Tourism is Nepal’s most important industry, although it has “suffered from the Maoist conflict” (Tessa Feller). Nepal’s tourists range from two-hundred thousand to four-hundred thousand every year. The main reason why people visit Nepal is because it is a completely different society than their own. Since Nepal was only introduced to the world in 1951, many people don’t know about it. It is a society under the progression of modernizing, but is still in the past. Also, Nepal has many attractions such as the Himalayas containing eight of the ten highest mountains in the world. The Himalayas are not just high mountains which are climbed to prove someone’s ability; they are mountains sacred to gods. Many people visit to catch a glimpse of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest. These mountains bring publicity and money to Nepal.
TV’s and computers give happiness and entertainment to people all across the world, but in countries like Nepal this type of entertainment cannot be afforded by the country. Nepal is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. There are no TV’s, no internet and there only “public washrooms where everyone can see you” (Tessa Feller). The “GDP per capita income for Nepal is only $1000” (CIA World Factbook). In Canada, families spend around $1000 in one month. How can people expect Nepalese to spend $1000 in a year? This is why most people in a family, including children work and this can cause many illnesses. “Nepal exports carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grains for $830million (does not include unrecorded trades with India), and they import gold, machinery equipment, petroleum products and fertilizer for $2.389billion.” Nepal’s import is three times more than there export, which is why they had a “debt of 3.07 billion in March 2006” (CIA World Factbook) and the debt, is still increasing. Until the debt is paid off, it is going to be hard for Nepal to modernize and our present can only be seen in Nepal’s future.
Waking up in the morning wet and cold. In Nepal many people live in poor conditions. It is very “cool up north and subtropical in the south” (Let’s Visit Nepal). Since, the economy is poor the living conditions are also poor. Many children and adults suffer from these conditions. “There are around seven major infectious diseases in Nepal including HIV/AIDS. There are around sixty-one thousand people living with HIV/AIDS and around three thousand one-hundred people died because of it. Around sixty-two out of one thousand babies die.” (CIA World Factbook) Also Nepal lacks in education. Only children over fifteen can read and write (48.6 % of population can read and write). The donations of people are needed to save many lives in Nepal. Remember, a baby shouldn’t be blamed for something it didn’t do.
Tourism brings money and publicity, but it lacks quality. The economy is very poor causing the country to be undeveloped. Also, there are poor living conditions, which affect children in many ways. Donation and investment of companies and others can increase the economy and help develop it. Also, it can save many lives! Be a friend to those people who suffer from these poor conditions. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Bibliography
Aung San Suu Kyi. Let’s Visit Nepal. London, England: Burke Publishing Company Limited, 1985.
Tessa Feller. Culture Smart!: Nepal. Great Britain: Random House Distribution Services, 2008.
“Nepal.” CIA The World Factbook. 4 Dec. 2008
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html>
