From now on, tourists will not be able to go on a walk on their own, the fee of ‘TIMS’ card has been increased

From now on, tourists will not be able to go on a walk on their own, the fee of ‘TIMS’ card has been increased

Kathmandu. The foreign tourists had purchased the tourist information management system ‘TIMS’ card distributed by the Nepal Tourism Board and were happily trekking alone.

From now on, the board has decided that no foreigner can go on a walk alone. On Thursday, the meeting of the Nepal Tourism Board decided that no foreigner will be allowed to roam freely. The board said that now when tourists go on a trek, they must take a trekking guide.

According to the vice president of the board, Chandra Rizal, the decision was taken by the board meeting that the tourists could not go on a voluntary walk after the increase in the number of tourists falling and getting injured while hiking alone, difficulties in rescue, loss and death of tourists. He said, “this decision will help in the rescue of injured and sick tourists who are lost and the tourists will be protected.”

Nepal used to be infamous at the international level when tourists who went on their own initiative died and went missing. The decision of the board will be effective from April 1. Earlier, it was decided to close FIT (Free Individual Trekker) from October 1, 2022, but the board did not implement it.

However, after an agreement was reached between the Board, Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAN) and tourism workers for the implementation of this decision, the pressure on the Board to take this decision increased.

After the board’s decision, foreign tourists visiting Nepal now have to travel through the company only. Also, the fee for the Tims card sold by the board has been increased. Tourists from SAARC countries have been paying 600 rupees for individual visits, which has been increased to 1000 rupees. Non-SAARC tourists will have to pay 2000 for the team fee when they come to visit Nepal individually.