May 5: With the government making the Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card and trekking guide mandatory for foreign tourists going for a trek, the number of trekkers acquiring the TIMS card online has increased.

The provision for foreign tourists to mandatorily acquire TIMS card and a trekking guide to go for a trek was implemented on the joint initiative of Nepal Tourism Board, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the workers’ organizations in the tourism sector.

A total of 9,320 hikers have taken the TIMS card since April 1. Similarly, during this period, more than 1,500 trekking companies have adopted the TIMS card.

The government has been charging Rs 2000 per person for TIMS card.

TAAN President Neelhari Bastola said that TIMS card has been distributed online for the convenience of the tourists.

"To make the trek safe, reliable and orderly, the government has arranged mandatory guides and TIMS card," he said.

TAAN President Bastola said that more than a dozen hikers have gone missing every year while going on a hike alone, and added that guides are mandatory for the safety of tourists.

 "When a tourist goes on a trek alone and gets lost, it gives a message that Nepal is not a safe destination for trekking. It is important to get rid of it," says President Bastola.

According to TAAN, by making TIMS card and guides mandatory, tourists will be safe and the Nepalese tourist guides will get jobs, while companies will pay revenue to the state which will benefit everyone.