1. Tell something about yourself ?
-I come from Nepal, like to travel, like to share information about travel and
love multiculturalism.
2. Why do you choose abroad as career enhancement?
- Well, as those Nepalese who decided to come abroad, I also saw better
opportunity here. The quality of education is of course higher and the opportunity
for the job is wider too in the UK. I studied Travel, Tourism and Hospitality courses
in Australia and in UK. This has enhanced my career opportunity whereupon I have
worked at the hotel sector as well as teaching at this area.
3. Why more people are attracted towards tourism and
hospitality?Any reasions.
- This sector covers a vast area from one’s hobby to career opportunity.
Visiting place to place, staying somewhere else away from home and consuming
food and drinks is basically characterised by this sector. A graduate from this sector
may be able to work at a hotel, restaurant, travel agency, tour operating company,
catering company, guest houses, pubs, school/college hostels/cafeterias, prison
accommodation/catering, hospital accommodation/canteen/catering and a as
teacher or a trainer etc.
4. As travel and tourism subject lecturer, why do you think most of the students
are studying this subject in UK?
- It is obviously the name and fame of the UK education which is dominant
all over the world. However the US and Australian degrees are not less recognised
where thousands of international students engage in studies. Job opportunity is higher
at this sector compared to others. Many students are already working at restaurants,
hotels etc. and are determined to pursue career in this area.
5. Travel tourism and hospitality is taken as fast growing business in modern
days? How?
-If you see the history of travel, tourism and hospitality, it dates back to
the Romans travelling for trade, middle age pilgrimages etc. Then, followed by
the affluence of the nations after the Second World War, the increase in personal
disposable income and the rise of tour companies and hotels boosted the idea of
travel. If you talk about today, travelling is not only a hobby, it has become culture
and a part of life. Modern day welfare rules and company laws are making holiday
and travel almost an obligatory / compulsory practice. Such facts if you consider
are acutely contributing towards fast growing of travel and tourism and hospitality
business.
6. You have visited many countries, what similarities and differences have you
found in developed and developing country? what are the factors that make country
developed in modern days?
-Not many but a few including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand,
France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, USA and India are some of the countries I
have visited.
To talk about this issue, it needs a wide analysis. But similarities I saw both in
developed and in developing nation include – levels of extreme lifestyles. As you see
in Kathmandu some second hand cheap goods shops, and such types of shops also
exist in Switzerland, in USA and are in the UK as you can see. Similarly High Street
markets do also exist in both type of countries.
However the differences you can see may include – the confidence and feeling of
security which is obviously higher in developed countries. Tourists are worried of
clean toilet and clean drinking water in developing nations whereas in developed
nations they are looking beyond that. Clearly, cost for travel in a developing nation is
much low compared to the developed.
7. How can we develop tourism in Nepal at local and national level? What
ideas would you suggest?
- Of course this should be the public sectors’ firm and clear regulation
driving the private sector. The liquid political situation and instable governments do
occasionally create hurdles against the tremendous potential of Tourism in Nepal.
You can however see a lot already, Nepal Tourism Board and the Private sector
doing massive efforts by means of initiations such as ‘Visit Nepal Year 1998’ until
today as this year is declared as ‘Visit Lumbini (Birthplace of Lord Buddha) Year
2012’.
At local level, cultural heritages, natural attractions etc. can be better advertised/
marketed while accessibility being better managed. And at national level, a further
destination marketing approach and the well operation of already built-up tourism
system should be continued that can add to the security and confidence of the
tourists. In reality, much is already existent in Nepal due to a long history of tourism.
More systemised local tourist information centres would do more.
8. Nepal is between giant countries India and China. How do you think Nepal
can take advantages?
-Very good and interesting question Meelan. You can imagine the
population of India and China and similarly the number intending tourists in the two
countries. Not only by the open border with India but also cultural and religious ties
with both of the countries are contributing to the flow of tourists. Plainly Nepalese go
shopping in India and China and Chinese and Indians come to Nepal too. Simply,
how many Chinese travel to Swayanbhunath? A massive number every year. How
many Indians travel to Pashupatinath? A massive number every year. On the top of
it the visa free provision with India is making it even easier.
Apart from this, natural beauty for leisure travellers from both of these countries are
equally motivating.
Nepal is already taking advantage from these countries in Tourism. To raise this
advantage however special packages such as all-inclusive and dynamic packages
could be marketed/promoted with speciality to suit to the tourists of respective
culture and nature.
9. What might be short and long term plan for development of tourism in
Nepal? Is there any thing that government need to improve in tourism board of Nepal
for implementation of plan and policy?
- Well, what I have seen in Nepalese context is the system and policies are already
beautifully made but implementation is inconsistent. If only those plans and policies are
effectively and efficiently implemented without organisational and individual selfishness, the
country will be top in tourism as Switzerland.
However, the key point is that ‘THE HUB-CENTER CONCEPT’ should be avoided and the
infrastructure decentralised by further aiding the private sector ventures that already exist
but in a weak position.
10. Nepal is generally popular in trekking, climbing, rafting. What do you think
Nepal can sell other product and services in future?
- Yes you are right, Many established academic documentation also compare the
landscape and natural richness of Nepal with that of Switzerland and New Zealand.
So trekking, white water rafting etc. have been highly popular attractions for a
long time. Apart from them, Eco-tourism; the more modern concept of tourism has
emerged which should be further developed. Further products and services I would
suggest could include Alpine skiing (downhill), campgrounds and caravan parks,
opportunity to drive around at own pace etc. would lure more tourists. I can also
imagine educational tourism which would explore the several uniqueness of Nepal
such as unique species of birds, unique tribes and languages, unique lakes and
rocky built-ups and unique plant species etc.
11. Finally what would you like to advise to a travel tourism and hospitality
students?
-I would say – please explore this sector by traveling, by tasting
awful lot of food and drinks, stay at as many hotels and B&Bs, make as wide as
intercultural interactions around the world and you will find yourself not only at the
best place of knowledge and self-actualisation but also at the best place of career!
