Big preparations are on for the Visit Nepal Year 2011. The government has announced big plans. The national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), is learnt to have been preparing to add new aircraft in conjunction with this upcoming event. Indeed, increased tourist flow into the country would be a welcome relief against the backdrop of an aggravating economic crisis. However, a reality check becomes necessary at this point. Rather than complain about the garbage, electricity, water, etcetera, let us focus on just one of those aspects - the very lack of infrastructure at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) can play a spoilsport to the success of VNY 2011.

Imagine a tourist coming to Nepal for the first time via air. Naturally, they would encounter the TIA, where lack of clear directions at the arrival gate and at the lounge would baffle him. The immigration forms for Nepalis and foreigners are of two types — but there are no directions as to which one the tourists are supposed to fill in. After fiddling around with the forms, they have to queue in front of the very few manned counters. More often, they are likely to see immigration officers idling around instead of manning more stations to facilitate the process. Things haven’t changed in years, why should it now!

The tourist now arrives at the immigration counter and is now faced with a problem because the airport doesn’t accept credit cards, in this day and age. Of course, there is no ATM in the vicinity, either. Somehow they manage and pass through to the baggage arrival.

And here’s where they face the real snag: No trolleys! Sad, that Nepal’s only international airport doesn’t have enough trolleys for passengers. They observe smart

locals hurrying around to go outside the terminal to fetch one themselves without any complaints from the stationed security personnel (forget the security breach during the process).

In the end, without any help whatsoever from the airport authorities, the tourist finally gives in and carries his/her luggage all the way outside the terminal. Tired, frustrated, angry, they hope to get out and just leave this disorganised place as fast as possible, but there, too, they have no choice with taxis — apart from the dedicated “airport taxis” that charge tourists too much. If the tourist is a privately invited guest of a Nepali resident, chances are, they will have to walk with the luggage half a kilometre to the main gate as no shuttle service is provided by the Airport authority.

It should also be noted that should the person travelling this way be a Nepali, it is most likely

that s/he has to walk all the way to the main gates as private vehicles are not allowed to come to pick up family members.

Of course, the incumbent TIA authorities either pretend not to know or are unable to do anything about this. It is high time that the government opens its eyes and takes a serious look at problems plaguing TIA. Start with this small improvement. Visit Nepal Year 2011 is not likely to succeed, otherwise.