We asked Journeys Nepal director Narayan to share in his own words why he hopes tourists will return to Nepal in 2016. Here are his thoughts.
Hello and Namaste,
After the devastating earthquake, most of the old buildings (made out of mud, stone and wood) were badly damaged or destroyed. Immediately after the earthquake in April 2015, the Journeys staff of Nepal, including myself, visited many areas affected and learned what is most important to the victims.
First, we visited the epicenter of the earthquake, Gorkha, Barpak, and second we visited the Dolakha district. People were staying out of their homes in open areas, scared of the many aftershocks. Their houses were totally destroyed; rebuilding needed to start from scratch but villagers were not sure where to start.
It is difficult to put the experience in words. I saw kids and older people suffering, and many people injured or dead. When I first visited Khokana and Bungamati, ancient villages where I have taken most of my clients to show them traditional houses, cultures, and temples, I cried. There were no houses, some were dead and buried in the rubble, family members were crying in front of their destroyed homes with bodies inside. I prayed to God that it wasn’t real, that I was sleeping and in a horrible dream.
But it was not a dream. It was real. To support and encourage villagers to move on, the Journeys team started a rescue and relief program. We have provided several basic necessities, such as drinking water, food, clothing, medicines, tent, and tarps to the remote areas and in Kathmandu Valley. We are still working to rebuild schools, community houses and local people’s shelters.
I know many people of you reading this have already visited Nepal and you might be looking to travel to new destinations. Or maybe you have never been to Nepal. Either way, I hope you will think about visiting Nepal in 2016. This is the best and perfect time to visit Nepal. Come and join us for life-changing adventure, for big smiling locals and the snow-capped slopes of the Himalayas.
And despite the earthquake that shook the region in April, those things haven’t changed. The mountains are still here, the trails are still open, the people as welcoming as ever. NOW WE WANT YOU BACK, so if you want to know the best way to help the country, the answer is pretty simple: VISIT.
Tourism is the biggest economy of Nepal but the year 2015 was not a good year for Nepal tourism industry. Even though the earthquake did not cause much destruction in the tourism infrastructure, it has pushed the tourism industry down a steep decline. The New Year of 2016 has brought new hopes in Nepali people’s heart. We want to see you again, and we ask for your help in boosting tourism again. So I request that you VISIT NEPAL in 2016 so people can get back in their jobs and be able to support their families.
Journeys Nepal has been leading trips for many years and our local leaders, guides, porters and ground staff are well experienced and the best qualified people to lead you to your destinations. Our small group style of travel means that you will stay under the radar, travel the local way, eat the local way, with small groups and big adventures.
To learn more about Journeys 2016 trips to Nepal, visit our website or call our adventure specialists at 800-255-8735. Two trips designed this year specifically to support Nepal and encourage more tourism are Hands on the Himalayas, a volunteer-focused trip, and Nepal Family Adventure, a great way to introduce Nepal to every age.
To learn about Journeys’ rebuilding efforts in Nepal, read the Earth Preservation Fund’s updates.
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