ABSTRACT
SUMMARY. The sporadic domestic political instability during the last decade, compounded with the ongoing international war on terrorism in Afghanistan and beyond, has created a substantial decline in tourist visits to Nepal. Safety and security are important aspects of travel destination choice and the perceived risk within Nepal and the South Asian region has mired the pace of international tourist arrivals. The objectives of this paper were to examine the state of tourism in Nepal and the negative repercussions of the political instability and international conflict that has thwarted the potential for growth. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@haworthpress.com> Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com>; © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
KEYWORDS. Nepal international arrivals, political instability, terrorism, growth
INTRODUCTION
Tourism in the small Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is a relatively new phenomenon as the country was opened to the Western world in the early 1960s.
The country is nestled among the world’s highest mountains, the Himalayas, and the world’s highest summit, Mt. Everest. The people, the diverse cultures, the majestic grandeur of the sacred Himalayas and the “Shangri-la” mysticism have lured visitors from all corners of the globe. A majority of the international tourists come to Nepal for holiday/pleasure, trekking and mountaineering, predominantly during the tourist season ranging from October to May. Tourist travel occurs within the Kathmandu valley (the international air entry point and the capital city), but the greater part takes place outside the capital at certain destinations, especially at select few protected areas. During the past thirty years, Nepal has experienced an unprecedented growth in tourist arrivals from approximately 6,000 in 1962 to almost 500,000 arrivals, and contributes to 20% of the total foreign exchange (Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2001). However, this influx is steadily decreasing due to the recent heightened political instability and the war on terrorism within the country, the region and beyond.
