(TAN): While the Covid-19 pandemic has put a halt on tourism, the communities along the Everest trail have been using the break to clean up and upgrade the trekking routes below the world’s highest mountains, reported Nepali Times.
The year 2020 was declared ‘Visit Nepal Year’ by the Nepal government with a target of attracting 2 million tourists, thereby generating more income. But due to the pandemic, the Khumbu region was sealed off at the height of the spring tourist season in March and remained closed for non-Nepalis till October 17.
[ALSO READ: All but one of Himachal village infected with Covid, MLA suspects tourist surge]
The Sherpa community that lives below the world’s highest peak, Mt Everest, lost their seasonal source of income from trekkers. Many had taken loans to build lodges in anticipation of more trekkers in 2020. For the thousands of porters, kitchen staff, yak and pony caravan owners, 2020 has been a big setback.
Sherpas who usually travel to the other parts of the world for work as mountain guides and other jobs have not been able to go this year. Sixty households in Khumjung, for instance, have members who used to travel to Norway every summer to work on hiking trails there. The families have been deprived of that income.
Lukla airfield, which used to get 60 flights a day, was closed after the last trekkers flew out in March. It only reopened in early October, and foreign trekkers and mountaineers were allowed back from October 17. The Sagarmatha National Park got more than 60,000 visitors in 2019 – nearly ten times the local population of the region. So far this year, it has got only 4,000.
[ALSO READ: London tops list of World’s Best Cities 2021, Delhi ranked 62]
The local communities, however, have brought the positive out of the pandemic crisis to build back better. As tourist footfall ceased, they utilised those nine months in repairing the trails. Guard rails and steps have been installed in many unsafe parts of the Everest trail between Namche and Tengboche during this period. The people who look to the mountains for their bread and butter are once again setting their hopes for a fresh tourist influx in the year 2021.
While the number of visitors are still far from the pre-pandemic level, as the trekkers slowly trickle back following reopening, they have already been marveling at the cleanliness of the trails.
