The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is facing significant delays in its operations due to the absence of a functioning executive committee and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The ongoing fiscal year’s budget approval is not the only issue at hand; the implementation of critical safety measures, such as the establishment of TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) checkposts, is also stalled.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism has failed to convene the board’s executive committee meetings, which has had a widespread impact on the board’s activities. According to the current arrangement, the Secretary of Tourism is also the chairman of the board. The NTB has been leaderless since the term of its former CEO, Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, ended. Although the process to appoint a new CEO is underway, it has been halted by a court order.
On Falgun 19, 2079 the NTB decided that no foreign nationals would be allowed to trek alone from Chaitra 18, 2079. Despite this decision, implementation has not occurred. The lack of checkposts for monitoring individual trekkers has continued to pose risks, with tourists trekking alone still facing potential dangers due to inadequate identification of their locations, delays in rescue operations, and increased incidents of tourists going missing.
Ganesh Pandey, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, stated that delays in board meetings have further postponed the installation of TIMS checkposts. Nilhari Bastola, President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), emphasized that the Secretary needs to hold a board meeting to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) required for the implementation of checkposts. He mentioned that once the Secretary convenes a meeting and makes a decision, the work to install checkposts will commence. Bastoala expressed hope that the issue will be resolved in the upcoming board meeting.
Currently, there are plans to set up checkposts at 15 locations, with initial installations in key trekking areas such as Annapurna, Langtang, Everest, Jomsom, and the Helambu region near Kathmandu. Additional checkposts will be established in other tourist areas as needed.
Bastoala highlighted that despite the lack of formal checkposts, tourists have been purchasing TIMS cards and trekking alone. The implementation of mandatory guide requirements will enhance safety by aiding in rescue operations and ensuring overall security for trekkers.
