Dubai: An earthquake that shook Nepal on Saturday is likely to send shock waves through the tourism industry this year, according to tourism analysts and travel companies.
Nepal, which is still reeling from blizzards and avalanches in the Himalayas that claimed the lives of more than 40 people last year, was hit by a quake with a magnitude of 7.8 that destroyed many buildings and left over 2,000 people dead.
“People don’t want to go to a destination that has been traumatised by such an event. They probably think it’s going to be unsafe,” said Peter Goddard, managing director of TRI Consulting in Dubai, by phone.
He expects a significant drop in inbound tourism to Nepal, a nation located between China and India, from the Gulf and elsewhere in the short-term, with families and hikers putting their travel plans on hold.
Nepal’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Travel and tourism made a total contribution of 8.2 per cent to gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Many travellers visit the country for trekking and mountain climbing in the Himalayas.
“I think that the tourism market will be significantly impacted. The only people that would probably reconsider their plans are those that may originate from that area and are obliged to go back for personal reasons,” Goddard said.
Similarly, Micky Bhatia, general manager at Al Futtaim Travel, a Dubai-based travel management company, said that the drop in the number of tourists from the Gulf to Nepal could continue into the next quarter.
“We are not expecting a lot happening towards Nepal now as far as tourism is concerned. Of course, people will be taking flights back home, and that’s going to be the major traffic that we will be seeing,” he said.
Kulwant Singh, managing director of Dubai-based tour operator Lama Tours, said that four people from the UAE have postponed their trips to Nepal since Saturday.
“These are workers who are going back,” he said.
According to Goddard, travellers from the Gulf are likely to consider other Asian destinations for their summer holidays — destinations such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Other tourism experts, however, said that the impact of the quake on Nepal as a tourism destination cannot be currently determined.
“I think it is too early to say,” said Manu Mehrotra, general manager at Al Tayer Travel Agency.
Tourism experts said that Nepal’s tourism sector is likely to rebound in the long-term.
“I think in the long-term, the industry is going to rebound. I think mountaineers and walkers appreciate that it is a risky business going up into these areas. They probably think these [natural disasters] don’t happen every year, so they will think it’s safe enough,” Goddard said.
Singh said that the aid arriving in the country could help boost the tourism sector.
“People around the world are trying to provide aid. Maybe [Nepal] will be able to quickly reform things and fix the roads, which are the prime mode of connectivity in Nepal. If that is fixed, then you will probably see some traffic moving,” he said.
