Nepal Government assigns TAAN to implement
Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC)
Registration Required for trekkers
With a view to checking illegal operations in the trekking industry and ensuring safety and security of trekkers, the Nepal Government has introduced a new rule that requires all trekkers to go on trekking in various parts of the country only through registered trekking agencies after obtaining a Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC) from Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN). As an umbrella organization of more than 550 registered trekking companies of Nepal, TAAN has been authorized by the Nepal Government to issue TRC and the new rule is scheduled to come into force from October 1, 2006. TAAN will charge a minimum amount of money as administrative and service fee for issuing TRC. As a record of trekkers, TRC incorporates their personal details, trekking routes, duration, etc. The provision is introduced in order to upgrade the service standard and for better management of sustainable mountain tourism development in Nepal. Trekking without TRC is illegal and subject to charge fines and other punishments in accordance with the laws of the Nepal Government.
Importance and Necessity of TRC
It is very important to have a kind of monitoring and facilitating system in place for any sort of outdoor activity that involves physical risk. Trekking is a major outdoor activity in Nepal's mountain tourism. Given the rugged physical condition and remoteness of almost all trekking areas of Nepal's Himalayan mountain region, a record system is very essential that would be helpful in monitoring the safety and security of trekkers. The past experiences have shown that difficulties have been faced while carrying out rescue operations promptly during the times of natural calamities. Because of lack of proper record system of trekkers, their exact whereabouts and the information about trekking routes, rescue and search missions used to face difficulties in spotting the trekkers missing.
The Nepal Government is very serious about implementing TRC as a mechanism to control all sorts of anomaly, including illegal operations, and to ensure safety and security of trekkers. Therefore, TAAN, as a national tourism organization working in the field of sustainable mountain tourism in Nepal, has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing TRC. As per TAAN’s proposed hassle-free procedure, TRC is being issued to each and every trekker traveling only through the registered trekking agencies.
The decision regarding the introduction of TRC is a welcome step taken in its policies and programmes by the Nepal Government. So, TAAN is in the process of developing a well-managed and efficient system with nominal service charge of Nepali rupees 250 (equivalent US$ 3.5 only) to implement TRC in the open trekking areas of Nepal. TRC is going to be issued from convenient locations of Kathmandu and Pokhara.
TRC Issuing System
The following considerations have been taken into account in the process of issuing TRC:
1. All important details of trekkers and trekking routes will be maintained on a computerized record system that may be useful for safety and security of trekkers and field-staff.
2. The data generated from the system will be useful to all stakeholders -- tourism organizations, government agencies, diplomatic missions, tour operators, research institutes, etc.
3. Unauthorized trekking operations will be controlled, thus, resulting into better management of trekking service and in benefit of all concerned - trekkers, agencies, field - staff, government, etc. and also occasional untoward incidents will be better prevented.
4. TAAN will be able to work more in its effort of preservation of natural and cultural environment in cooperation with local communities. This, in turn, will enable to promote sustainable tourism.
5. The issue of TRC will be so simplified that it would be prompt and inexpensive. The convenient TRC counter in Kathmandu will remain open 12 hours a day all the seven days a week round the year. Pokhara counter will be opened for 9 hours a day. The TRC counters will be located close to the counters of the National Parks and Conservation Areas.
6. TAAN’s Media Centre will have updated information about the conditions of trails and other relevant insights into the trekking areas. The same information also will be updated frequently in the TAAN's web page. Some of the check posts along the trekking routes will be equipped with telephone services by TAAN.
TRC Regulatory Provisions
1. Trekkers must keep Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC) along with them while trekking.
2. TRC must be shown to TAAN authorities, National Park check posts, Conservation Area Project’s check posts and police check posts on demand.
3. Deviation from the prescribed trekking areas shall be taken as a violation of law of the Government of Nepal
4. Trekkers must keep their copies of passports along with them during trekking for verification.
5. TRC shall be non-transferable, non-refundable and non-endorsable and valid only for single entry.
Appeal
TAAN also requests all concerned stakeholders to help disseminate the above information to potential trekkers to Nepal and other related offices and agencies. Any inconvenience that may arise due to implementation of this new rule is regretted.
Thank you for your kind support and cooperation.
