Nepal's tourism activities are concentrated mainly in the western and eastern regions stretching from Pokhara in the west to Taplejung in the east as all eight 8,000-metre peaks are located in these regions.

Also the local communities have gained knowledge, skills and expertise to run trekking, mountaineering and hospitality businesses. The Mid- and Far-Western regions, which lag far behind in the national human development index, have not been able to reap benefits from the natural beauty and exotic landscapes that they have due to lack of infrastructure necessary for the development of the tourism industry. Bardiya National Park, Khaptad National Park and Saipal mountain range are some of the attractive tourist products, which could help boost the local economy and provide job opportunities to tens of thousands of people in the hospitality industry provided there is better infrastructure, such as hotels and lodges, restaurants, homestays and communication facilities along the trekking routes. A few years ago, the federal government had identified more than 100 new tourism destinations to attract domestic and foreign tourists. However, the plan to develop them as major tourist destinations has been shelved due to lack of preparations from the concerned agencies and the local levels.

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Mt Saipal, a virgin peak, waiting for daring climbers

Chances of heavy snowfall in high regions in most of western Nepal

The 7,031-metre-high Mt Saipal in Bajhang is one of the highest peaks in far-west Nepal, which can attract many more tourists from within and outside the country if the federal government and Sudurpaschim Province, in close coordination with the local levels, come out with a long-term plan to develop trekking routes up to its foothills. Seventy years since mankind's active engagement on the Himalayan peaks, no climber has scaled this technically difficult mountain so far. A 37-member expedition had attempted to conquer the peak four years ago, and another all-women team in 2018. But all of them failed in their mission due to lack of a fully-developed climbing route. Till date, more than 100 peaks have been identified there for climbing, but none has been scaled. Climbing routes to the peaks must be first developed by experts before we can expect others to attempt them.

Finding climbing routes to the 100 peaks identified by the government is just one step forward. We also need to develop trekking routes to the foothills of these peaks so that many more tourists could venture out there. Sudurpaschim provincial government and the locals levels can work together to develop the trekking routes with the provision of hotels and lodges along the trails. However, the local people do not have any knowledge, skills and experience to run hotels, lodges and homestays on par with what we see in the eastern part of the country. In order to gain experience in operating the hospitality business by the local folks, the local levels in the far-west should allow entrepreneurs from outside to make investment in it. Till date, the local people are averse to the idea of 'outsiders' running hotels close to Saipal Himal and its trails, which have been awaiting mountaineers and trekkers for decades. The locals will not gain experience in running this business overnight unless they welcome investment from outside.

Call off strike

Strikes, arson and vandalism have gripped Siraha district since the past one week after farmers were arrested for breaking into a rural municipality storehouse and looting wheat seeds. Janamat Party cadres torched vehicles for refusing to abide by the bandh orders on Tuesday and Wednesday, forcing the District Administration Office to issue prohibitory orders for two days. The issue could have been settled through discussion at the local level, but the regional party needed a pretext to make itself heard. And as always, a party is just too happy to protest by disrupting the peace through bandhs, arson and vandalism.

The arrested farmers would not have dared loot the storehouse if the party had not backed them. So a grave crime has been committed. On the other hand, the local level, namely Aurahi Rural Municipality, must clarify why wheat seeds were not being made available to the farmers in time, which forced them to resort to the extreme measure. The Janamat Party should call off the protests and settle the issue through peaceful means. Should violence escalate in the district, there is a possibility of infiltration by unwanted elements, which could jeopardise peace and security in the district for a long time.