Domestic tourist in Nepal
Nepal tourism focused on domestic travellers following the COVID-19 pandemic. Nepalis began to travel in larger numbers after the insurgency, and this trend has grown since then. However, officials and entrepreneurs need to do more, experts say. In 2018, domestic tourists spent 56 per cent of the World Travel & Tourism Council's total revenue of Rs 240.7 billion on treks like Annapurna base camp, Mardi Himal, Poon Hill, Langtang, and Everest base camp.
Hotel Association of Nepal's Shah said government support and cooperation are extremely important to the industry. "The government announced financial incentives this year for its employees to travel within the country for leisure, but so far we haven't heard anything about it. "At a time like today, this could have been very beneficial for the industry."
In an effort to boost tourism, the Tourism Ministry announced in September that it would be proposing a two-day weekend to the Cabinet.
The move could provide a huge boost to the domestic market. In a place like Kathmandu, on a two-day weekend, domestic tourists will flood into the valley's rim," said Shah. "Unfortunately, it has been two months since the Tourism Ministry made its announcement, so we have not heard anything about it."
However, it is not just the government that needs to help domestic tourism. According to industry experts, the industry needs to make changes and improve things in order for domestic tourism to grow.
"The industry needs to better understand the domestic tourism sector and make adjustments accordingly.". Adhikari noted that food and beverage is an area that needs more attention. “Unlike foreigners, we Nepalis love spice in our food, so hotels that cater to foreigners and are used to preparing food a certain way will need to adapt.”
Another area of the industry that needs improvement is service, say, industry stakeholders. In years past, foreign tourists have been given preferential treatment by establishments that cater to foreign tourists.
Despite a dramatic improvement in the situation over the past few years, foreigners continue to receive preferential treatment, says Karki.
It is deeply ingrained in our minds that western tourists are more valuable and the only way to change that is for hospitality staff to be better trained.
Both in the hotels and lodges along the trekking routes and in the cities, this is evident.
I was treated differently at a leading hotel in the city when I visited wearing a suit versus jeans and shirt," said Lakai. "This clearly shows a lack of professionalism and a lack of understanding hospitality, which means treating every guest with care and without judgment."
In addition, there's a notion, says Lakai, that domestic tourists are extremely pricing sensitive.
While this is true in part, Lakai noted that there is a growing segment of domestic tourists who are willing to spend money when they feel they get their money's worth, and the industry must understand the importance of providing value for money.
Domestic tourism is the backbone of any tourism industry, and this is no different for ours. He said, "It's time we recognize that as well as work accordingly to achieve it.".
Here are cost details for Nepali trekkers who do any Nepal trek
Nepal Wilderness Trekking Pvt offers The cost of hiring a guide for Nepali trekkers to any trek of Nepal Annapurna or Everest base camp trek.
- The guide wage is Rs 2500 per day,
- Porter cum guide is Rs 2200 per day,
- Porter is U$D 2000 per day, which includes 3-time meals, accommodations, equipment, insurance, and salary. When you hire a guide service
- taxes and one-time services charges are Rs 1000 per person.
WhatsApp Number 9849693351 and email: info@nepalindependentguide.com
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