Impact of the Great Earthquake-2015 on Hospitality Industry of Nepal

Sushant Tuladhar

Abstract

Hospitality organizations face a serious threat from disasters, with only few of these firms engaged in planning for effective disaster management. Nepal has a high risk profile for natural disasters; and it was struck by the great earthquake on April 25th, 2015 which was followed by 400-plus aftershocks creating havoc mostly in the eastern, central and western part of the country. This article aims to present some insight on the impact of the earthquake in the hospitality sector. Secondary data available from various reports, newspaper articles, government reports, and studies conducted by individuals and different organizations have been taken into account while preparing this article. Some people associated with hotels of different category from different locations were also interviewed to get in-depth views on the effects of the natural calamity. The damages and losses caused by the earthquake have engulfed most of the tourism-related organizations and activities. This has subsequently made the concerned stakeholders – regardless of their size and scope of operation – to rethink about their strategy for disaster preparedness. After studying the extent of the same, all hospitality firms are encouraged to prioritize the need and to engage in practice for disaster and crisis management.

The Gaze: Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Vol.7 2015 pp.87-115

Keywords: Earthquake, Nepal, hotel industry, disaster preparedness

Link: http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/GAZE/article/view/15121
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/gaze.v7i0.15121

Nepal’s Earthquake-2015: Its Impact on Various Sectors

Nimesh Ulak

Abstract

Natural Calamities are unavoidable events that lead to chaos, crisis and disaster. Nepal faced a disastrous earthquake: 7.8 Richter scale. Being repeatedly analyzed about the vulnerability of earthquake in Nepal, the country seems not prepared enough for the event. The unpreparedness had taken many lives including tangible and intangible values of society and cultural aesthetics. The earthquake has hindered the overall economic, social and environmental aspect. Tourism was one of the major economic backbones for the nation which with the event has barred at least for sometimes. According to the survey conducted on the Tourism Employment by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) indicates that approximately 138,148 persons were engaged in the tourism sector (National Planning Commission, 2015b: 118). The pre-earthquake data, indicates that 487,500 jobs which would be 3.5 percent of the total employment in Nepal. The number of jobs was expected to rise by 4 percent in 2015 and 3 percent per annum to 681,000 jobs (World Travel and Trade Council, 2015). According to World Health Organization, the epicenter of the earthquake was Barpakh, Gorkha and the magniturde of the earthquake has catastrophic effect on 14 district of Nepal, including Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa, Sndhupalchok, Kavre, Nuwakot, Dolakha, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Khaktapur, Ramechap, Sindhuli, Okhaldhunga and Makwanpur districts out of which Dolakha and Sindhupalchok are the most severely affected districts by the second earthquake on 13 May, World Health Organization (WHO, 2015).

The Gaze: Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Vol.7 2015 pp.58-86

Keywords: Crisis, Disaster, Disaster Risk Reduction, Rehabilitation

Link: http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/GAZE/article/view/15120 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/gaze.v7i0.15120