throughout the globe. "The NTB expects a good inflow of foreigners, if such positive assurance is made by the Maoists and other political parties," Dangi said. Peace is a prime requisite for the growth of tourism industry, and thus we request all concerned to pressurize for the peace.

OTHER NEWS

• Resort owners flay government order banning elephants from park: A meeting of the owners of seven jungle safari resorts located inside the Royal Chitwan National Park today condemned the government order to them to drive their elephants out of the park "immediately", terming it unfair and guided by "personal vendetta". They have demanded that the government be committed to the 20-year-old agreement with them and revoke the order. The concessionaires' reaction has come in the wake of the government order on Wednesday to six out of seven resorts inside the park to drive their elephants out of the park on the ground that they are keeping the elephants in defiance of the agreement. While issuing the order, the government had maintained that the move was necessary to avoid possible protests by the international conservation organisations in the upcoming World Park Congress on Protected Areas, to be held in South Africa on September 8-17, for allowing elephants inside the parks at the cost of bio-diversity and ecology.
  
  
• Shigatse readying to greet hordes of tourists: The sights of road and building constructions and hosts of other activities indicate Shigatse, Tibet's second largest city, is decking itself up for a festival. And with Panchen Lama's famous Tashilhumpu Monastery in the background, this six-hundred-year-old city is fast becoming a doorway for foreign tourists. Over the next one month, this city to the north of Nepal, expects to greet about 100,000 tourists during the 'Mount Everest Culture Festival' being organised by the Shigatse authorities with tourism entrepreneurs. Tourists are expected to flock simultaneously to both Shigatse and the Everest Base Camp. The fair, exhibiting local culture, dance and tourism products, will promote the Everest region. "This cultural carnival will also be a trade fair," says Ying Lisherg, the information director for the regional government of Shigatse. "Nepalese are specially invited to participate in the carnival."
  
  
• 'Import radio equipment fulfilling legal procedures': Ministry of Information and Communications has said that its attention has been drawn to the notice about the importation of radio equipment for the purpose of sales and distribution and the ministry has urged all to import such radio equipment only fulfilling the legal procedures. In accordance with Radio Communications (licence) Regulations 2049, Rule 18, there is the legal provision to take licence for the use, production, distribution and to be amateur control operator or amateur radio operator and own all kinds of radio equipment, Department of Frequency Management and Technology Analysis of the Ministry said in a notice.
  
  
• Tourist arrival up by 25pc in August: The number of total tourists recorded a significant surge for the fifth consecutive month during August. According to the latest tourist arrival figures, there was an increment of 25 percent on the number of tourists last month, when compared to the corresponding period last year. The latest tourism statistics reveals that a total of 21,572 tourists visited Nepal during August 2003, against the arrival of 17,285 tourists into this country in August 2002. Of the total visiting tourists Indians comprised of 39 per cent, remaining being the tourists from third countries. The increase in total tourist arrival is due to the massive promotion that Nepal received during the celebration of Golden Jubilee Celebration of the first ascent of Mount Everest in last May. Experts further say, it was the cease-fire that helped Nepal bringing in more tourists.
  
  
• China festival kicks off in the capital: KATHMANDU, Sept 1 China Festival 2003 kicked off today in the capital amidst a special function. The seven-day festival, held to reinforce bi-lateral economic relations between Nepal and China, offers a wide range of China-made and Nepali goods to local consumers. The first day of the festival today saw a huge queue of local consumers at the Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC), the place where the Chinese Embassy and World Cultural Net are jointly organising the festival. Electronic goods, electric motorbikes, footwear, utensils, and handicrafts, among others, are the popular goods on display that were paid special attention by a huge chunk of visitors. Most of the visitors were surprised to see electric-motorcycle, a new thing for the Kathmanduites, which according to the salesperson, will need only to recharge battery to start the bike. A fully recharged battery could power the bike to run for around 80 kilometers.
  
  
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu