Nepal attempts to rebuild tourism industry

Photo: JMHullot

Rebuilding work has been active in Nepal in recent weeks, following two devastating earthquakes.

The first occurred on 25th April with an epicentre 81km west of Kathmandu. There was extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, particularly outside the Kathmandu valley.

On 12th May, a second took place with an epicentre in a rural area near Mount Everest. Further damage was caused and there were extensive landslides in rural areas.

Alongside the architectural recovery, though, officials are also keen to rebuild its tourism industry.

Two trekking routes, including the famous Langtang route, were closed during the quakes, while hotels were also damaged. Nonetheless, Nepal is hoping to prepare  ready for the return of the trekking season in autumn.

"It has been hard," Sujan Sijapati, operations manager for Intrepid Travel in Nepal, tells The Telegraph. "The earthquake meant that the season finished early and we’ve already written off the coming month to focus on rebuilding for the coming season."

While hotels have since been filled by aid workers rather than workers, trekking routes at the bottom of Mount Everest is being reopened, with most routes still intact.

For the moment, though, the work continues.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise British visitors against "all but essential travel" to Nepal, warning of a continued risk of aftershocks and an increased risk of further landslides and avalanches in the mountains, including in all trekking areas.

"Some major roads are open, but conditions are hazardous and many roads in the mountains are blocked by landslides," adds the FCO.