By Madan Lamsal

Some people doubt on materialisation of the government plan of bringing  one million tourists to Nepal in Tourism Year 2011. They regard the plan as a pipedream. But I say nobody be they the Americans, the Indians, the Marxists or the Maoists - can stop tourists in millions visiting Nepal.  For example, the USA has, from time to time, been issuing travel advisories to its citizens not to visit Nepal by citing this or that risk.  But the Americans have not stopped coming to Nepal. They used to come here as Peace Corps volunteers in the past, then they came as academics of the Summer Institute of Linguists and now as INGO and church workers. Till a few months ago, they were here as UNMIN officials.

 It is interesting though that the USA has not yet removed the tag of terrorist from peace loving Nepali Maoists. However, it has not stopped some privileged Maoist leaders from visiting USA with hopefully genuine American visa. Therefore, the true intention of the US travel advisory is effectively not to advise the Americans not to visit Nepal. Rather, it is intended to remind the Americans that Nepal is one of the countries that the Americans are visiting and it would be worthwhile for other Americans to visit again and agian. This is somewhat similar to the case of 'No Smoking' sign reminding the smokers to light up.
 

In fact the reason why foreigners come to Nepal is to see the ever smiling faces of the Nepalis. A survey conducted by Nepal Tourism Board has already confirmed this fact. Anyone in the world would be interested to see such unique creatures called Nepalis who can continuously smile regardless of looting by their own politicians and continuous booting by the foreigners. They do not protest, and carry on with their daily routine as usual.
 

But that is not all. Nepal has other unique attractions too. If an ordinary citizen violates the law, he or she will be immediately punished. If a businessman fails to pay bank loan his property will be confiscated and passport suspended. But political parties and their cadres are above all these laws. They are free to roam even when they kill the person they don't like. The murderer politician can even become a Member of Parliament and a minister. The politicians who got elected to the Constituent Assembly promising to prepare the constitution within a specified time failed in the promise. Still they don't have to face any punishment. The Nepali people don't like to punish them and smilingly pay the taxes to pay salary and perks to such politicians.  Where else will the foreigners get to see such people in the world?
 

To add tourist attraction, we have now introduced the Home Stay system, which our tourism industry stalwarts say is a really miraculous solution so as to accommodate any number of tourists coming to Nepal. Even if they are wrong, there is a strong numerical proof to be convinced that Nepal can easily get and accommodate not only 1 million but 10 million tourists.
 

If by any reason, the Americans, Europeans, Australians, Indians and Chinese don't come to Nepal, we still can play the trump card we have. That is we can recall all the Nepalis who have gone abroad for work. If only one fraction of those heed our call, their number will be enough to fulfil the magic number of 1 million!