Royal Mountain Travel Magazine Royal Mountain Travel Magazine Issue 1 | Page 8

EDITORIAL Nepal has never been so good for tourism. 2011 was declared International Year for Tourism and Nepal has welcomed a record number of visitors. Coinciding with this, has been the promotion of the Great Himalayan Trail. Extending across the Himalayas from Bhutan, through Nepal into India and Pakistan, few people have the time or money to trek the whole length of this incredible route. However, even with just a couple of weeks, it is possible to trek various sections of the trail. In particular, the western region of Nepal offers some fabulous routes, little frequented by tourists and offering a new dimension to trekking in Nepal. Tourism these days cannot ignore the need to be responsible. This can mean a whole range of things, from keeping faithful to the culture of indigenous people; respecting the environmental impact of tourism; sharing the economic benefits of tourism; or providinghelptopoorcommunitiesbysupportingprojectsthatprovideopportunities to help in a range of social and environmental areas. Royal Mountain is keen to promote eco-tourism projects and homestays, where local people can benefit more directly from the income that is spend on tourism. The Annapurna Community Lodge trek is an example where local village people have set up community lodges and seek to share the benefits from tourism, using profits to help projects such as improved healthcare, income generation schemes and local employment. Likewise, The Last Resort is not only a place where visitors can relax, or take a plunge on the highest bungee jump in Asia. Working closely with the local community, the Resort provides employment to local people and has helped develop income generating schemes such as fabrication of fuel briquettes and growing cash crops. Homestay accommodation is a good example of how tourism can be shared with people in the villages and where tourists can gain a meaningful insight into everyday life in Nepal. Royal Mountain Travel is involved not only in promoting responsible tourism in Nepal, but is also actively involved with projects and charities who are helping in a variety of areas. As well as being the Managing Director of Royal Mountain, I also manage Kiran Namaste, a Dutch charity that helps single mothers and children in Kathmandu. I am also a member of RAN Nepal, an NGO working with Rural Assistance Nepal (RAN), a UK registered charity. Royal Mountain as well as sponsoring teachers, building classrooms and providing computers for schools, also encourage their associates to help where they can. Royal Mountain Travel hopes that you enjoy this, their first publication that seeks to highlight responsible tourism, as well as promoting the new and exciting possibilities that the Great Himalayan Trail and other areas of Nepal have to offer. Shiva Dhakal Managing Director Royal Mountain Travel 8 January 2012 - Issue 1 Royal Mountain Travel - Nepal Lal Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: [phone] www.royalmt.com.np Editor Marianne Heredge Contributors Marianne Heredge Amar Bahadur Shrestha Richard Bull Michael Straus Photography, Design & Copy Editing by Power Communication Pvt. Ltd [email protected] www.powercom.com.np ISSN 2045-7502