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Information about TRC
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) has been
entrusted with the responsibility of issuing Trekking
Registration Certificate (TRC) to foreign tourists
interested to visit open trekking areas in the country.
The new provision which was preplaned to be launched on
World Tourism Day (September 27, 2006) and come into
effect from October 1 this year but its date has been
postponed to third week of October, 2006 due to some
inadequacy of technical and administrative preparations.
The Nepal Government has decided to introduce TRC in order
to control illegal operations in the Nepalese trekking
industry and to ensure safety and security of the visiting
trekkers.
Please, find the details regarding TRC below:
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR TREKKERS
With a view to checking illegal operations in the trekking
industry and ensuring safety and security of trekkers, the
Nepal Government has introduced a new rule that requires
all trekkers to go on trekking in various parts of the
country only through registered trekking agencies after
obtaining a Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC) from
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN). As an
umbrella organization of more than 550 registered trekking
companies of Nepal, TAAN has been authorized by the Nepal
Government to issue TRC and the new rule is scheduled to
come into force from third week of October, 2006. TAAN
will charge a minimum amount of money as administrative
and service fee for issuing TRC. As a record of trekkers,
TRC incorporates their personal details, trekking routes,
duration, etc. The provision is introduced in order to
upgrade the service standard and for better management of
sustainable mountain tourism development in Nepal.
Trekking without TRC is illegal and subject to charge
fines and other penalties in accordance with the laws of
the Nepal Government. However, foreign guests visiting
Nepal at the invitation of the Nepal Government, foreign
officials, who deserve facilities as diplomats, and other
foreign nationals working for development projects in
Nepal, do not need to obtain TRC if they are not visiting
the trekking areas as trekkers. But they must possess
supportive documents and show them to the concerned
officials at the check posts.
IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF TRC
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
while 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
TRC as a mechanism to control all sorts of anomaly,
including illegal operations, and to ensure safety and
security of trekkers. Therefore, TAAN, as a national
tourism organization working in the field of sustainable
mountain tourism in Nepal, has been entrusted with the
responsibility of implementing TRC. As per TAAN’s proposed
hassle-free procedure, TRC is being issued to each and
every trekker traveling only through the registered
trekking agencies.
The decision regarding the introduction of TRC 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 TRC in the open trekking areas of Nepal. TRC is
going to be issued from convenient locations of Kathmandu
and Pokhara.
TRC ISSUING SYSTEM
The following considerations have been taken into account
in the process of issuing TRC:
1. All important details of trekkers and trekking routes
will be maintained on a computerized record system that
may be useful for safety and security of trekkers and
field-staff.
2. The data generated from the system will be useful to
all stakeholders -- tourism organizations, government
agencies, diplomatic missions, tour operators, research
institutes, etc.
3. Unauthorized trekking operations will be controlled,
thus, resulting into better management of trekking service
and in benefit of all concerned - trekkers, agencies,
field - staff, government, etc. and also occasional
untoward incidents will be better prevented.
4. TAAN will be able to work more in its effort of
preservation of natural and cultural environment in
cooperation with local communities. This, in turn, will
enable to promote sustainable tourism.
5. The issue of TRC will be so simplified that it would be
prompt and inexpensive. The convenient TRC counter in
Kathmandu will remain open 12 hours a day all the seven
days a week round the year. Pokhara counter will be opened
for 9 hours a day. The TRC counters will be located close
to the counters of the National Parks and Conservation
Areas.
6. TAAN’s Media Centre will have updated information about
the conditions of trails and other relevant insights into
the trekking areas. The same information also will be
updated frequently in the TAAN's web page. Some of the
check posts along the trekking routes will be equipped
with telephone services by TAAN.
TRC REGULATORY PROVISIONS
1. Trekkers must keep Trekking Registration Certificate (TRC)
along with them while trekking.
2. TRC must be shown to TAAN authorities, National Park
check posts, Conservation Area Project’s check posts and
police check posts on demand.
3. Deviation from the prescribed trekking areas shall be
taken as a violation of law of the Government of Nepal
4. Trekkers must keep their copies of passports along with
them during trekking for verification.
5. TRC shall be non-transferable, non-refundable and
non-endorsable and valid only for single entry.
APPEAL
TAAN also requests all concerned stakeholders to help
disseminate the above information to potential trekkers to
Nepal and other related offices and agencies. Any
inconvenience that may arise due to implementation of this
new rule is regretted.
Thank you for your kind support and cooperation.
For further information, please contact at TAAN
Media Centre
P.O. Box: 3612 Ganeshthan, Maligaon, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: 977-1-442773, 977-1-4440920, 977-1-4440921, Fax:
977-1-4419245
Email:taan@wlink.com.np
Url: www.taan.org.np
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