Govinda Poudel
(HIMATREK-International
(HIMA ADVENTURE)
Kathmandu , Nepal
(HMG. Regd. No : 11469/056/057) ( MOCTCA Regd. No: 504)
GPO Box # 12135
Tel: + 977-1-4359386 ,Tel/Fax: + 977-1-4359257
Mobile: 98510 70472 / 98510 87638
Kathmandu, Nepal
E-mail:
himatrek@drp.wlink.com.np
info@himatreknepal.com
himatrek@yahoo.com
Webpage:
www.himatrek-international.com,
www.himatreknepal.com
Leading Trekking- Rafting- sightseeing- safari Tour operator in Nepal, India, Tibet, Bhutan
Trekking Registration Certificate issuance procedure to be simple, practical
2006-07-25
TRC issuance procedure to be simple, practical In a bid to collect suggestions and ideas from the member agencies about the implementation of Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC), Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) organized an interaction programme in Kathmandu on July 24, 2006. TAAN officials and member agents were unanimous regarding the procedure of the implementation of TRC. They emphasized the need to adopt a simplified procedure for the issuance of TRC.
As demanded by TAAN, the Nepal Government has introduced the provision of TRC to help control various anomalies, including illegal operation. TRC is likely to come into effect from the last week of September this year. With the implementation of TRC, the visiting trekkers must go on trekking through the registered Nepalese trekking agencies
Addressing the meeting, President of TAAN Mr. Narendra B.C. said that TRC would help check illegal operation in the trekking business. “This will also ensure security of the trekkers, as TAAN will maintain a record system,” B.C. said.
He believed that the implementation of TRC would help maintain quality of the trekking business.
Mr. Deepak Mahat, Immediate Past President of TAAN, said that the suggestions of member agencies would be incorporated in the TRC action plan.
Mr. Mahat, who had been lobbying hard for the introduction of TRC, asked the member agencies to extend their necessary support and cooperation to TAAN for its effective implementation.
Speaking at the gathering, Mr. Phurba Gyalzen Sherpa, First Vice-President of TAAN, lauded the member agencies for their invaluable suggestions.
Extending his welcome address, Mr. Sitaram Sapkota, TAAN’s General Secretary, asked the member agencies to put up their ideas and suggestions regarding TRC to TAAN. Mr. Sapkota also stressed on the need for the member agencies to be serious and sincere while implementing TRC.
Similarly, Mr. Bashu Dev Parajuli, President of TAAN Western Regional Chapter Pokhara, pointed out the need for TRC and asked the member agencies to come up with strong commitment to check illegal operation. On the occasion, member agents Mr. Abir Malla, Mr. D. B. Koirala, Mr. Tilak Bahadur Lama, Mr. Santosh Gautam, Mr. Sagar Pandey, Mr. Govind Prasad Poudel, Mr. Tej Bahadur Bhatta, Mr. Nawaraj Marasini, among others, shared their ideas and views about challenges and opportunities of TRC implementation. Meanwhile, a nine-member TRC implementation taskforce under the coordination of Mr. Deepak Mahat has been formed. Other members of the taskforce include Mr. Phurba Gyalzen Sherpa, Mr. Ganesh Neupane, Mr. Tilak Bahadur Lama, Mr. Mohan Lamsal, Mr. Nawaraj Pandey, Mr. Nawaraj Dahal, Mr. Bashu Dev Parajuli and Ms. Pampha Dhamala. The taskforce has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing an action plan and carry out other necessary preparations for the implementation of TRC.
TAAN
Media Center
Govt introduces TRC
The budget for the fiscal year 2006/07 has accorded high priority to the promotion of the tourism industry. The government has decided to implement the much-awaited Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC) through Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN).
TAAN had been demanding for the implementation of TRC to check illegal operations in the trekking industry.
Apart from this, the government has decided to waive off additional royalties levied on chartered flights. Similarly, 10 percent fee in international flights has been reduced in order to encourage more foreign airlines to fly in Nepal. The provision of rewarding best five tour operators has also been introduced in the new budget.
Likewise, the government will soon sign a new air services agreement with India to bring in more tourists from and via India.
With a total budget outlay of Rs. 143.9 billion, the government has allocated funds for various sectors such as education, health, women, children and rural infrastructure development. Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat presented at the House of Representatives on July 12, 2006.
