Exploring Nepal: Foreign Tourists Prohibited from Unguided Trekking
Starting April 1, 2023, Nepal will enforce a new regulation that prohibits foreign tourists from embarking on unguided treks. According to Maniraj Lamichhane, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board. The decision was made to enhance the safety of tourists, facilitate swift rescue operations, and streamline management procedures. Prior to the pandemic, around 51,000 Free Individual Trekkers (FIT) traveled to Nepal annually and obtain TIMS cards from the Nepal Tourism Board and Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) card-selling agencies to journey independently.
To implement the new regulation. All tourists will need to acquire the same type of TIMS card, which will cost Rs. 2000 per person and should be accompanied by a guide from a trekking company. The board decided to raise the TIMS card fee to equalize the cost of the card for all tourists and maintain quality while enhancing the safety of those embarking on Nepal’s adventure destinations. Citizens of SAARC countries will now pay Rs. 1000, up from Rs. 200, to acquire the card.
To avoid negative messaging to tourists, Director Lamichhane clarified that. The decision was taken after discussing it with the tourism board and businessmen, and the move would help generate more jobs and promote sustainable tourism. Additionally, the board has decided to simplify the process of obtaining a team card by allowing tourists to apply for the card online.
In summary, the new regulation will ensure the safety of foreign tourists traveling to Nepal, enable swift rescue operations in case of emergencies, create more job opportunities, and promote sustainable tourism.
