US lifts travel warning to its citizen for Nepal visit

As a gesture of recognising improved security situation in Nepal, the US Department of State has cancelled the travel warning for its citizen to travel to Nepal which was issued on January 12, 2011.

Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Kathmandu also expressed delight appreciating the improvement of overall situation in Nepal to the degree of making such decision.

The US had issued the travel warning to Nepal stating that Nepal was unsafe due to the unrest by www.nepalnews.com

US drops Nepal from travel advisory

KATHMANDU, DEC 07 -

After almost 11 months, the US Department of State has removed Nepal from its negative travel advisory, citing improved political conditions in Nepal. Nepal was placed on the travel warning list on January 12.

“The US Embassy is pleased that the overall situation in Nepal has improved to such a degree that decision to cancel travel warning in Nepal to the US citizens could be made,” a press statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu said.

Travel trade entrepreneurs said the move will boost tourist arrivals, which crossed the half-a-million mark late last month. “The message can be used as a marketing tool in the US to lure more Americans to Nepal,” said Ashok Pokhrel, the president of Nepal Association of Tour Operators.

A Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) official said the removal of Nepal from the US list of unsafe travel destinations could also have a knock-on effect on tourists from other countries. Many countries take a cue from US travel advisories to issue their own.

“It is indeed a positive message for Nepal’s burgeoning tourism industry and Nepal’s improved political environment and ongoing peace process are major contributing factors in this decision,” said Kashi Raj Bhandari, the director, planning and research, at the NTB.

Tourist arrivals to Nepal reached an all-time high in the first 11 months of 2011. Arrivals by air crossed the 500,000 mark. Arrivals from the US alone stood at 7 percent of the total inflow. Arrivals from that country was 35,062 in the first 11 months this year, up by 13.4 percent, according to NTB.

An increase in the tourist inflow and a letup in industrial unrest have prompted the hotel industry to go on an expansion drive. Of late, a number of five star hotels have reported record high revenue and occupancy in the month of October and November by www.ekantipur.com