MOUNT KAILAS TO REOPEN TO TOURISTS FROM NEPAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000647

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
BEIJING PASS CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2012
TAGS: PREL CASC ASEC PREF NP CH
SUBJECT: MOUNT KAILAS TO REOPEN TO TOURISTS FROM NEPAL


Classified By: A/DCM Michael S. Hoza, Reasons 1.5 (b),(d).


1. (C) Travel agencies in Kathmandu report that as of late
March they were able to resume booking tours to western
Tibet,s Mount Kailas after the Chinese government lifted
restrictions on travel to that region. Tours are now being
booked for dates in late April and May. Nepal,s travel
agents say they had been unable to book tours to Kailas since
September 11.


2. (C) The Lhasa-based partner of one Kathmandu agent
speculated that China would not announce the change publicly
because they did not want to draw attention to it. Thus, he
speculated, in future they could easily restrict access
again, should they feel it necessary, without the need for
public acknowledgement.


3. (C) Despite the deteriorating security situation in Nepal,
demand for package tours to Kailas from Nepal remains fairly
high. However, due to conditions inside Nepal, Kathmandu
tour operators have begun - literally speaking - to take a
different approach to Kailas. Previously, Kailas-bound
tourists flew to western Nepal and hiked over the Himalayas
to their destination. Nowadays tours take the highway north
to Tibet via Kodari, turn left, and drive along the Chinese
road to the base of the sacred mountain.
MALINOWSKI