Maoists not to disturb business sector
Senior leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) showed their commitment to allowing industries to operate smoothly.
The Maoist leaders Prachanda (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) and Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai reiterated their commitment at an interaction with the office bearers of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) in Kathmandu on July 19, 2006.
“The Maoist leaders have assured of their cooperation to the industries. They have said they would create a conducive atmosphere for the industries to operate without any fear and threat,” reads a press statement issued by CNI.
According to CNI, the leaders also said that they were not against globalization and privatization.
“Principally, we do not have any serious concern over engagement of international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank in development activities in Nepal,” the Maoist leaders were quoted as saying.
They, however, said the development activities should not be driven by their priorities, but by the country's own necessities.
They agreed to extend necessary support to create a mutual understanding between the industry management and trade unions.
The Maoist leaders have already said that they will not return to the jungle. They emphasized the need to come up with a new vision and commitment to rebuild the country.
New NTB members administered oath of office
Newly appointed board members of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) were administered an oath of office and secrecy in the presence of Mr. Govind Prasad Pandey, Chairman of NTB and Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) on July 16, 2006.
Those, who took the oath of office, were Mr. Prakash Shrestha, Mr. Basudev Tripathi, Mr. Rajesh Babu Shrestha, Mrs. Bandi Nima Sherpa and Mr. Muktiram Pandey. All of them represent the private sector.
Delivering her welcome address, Mrs. Nandini Lahe Thapa, Officiating Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTB, expressed the belief that the expertise of the newly appointed board members would help give a required boost to Nepal’s tourism industry.
Tourist arrivals shot up in Bhaktapur
The number of foreign tourists visiting the historic and cultural city of Bhaktapur increased by 5.4 percent in the fiscal year 2005/06 as compared to the figure of the previous year.
In the fiscal year 2005/06, a total of 92,230 tourists visited the Bhaktapur city and the municipality collected about Rs. 53.2 million from entry fee, according to the Tourism Section under the Bhaktapur Municipality.
A total of 87,605 tourists visited the city in the fiscal year 2004/05 and the municipality had earned Rs. 52.3 million.
With its age-old architecture and rich culture of the local people, the Bhaktapur city is one of the most important tourist spots in the Kathmandu Valley.
Bhutanese delegates on Nepal familiarization trip
A Bhutanese delegation was on a 10-day familiarization trip to Nepal from July 14 to 23, 2006.
As service providers of the Nabji Trekking Trails and its staffers from the Throngsa National Park and Department of Tourism and officials of Association Bhutan Tour Operators (ABTO), the delegates visited Nepal at an invitation of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), SNV-Nepal and Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP).
During their stay, they visited Kathamandu, Dhunche, Briddim and Pokhara and observed the operation of community-based tourism, homestay tourism operation and local lodges.
They wanted to learn about the development of community-based tourism and the contribution of the national parks in Nepal to the development and promotion of community-based tourism in and around the Chitwan and Langtang National Parks.
Nepal is considered the first country in the Southeast Asian Region to develop community-based tourism. Now this type of tourism has been developed by some more countries in the region such as Vietnam, Laos, India and Thailand.
Sirubari in Syangja district, Ghalegaon Ghanapokhara in Lamjung and Briddim in Rasuwa are models of community-based tourism practices in Nepal
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) in association with other Tourism related organizations (THURAYA, Mountain Bike Club and other) is organizing a 3rd Thuraya TAAN Mountain Bike Championship and Afforestation Program on Monday, 5th June 2006 on the occasion of World Environment Day.
A family member of a missing German trekker has said a badly decomposed body of Kristina Kovasevic has been found in northern Nepal after she was reported missing more than two months ago.
Setting another world record, renowned mountaineer Appa Sherpa has successfully conquered the world's highest peak for the record sixteenth time Friday morning.
Sherpa along with two Sherpas and one American reached atop Mt Everest at around 10.50 a.m. this morning.
One member of "International Everest Expedition 06" team scaled the 8,848-metre Mt. Everest from Tibet side and came across to the Everest Base Camp of Nepal on 13th May 2006.
A team of HG Everest Expedition comprising nine mountaineers, including a diplomat stationed at the British Embassy in Nepal, successfully scaled Mt. Everest on May 18, 2006.
