Statistics on tourist arrivals perform an endless flip-flop depending on the disruptions that are a source of extraordinary nuisance, especially to the tourists from across the seas. Of late, the number of foreign tourist arrivals has shot up by 5.8 per cent as compared to the same period last year. Thanks to the interest shown by the EU nations, Japan and South Korea, the scenario has witnessed an improvement while the traditional market of tourists from the SAARC member states has declined by 8.2 per cent.

The year 2007 — being celebrated as Visit Pokhara Year — has ushered in a ray of hope. The success of this campaign and all the others rests with the Nepal Tourism Board officials’ competence in marketing the product in the international arena. Moreover, the important contribution of Korean Air in boosting the rate of tourist arrivals to Nepal cannot be overlooked. Perhaps, Nepal could think of opening its sky further and allowing more such lucrative operations to lure more tourists. Nepal would do well to draw a leaf from Sri Lanka, which despite a prolonged history of civil war, is able to maintain a high growth rate. However, despite the signing of the comprehensive peace treaty (CPT), complete calm and stability continue to dodge the common Nepalis. Though the CPT has sent a positive message to the world outside, it must be backed by concrete actions. As a first step, the politics of violence and the culture of frequent bandhs and chakkajams will have to be not only discouraged but replaced by a culture of purposefulness.