As local entrepreneurs in Taplejung, we benefit much less from tourism than outsiders may assume. Most trekking agencies purchase their supplies in Kathmandu before their groups travel here. Only about one third buy food and other necessities in Taplejung Bazaar, our district headquarters.
The same pattern applies to employment. Fewer than half of the agencies use porters from the Kanchenjunga area. They arrive with their own supplies and workers, so the trekking group passes through our district without creating the amount of local income it could.
A trek through Kanchenjunga should create work in Kanchenjunga, not only business for agencies and suppliers in Kathmandu.
Tourists have some influence over this. When booking, they can ask whether their guide and porters come from the district. They can also request that the agency buy food locally whenever possible. We understand that not every product is available here, but much more could be sourced from our traders and farmers.
Some cattle owners and traders inside the conservation area operate small hotels during the tourist season. A few have sold part of their herds to invest in these businesses. Fortunately, they are not completely dependent on tourism and can still support themselves through livestock or trade when visitor numbers are low.
Our greatest obstacle is accessibility. Aircraft can land only when the sky is clear because pilots fly by sight. During the monsoon, cloud frequently makes flights impossible. The roads are also in poor condition and become especially difficult during heavy rain.
The road should be improved for tourism, but even more importantly, for the people who depend on it every day.
Better access would allow visitors to travel more reliably, but it would also help residents reach markets, schools and healthcare. Tourism may provide an additional reason to invest, yet local life should remain the main purpose.
We are ready to sell supplies, organise workers and develop services. The problem is not simply a lack of demand. It is that agencies arrange too much elsewhere and unreliable transport makes every local business more difficult.
Kanchenjunga tourism will begin benefiting local entrepreneurs when agencies buy and hire here—and when the road into Taplejung becomes dependable enough for residents and visitors alike.