Rajan Pokhrel

Lukla, June 3:

Tourists from all over the world, including France and UK, said that they found Nepal ‘a safe tourism destination’. Most of the tourists and some serious mountaineers at Solukhumbu, the gateway to the world’s highest summit Mt Everest, recounted no difficulty or threat to their safety. DeMeilleur de St Martin de Belleville, a Frenchman who arrived here on May 12, said he found that the information disseminated by the international media about Nepal has had no factual basis. “Although we were forced to reconsider our plan to visit Nepal several times, we never felt insecure after reaching here,” DeMeilleur said, after his 12-day trip to Solukhumbu from Kathmandu.

Overwhelmed, he said, “Just as Nepal’s scenic beauty is memorable, so is the behaviour of the Nepali people towards tourists.” Teammates Pichoux Nerve, Martz Michel, Guizal Serge and Richard, also from France, echoed his views and said they would always cherish their trip to Nepal. Herve, a professional guide, who is making his 20th trip here, suggested that Nepal should work hard to convince prospective tourists that the negative picture being presented by most of the foreign media, is not true. Peter Richards, who arrived here from UK a week ago, was enchanted with Nepal’s fabulous landscape. Prior to his departure for trekking in the Khumbu region from Lukla, Richards said, “I never felt any security problem.” However, he said envoys of their countries have played a significant role in labelling Nepal as a safe tourism destination after their tour around the country. A few days ago, envoys from France and UK had toured the country. Dr Alain Kuluvers, a Swiss national, who is settled in

Lukla as a health volunteer with his family for years now, also claimed it was ridiculous to portray Nepal as unsafe. He said, “We have no information that the conflict has affected the security of tourists in any way.” Pawan Lama, a local hotelier, said no tourist has complained regarding security. Deputy superintendent of police in the armed police base camp in Lukla, Ojesh Oli, said the security situation in Khumbu region, including Lukla has been good.