From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Nepal Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 15:44:19 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1836 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199807221147_MC2-53DF-3E87@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Lines: 191 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Nepal ============================================================ Nepal - Consular Information Sheet July 21, 1998 Country Description: Nepal is a developing country with extensive facilities for tourists; facilities vary in quality according to price and location. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa is required. Travelers may obtain further information on entry requirements by contacting the Royal Nepalese Embassy at 2131 Leroy Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, (202) 667-4550 or the Consulate General in New York at (212) 370-4188. Areas of Instability: Since February 1996, Nepal has experienced a rural Maoist insurgency which has resulted in the deaths of at least 250 people. Because of the potential for violence, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu forbids official travel of U.S. government employees to or through Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Gorkha and Salyan, the districts most seriously affected by the insurgency. The Department of State cautions American citizens to avoid travel to these areas. In addition, it is the Embassy's policy to keep official travel to a minimum in Dolpa, Dang, Sindupalchok and Kavre Palanchok districts. Incidents have also occurred in other districts, and security problems may occur in any part of Nepal. American citizens traveling to Nepal are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Embassy upon arrival to receive the latest information about the security situation. Public demonstrations and strikes are popular forms of political expression in Nepal and may occur on short notice. These demonstrations are usually nonviolent and not directed towards foreigners. On occasion, however, vehicles have been targeted by rock throwers, and acts of intimidation by strike supporters have been reported. During general strikes (bandhs), many businesses are closed, and transportation and city services are sometimes disrupted. Medical Facilities: Medical care is extremely limited. Any serious illness may require evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility (usually Singapore, Bangkok or New Delhi). Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services. In general, U.S. medical insurance is not valid in Nepal. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment overseas. Supplemental health insurance which specifically covers overseas treatment and air evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility is useful. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal warns Embassy employees that some locally bottled water may be unsafe and suggests drinking only boiled water or bottled water that has been disinfected (with iodine, chlorine, etc.). Additional information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at 1-888-232-3228, the autofax service at 1-888-232-3299, or by visiting the CDC home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Petty crime, especially theft of personal property, is common. While acts of violent crime in Nepal are rare, several attacks against lone foreign trekkers were reported in 1997. Women traveling in Nepal may be vulnerable to sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Inappropriate dress should be avoided, particularly in remote villages. Sensible precautions to avoid becoming a victim of crime include: travel in a group, do not carry large sums of cash or leave valuable articles unattended, change money only at government-sanctioned exchanges, be alert near major tourist sites and attractions where most pickpocketing incidents occur, and carry passports and cash in a protected neck pouch. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U. S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to South Asia." They are available from the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws and legal practices of the countries in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: American citizens should be extremely cautious traveling overland in Nepal. In general, roads are in very poor condition and lack basic safety features. Many mountain and hill roads are impassable during monsoon season (June-September) due to landslides, and are very hazardous even in the best weather. The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends avoiding travel on night buses. Fatal accidents are frequent. In the Kathmandu valley, roads are congested. Not only is traffic badly regulated, the volume of vehicles on the roads is increasing by 15 percent a year. Many drivers are neither properly licensed nor trained. Vehicles are poorly maintained. Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings are non-existent in most areas and drivers do not yield pedestrians the right of way. Of the 4,500 traffic-related deaths in 1997, two-thirds were pedestrians. Information for Trekkers: Severe storms cause avalanches and landslides that have killed foreign trekkers and their Nepalese guides, and stranded hundreds of others. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu strongly advises all U.S. citizens to exercise extreme care when trekking at higher altitudes. Although trails may be clear, trekkers should be alert to the possibility of avalanches and landslides from slopes above. Many popular trekking routes in Nepal cross passes as high as 18,000 feet. Trekkers hoping to tackle the Himalaya must have adequate clothing and equipment (not always available locally) and should be experienced mountain travelers. It is not prudent to trek alone. More than any other factor, solo trekking contributes to injuries and deaths. An increase in violent assaults and robbery on popular trails has made this more important than ever. The safest option is to join an organized group and/or use a reputable firm to provide an experienced guide and porter who can communicate in both Nepali and English. There are no telephones in most trekking areas of Nepal. Make sure others (especially family and friends in the United States) know your itinerary and, for your own safety, check in at police checkposts where trekking permits are logged. U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy upon arrival in country. A registration file at the U.S. Embassy with your passport information, emergency numbers and travel itinerary is important if anyone from home needs to contact you in case of emergency or if the U.S. Embassy needs to locate you in case of a natural disaster or evacuation. A lost or stolen passport can also be replaced more quickly if you have registered. Checking on conditions in the high country before leaving Kathmandu can help to reduce risks. Both the U.S. Embassy and the Himalayan Rescue Association are good sources of information about trail conditions and possible hazards. Border Areas: Travelers occasionally report immigration difficulties in crossing the Nepal-Tibet border overland in either direction. U.S. citizens planning to travel to Tibet from Nepal may contact the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu for current information on the status of the border crossing points. Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, or economic authority to operate such service, between the U.S. and Nepal, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Nepal's civil aviation authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Nepal's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travellers may contact the Pentagon at (703) 697-7288. Embassy Location and Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Nepal. The Embassy is located at Pani Pokhari in Kathmandu, telephone (977) (1) 411179; fax (977) (1) 419963. The U.S. Embassy homepage can be viewed at http://www.south-asia.com/usa for updated information regarding Embassy services and travel in Nepal. Registration by E-mail: U.S. citizens may also register with the U.S. Embassy by E-mail to usembcon@mos.com.np. Please include the following information: full name; date of birth; U.S. passport number, date and place of issuance; home address and phone number; emergency contact persons name, phone number, fax or E-mail address; travel/medevac insurance information; address and phone number in Nepal; travel or trekking Agency contact in Nepal; planned itinerary in Nepal; and traveling companions' names and nationalities. Finally, please indicate to whom, if anyone, the Embassy may divulge information regarding your welfare and whereabouts in Nepal. No. 98-107 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 14, 1997 to expand information on Areas of Instability, to advise on difficulties crossing to and from Tibet, to add instructions regarding registering by E-mail, and to add a section on Aviation Safety Oversight. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories