Trekkers are not allowed to trek without a guide and porter in Nepal 

Trekkers are not allowed to trek without a guide and porter in Nepal from April 2023 in Nepal. The board meeting of the Nepal Tourism Board held on Thursday decided that no foreign nationals would be allowed to travel freely. According to the decision, it is mandatory to take a trekking guide through the registered trekking agency of Nepal. Right Now foreign tourists could trek themself by purchasing the Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) card distributed by the Nepal Tourism Board. The Nepal Tourism Board has decided that no foreigner can trek alone.

Chandra Rizal, vice president of the board, said that the board meeting decided to stop the free individual trekking due to the increase in the number of tourist accidents and missing cases. They have difficulty being rescued, get lost, and die. ” This decision will help to rescue effectively missing injured and sick tourists on the trekking trails. “Tourists are protected,” Rizal said, adding, “We have taken this decision because Nepal has become infamous at the international level due to the deaths of tourists who went of their own accord.”

The decision will be effective from April 1. It was decided to close FIT (Free Individual Trekker) on October 1, 2022, but the board did not implement it. However, to implement this decision, the Board, the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAN), and the Joint Tourism Trade Union Forum (JOTUF), a joint forum of tourism workers working in the tourism sector, agreed to implement it. President Ram Kazi Prayas of the Tourism Workers Association (NITOG) said.

Starting from April 1 the implementations of the FIT will be implemented. Even though the board had decided to close it on October 1, 2022, it was not implemented. However, to carry out this decision, the Board, the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAN), and the Joint Tourism Trade Union Forum (JOTUF), a collective forum of tourism workers employed in the tourism industry, have agreed to implement it. President Ram Kazi Prayas of the Tourism Workers Association (NITOG) made this known.

After this board decision, foreign tourists visiting Nepal now have to go on a trek through the registered trekking company. Trekkers are not allowed to trek freely in Nepal anymore. They must take the service from the Nepal-based company. “In the discussions between the Nepal Tourism Board, TAAN, and tourism workers regarding the issue of FIT (Free Individual Trekker) Teams issued by the board to trekkers, it has been agreed to close them from April 1, 2023, keeping in mind the safety, rescue, and management of tourists,” the agreement said.

Similarly, the TIMS fee charged by the board has also been increased. Tourists from SAARC countries have grown to Nrs 1000 from the previous Nrs. 600. Similarly, non-SAARC tourists must pay Rs 2,000 for the TIMS fee while travelling individually. In the memorandum of understanding signed, it has been agreed that the single hiker will compulsorily take a guide and the required amount of workers through the trekking company, effective April 1, 2023.