It is very important to have a kind of monitoring and facilitating system in place for any sort of outdoor activity that involves physical risk. Trekking is a major outdoor activity in Nepal’s mountain tourism. Given the rugged physical condition and remoteness of almost all trekking areas of Nepal’s Himalayan mountain region, a record system is very essential that would be helpful in monitoring the safety and security of trekkers. The past experiences have shown that difficulties have been faced with carrying out rescue operations promptly during the times of natural calamities. Because of lack of proper record system of trekkers, their exact whereabouts and the information about trekking routes, rescue and search missions used to face difficulties in spotting the trekkers missing.
The Nepal Government is very serious about implementing T.I.M.S as a mechanism to control all sorts of anomaly, including illegal operations, and to ensure safety and security of trekkers, TAAN as a national tourism organization working in the field of sustainable mountain tourism in Nepal, has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing T.I.M.S. As per TAAN’s proposed hassle-free procedure, T.I.M.S is being issued to each and every trekker traveling only through the registered trekking agencies.
The decision regarding the introduction of T.I.M.S is a welcome step taken in its policies and programmes by the Nepal, Government. So, TAAN is in the process of developing a well-managed and efficient system with nominal service charge of Nepali rupees 250 (equivalent US $ 3.5) only to implement T.I.M.S in the open trekking areas of Nepal. T.I.M.S is going to be issued from convenient locations of Kathmandu and Pokhara. |
