Rackets and robberies set off alarm bells in the Himalayas
A recent shooting at a casino has put the spotlight on reports of incivility, looting, and clashes with locals over trivial motives. The problem is linked to cross-border tourism in towns and cities bordering India, which draw thousands of people to visit casinos, hotels, and liquor stores, often returning home before they can be prosecuted.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Nepal, a country famous for its mountains, ancient history, and hospitality, relies on tourism for an estimated 8 per cent of its total GDP, with an influx of 1.15 million visitors last year.
Although this sector represents an important source of income and job opportunities, its expansion is restricted by the country's natural relief and still limited infrastructure (especially roads).
A devastating earthquake ten years ago and the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism, but several factors have brought visitors back; these include the greater offer in adventure travel options, the expansion of the middle class among Nepal’s neighbours, like China and India, and improved transport links.
Although tourism also plays a major role in showcasing the country and its traditions to the world, its rapid growth has brought challenges that require careful consideration.
One of the most important is the preservation of the environment, which is extremely fragile and often affected by natural disasters that render entire areas unusable or isolated.
There are also concerns about visitor safety during their travels and climbs as well as questions about the fair distribution of tourism benefits and shared development.
The recent crowding in various camps near the summit of Everest highlights how, despite limitations and increasing costs, the allure of the Himalayan mountains and valleys remains the primary motivation for the influx of visitors.
Elsewhere, tourism is struggling to take off. The exception is the southern region, where most visitors come almost exclusively from India with whom Nepal shares a 1,751-kilometre border.
The latter is essentially open, especially to the free flow of goods and people from Nepal’s big southern neighbour, which casts a long shadow over Nepal's interests, lives, and economy.
For decades, people on both sides have crossed the border to visit family, work, and trade, but in recent years, however, Nepal's border towns have increasingly been transformed into cross-border tourism hubs, with hundreds (thousands at times) of Indian nationals arriving daily to visit casinos, hotels, and liquor outlets.
While the influx has benefited local businesses and provided greater revenue, police admit it has also led to an increase in criminal activity, with suspects often escaping to India immediately after committing crimes. A recent shooting at a casino was a powerful warning sign.
Security officials downplay the seriousness of the situation as well as the number of reported incidents, but they cannot ignore complaints regarding disturbances in public life, acts of incivility, and even aggressive behaviour, especially towards women, not to mention robberies, looting, and physical confrontations with locals over trivial matters, which are increasingly frequent in small border towns.
A significant share of the problems stems from the ability of Indians to purchase alcohol, particularly in the Kanchanpur District, which runs nearly 130 kilometres along the border.
Another long-standing but previously unreported issue concerns the trafficking in weapons, narcotics, and human beings (especially young women), which, according to local Nepali community leaders, is increasingly affecting the local tourism sector, with the involvement of aggressive criminal gangs.
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31/05/2022 14:15
14/11/2025 15:51
