Kathmandu. The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) has emphasized the need to strictly enforce the provision requiring foreign tourists to obtain a Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card before embarking on trekking routes in Nepal.
In a statement issued today, TAAN General Secretary Sonam Gyaltzen Sherpa urged the Government of Nepal to ensure that foreign trekkers are permitted to begin their journey only after acquiring the mandatory TIMS card. He also appealed to Nepali trekkers to gather adequate information and make proper preparations prior to trekking in order to ensure safety and minimize risks.
TAAN stated that the ineffective implementation of the TIMS system has made it challenging to identify the location and destination of trekkers and support staff during emergencies. The association noted that this has hindered timely search, rescue, and response operations for foreign trekkers as well as trekking guides and workers.
TAAN President Sagar Pandey expressed concern over the increasing number of Nepali trekkers losing their lives due to embarking on high-altitude treks without proper preparation or professional guidance. He highlighted that lack of planning, safety awareness, and trained guides has put domestic trekkers at growing risk from altitude sickness and other natural hazards.
According to TAAN, the absence of an integrated tourism database, limited use of modern technology, inadequate disaster preparedness, and scarcity of resources for immediate search and rescue operations have restricted the association’s ability to execute its expected role in times of crisis.
TAAN also offered heartfelt condolences to the climbers, trekkers, and guides who recently lost their lives during peak climbing and trekking in the Manaslu and Rolwaling regions due to unseasonal heavy rainfall and snowfall. The association called for the swift identification, rescue, and safe return of all missing tourists, guides, and support staff. It also wished a speedy recovery to those injured due to the adverse weather conditions.
