The Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Korea Tours and Trekking Operators Association of Nepal (KTTOAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mutual cooperation for boosting tourism ties between Nepal and South Korea. The MoU aims to ensure safety and security of Korean tourists visiting the Himalayan nation.

The MoU was signed by the ambassador of South Korea to Nepal Park Young-sik and KTTOAN President Amar Bahadur Shahi amidst a ceremony organised in Kathmandu on Thursday, on behalf of their respective organisations.

As per the MoU, the two organisations will help  enhance the friendly people-to-people ties between Nepal and South Korea and contribute to promoting bilateral tourism.

The two sides will hold a series of discussions, share knowledge and materials resources and devise safety and security measures for Korean nationals visiting Nepal for the purposes of trekking. The two sides will establish and operate emergency disaster evacuation centres on major trekking routes in Nepal and carry out rescue operations in case of accidents in the mountain region.

The two organisations will also work together to promote South Korea as a tourist destination among Nepalis and organise tours for family members of workers working in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) to Korea and discourage illegal immigration of Nepalis into Korea.

Similarly, the two sides will work together for enhancing communication and understanding between Korean and Nepali nationals and organise cultural and tourism promotion programmes and help promote Korean cuisine, K-Pop and tourism fairs. They will also extend cooperation to third parties for activities aimed at invigorating and promoting bilateral tourism.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Park suggested that Nepal should develop a software for the safety of tourists together with the development of hotels and other infrastructures.

Stating that eight Korean tourists lost their lives while travelling to Nepal this year, he called for taking necessary measures for ensuring safety and security of visitors.

In 2017, as many as 34,000 Korean tourists visited Nepal. Currently, Korean Air operates four weekly fights between Nepal and South Korea. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is also planning to start flights to Korea.

Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board (NRB) Deepak Raj Joshi said that the MoU would be instrumental in bilateral tourism promotion and safety of tourists.

KTTOAN President Shahi said that the number of Korean tourists visiting Nepal is increasing annually with the Himalayan nation being their favourite destination.

“Through this MoU, we are hoping to make their journeys to Nepal much easier, safer and memorable,” Shahi said.

The embassy of South Korea, in association with KTTOAN, has assigned 11 lodges from various trekking regions of Nepal to help Korean tourists in case of emergency situation.