Millennium Trek Need Promotion and Marketing

Stakeholder Interaction Meeting on Millennium Trek Promotion concluded at Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu on 14^th August 2015. The Interaction Meeting was hosted by Dhoreli Sewa Samaj, Kathmandu in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board. The meeting observed august participation of about 60 people. Objective of the half-day Interaction Meeting was to draw promotion and marketing strategies and programs for Millennium Trek by bringing government officials, together with other stakeholders including parliamentary members, tourism entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, journalists and development partners, among others.

At the outset, Dhoreli Sewa Samaj Kathmandu Chairperson Mr. Ek Raj Sigdel briefed on salient features of Millennium Trek. Tourism entrepreneurs including Mr. Chandra G.T., Mr. Bashanta Gautam and Mr. Ravi Bhattarai complemented the presentation. Parliamentary Members Mr. Tuk Raj Sigdel, Mr. Ram Chandra Pokhrel and Ms. Asha Koirala stressed on the need of promoting Millennium Trek. Tourism Board Administrative Officer Mr. Ramesh Kumar Adhikari expressed commitment that NTB would help promoting and marketing the Millennium Trek in the days ahead. Tourism entrepreneurs suggested further exploiting the Millennium Trek. In this regard they advised organizing familiarization trip of the Tourism entrepreneurs at the Millennium Trek at the earliest.

According to the participants, Millennium Trek could be a promising alternative to the established Annapurna Conservation Area that has been struggling for maintaining its authentic values, specially after devasted earthquake in April 25^th and subsequent aftershocks. On the other hand, tourists can have magnificent views of Annapurna and Ganesh Himal in front of their eyes while walking along the Millennium Trek. In addition, tourists can have opportunity of learning historical and archaeological values of Forts that are located here and there, enjoy jungle walk and bird watching, experience cave walking and relish rock garden, local culture and viewpoints. The Trek is still in infant stages as hardly 100 tourists have visited the site thus far. Agro-tourism and Minamkot view could be added in the tourism product, as suggested by a few participants. Moreover, canoeing could be feasible in Seti and Kyangdi River that needs further exploration.

It was discussed that ineffective promotion and marketing was the prime reason why only a few tourists have visited to the site thus far. Inadequate awareness among stakeholders could be a reason of inadequate promotion and marketing. Therefore, it is urgently needed to further exploit the site and bringing out the tourism products in national and international arena through adopting effective promotion and marketing strategies. Moreover it is urgently needed to bring out detailed updated information of the site and itinerary descriptions. In this regard, it is needed to communicate the higher tourism value of the Millennium Trek through using various social media such as web site and face book. Further, even suggestions were also there for exploring alternative name of Millennium Cave and Millennium Trek as such.

Participants suggested carrying out various activities for promotion and marketing of the Millennium Trek. The recommended activities include i) coordinate a familiarization trip of tourism entrepreneurs, comprising of TAAN, NATA, and other interested companies, ii) Accommodate Bhujikot View Tower in the Millennium tour package, iii) include tourism value of Millennium Trek in local school curriculum, iv) link the trek with Great Himalayan Trail that branch from Manang and go to Lumbini via Tanahunsur and the Millennium Trek, v) request Bird Conservation Network for exploring varieties of birds in the Millennium Trek, vi) market effectively the Millennium Trek by writing story of each and every attraction such as rock garden, millennium cave, and mountain view etc. in the form of booklets, and vii) design activities around the attractions.

The meeting suggested managing various tourism facilities in the Millennium Trek. The recommended key amenities include, i) provision helipad at strategic locations, ii) ensure safety of tourists from landslides and earthquake, iii) manage locations for camping management, and iv) prepare detailed itinerary including program for tourists who depart to Kathmandu for the Trekking Trek. The other proposed infrastructures comprises of i) home stay facility should be simple and hygienic, ii) infrastructures such as roads, community buildings etc. should consider environment, iii) enhance health and sanitation situation of local communities, iv) establish Millennium Entry and exit Gate in coordination with Shyanga and Tanahun Tourism stakeholders, v) design and implement skill enhancement trainings for local communities, vi) prepare integrated tourism plan, vii) construct resting places here and there for tourists, and vii) invest on capacity enhancement activities for tourism management. The aforementioned activities should be carried out following coordinated efforts among stakeholders. Moreover, accountability and transparency should be maintained while implementing the tourism development activities in the millennium Trek.

In summary, the meeting has aroused enthusiasm of tourism entrepreneurs to visit the trek as soon as possible. In this regard, they requested Dhoreli Sewa Samaj Kathmandu for coordinating a familiarization trip of tourism entrepreneurs into the trek at the earliest.

Report by

Ek Raj Sigdel

21 August 2015