Nepal: A Travel Hub in South Asia

Nepal is increasingly becoming a travel, trek and meeting hub in the South Asia region. After ending of the 10 years Civil War, Nepal has become even more popular travel destination. A recent Global Peace Index says that Nepal is the second most peaceful country in the South Asia. The Australia and US-based Institute of Economic and Peace’s ranking shows that when it comes to peace, Nepal is far more ahead than its neighbors like India, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Nepal is even ahead of her northern neighbor China.

That’s one of the reasons why Nepal received a record number of tourists last year. Not only the tourist stay but the average number of days spent by tourists has also increased to a 7-year high in 2011. The trekking route in the Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang region also received increased number of tourist arrivals. The number of mountaineers and the number of their stay also rose in that year.

Not only that, Nepal is also increasingly becoming a meeting hub for regional and international organizations. Various international organizations and companies are finding Nepal a perfect place for conducting their seminars and meetings owing to Nepal’s scenic beauty, pleasant climate, and hospitable people.
Similarly, Nepal also hosted a regional level film festival week recently. Documentary films on environment protection were shown in the festival. The participants were from Nepal, India, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines.

Nepal is also increasing becoming a regional adventure sports center. Besides mountaineering and trekking, you will find opportunity for many adventure activities here: bungee jumping, mountain biking, kayaking, paragliding, rafting, etc. Nepal is also seeing more adventure related infrastructure in its tourism industry. The recent one is the plan of creating an international standard rafting center at Bhotekoshi.

Recently, another adventure sports was introduced in Nepal’s tourist capital of Pokhara: Zipflyer. A popular adventure sport in Europe, Nepal’s Zipflyer is South Asia’s first Zipflyer adventure. This adventure sport takes you on ropes from Pokhara’s Sarankot Hill to Yamdi. You cross and pass by various mountains, jungles, lakes, and rivers. Pokhara’s Zip Line is supposed to be one of world’s fastest and longest Zip–lines.

Trekkers to Mustang records twofold growth

The number of trekkers visiting upper Mustang has doubled compared to last year.

Thanks to reduced royalty and Tibet being closed to foreign tourists that helped to boost the trek there.

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