Nepal Backtracks: Last week we shared the news that Nepal was planning to reopen to foreign travelers starting on October 17, welcoming trekkers and climbers back into the country. As with most places worldwide, Nepal has been on strict lockdown since the start of the pandemic this past spring, even going so far as to cancel the lucrative Everest climbing season.
When the opening date was revealed, there were several restrictions and requirements that were announced for anyone planning on visiting the Himalayan country this fall.
Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
Those rules were put in place by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. They were designed to help prevent the coronavirus’s spread, keeping both travelers and Nepali citizens safe. But now, just as the travel ban is set to lift, it looks like government officials are backtracking on most of those restrictions.
When the Nepali government announced its reopening plans, it also stated that anyone planning on entering the country would need to show proof that they had tested negative for coronavirus within 72 hours of their arrival.
Travel Insurance Required
All travelers would also be required to carry travel insurance to cover any expenses should the contract the virus while there. Perhaps most restrictive of all, foreign visitors were expected to quarantine for seven days before setting out on their journey.
That included trekkers and mountaineers heading into the mountains, where COVID-19 outbreaks have been fairly limited thus far.
Mixed Reactions to New Regulations
These rules and regulations were met with mixed reactions. Most travel experts felt that they were a reasonable approach to reopening in a time of uncertainty. On the other hand, the local guides and travel agents found them stifling to the business.
Anyone coming to visit Nepal would need to tackle an extra week—with added expense—to cover their time in quarantine. That could translate to fewer people coming, as most travelers have already elected to stay close to home anyway.
Nepali Government Bows to Pressure
As it so often does, the Nepali government has bowed to pressure, however. Today it was announced that the announced restrictions for incoming travelers would mostly be dropped—including the need to quarantine.
Officials now say that if a foreign visitor can provide a negative coronavirus test from 72-hours before their arrival, they will no longer need to stay in lockdown for the first week of their visit.
The requirement of a $5000 COVID-19 travel insurance plan has also been waived. However, travelers will have to assume responsibility for any medical costs should they contract the virus while in the country.
More, Finalized Guidelines Coming
According to The Himalayan Times, Nepali officials are still finalizing safe travel guidelines while visiting the nation, even as the ban is set to lift in a little over one week. Further guidance is expected to help guide companies to keep their clients safe while on the trail, with specific rules governing when and where to wear a mask, how to distance themselves from others properly, and so on.
The most likely place where visitors could be exposed to the virus is in Kathmandu’s capital city. It is there—and the surrounding Kathmandu Valley—that most infections have taken place thus far.
According to Worldometer, Nepal has seen just over 100,000 COVID cases thus far and roughly 600 total deaths. At the moment, those numbers are holding fairly steady, indicating that there is some stability when it comes to managing the disease.
Hopefully, that won’t change with the influx of foreign travelers, many of whom could bring the virus along with them or get infected while en route.
Positive Reaction to Lifted Restrictions
Naturally, the local travel industry has reacted positively to the news of the lifting of restrictions. It has been a dire year economically speaking in Nepal, where tourism makes up more than 8% of the GDP.
That is a significant portion for any one industry, particularly one that is suffering so badly at the moment. Trekking companies and mountaineering guides are eager to get back to work and start earning some money, although it is uncertain right now just how many people will actually be willing to go for a visit.
Thoughts?
So? What do you think? Would you be willing to travel to Nepal at the moment? The country certainly isn’t overrun with the virus-like man others—I’m looking at you, America—but there are still inherent risks with such a journey.
Personally, I’m content to stay close to home for now and wait for a vaccine that will hopefully make it safe to wander the planet again. Right now, that seems like it is a few months off at best.
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it is inevitable that some travellers and trekkers will unintentionally bring covid-19 into Nepal. Apart from endangering the life of others, they will be facing dealing with their own infection in a country that has few world class facilities, and what they have should be reserved for locals. Diagnosing what is covid and what is normal respiratory problems in a remote trekking situation may compromise the plans of many treks.
It’s also inevitable that some who enter Nepal covid free will catch it there and all the above applies as well.
Hard decision to make though, considering how much trekking and tourism income is needed on a personal and national level.
Nepal has modern clinics, healthcare is privatized and they would be happy to take any foreigner in.
I had my trip to Nepal cancelled this spring and rescheduled for end of March 2021 but looking at the current world situation until we manage to find some kind of vaccine I will not be looking forward to going on a 24 day trek and climb plus the subsequent nights needed in Kathmandu. It’s a tricky situation all round at present but I’d not be comfortable travelling if I’d been booked on an autumn/fall trip for 2020 instead. It’s bad enough stuck here in the UK without zipping off to somewhere else these days!