Newer Border Crossings in South Asia : Emerging Tourism Potentials By Mahendra P Lama 5 5 5 th th th th South Asia Economic Summit South Asia Economic Summit South Asia Economic Summit South Asia Economic Summit Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad
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Newer Border Crossings
in South Asia :
Emerging Tourism Potentials
ByMahendra P Lama
5555thththth South Asia Economic SummitSouth Asia Economic SummitSouth Asia Economic SummitSouth Asia Economic Summit
IslamabadIslamabadIslamabadIslamabad
Newer Border crossings in South Asia
Nathu la Trade Route (India and China)
Kathmandu-Lhasa Route (Nepal and China)
Land Bridge between India and Sri Lanka
North East- Chittagong Route (India and Bangladesh)
Wagha Border (India-Pakistan)
Border Descriptions Trade routes
Indo-Bangladesh (North
East - Bangladesh)
Assam Fakiragram, Mankachar, Suterkhandi and Karimgunj
Meghalaya Baghmara, Lichubari and Dawki
Mizoram Tlangbung, Champai
Tripura Kailashsahar, Agartala, Sonamora, Bilonia and Sabroom
Indo-Nepal Kankarvitta and Sukhia Pokhari (Pashupati in )
Bihar Jogbani and Raxaul
Uttar Pradesh Barhi, Nautanwa and
Indo-Bhutan Gelephu and Samdrup Jhonkar
India-China ()
Jammu-Kashmir (Ladakh) Khardung la and Chang la
Uttaranchal Lipulekh
Himachal Pradesh Shipkila
Arunachal Pradesh Bumla, Nyamjunag Chu valley (Tawang districts)
Sikkim and Darjeeling Nathu la and Jelep la
Informal /Formal Trade Routes
World's longest unbroken sandy
sea-beach - Cox's Bazar,
Kuakata beach : enjoy both sunrise
and sunset.
Kuakata : one of the highest
Buddhist statues in Asia.
Could be linked to North East
region-Lasha in Tibet- Central Asia
North East Vision Document 2020
makes it as a major venture
Nathula Trade Report 2005 puts it as a
Major intervention
India-Bangladesh Rail and Air links
could make it a reality soon.
Principal HandicraftsPrincipal Handicrafts
• Basketwork
• Cane furniture
• Mats
• Woodcarvings
• Terra cotta
• Artistic textiles
• Bell metal artwork
• Brass metal craft
• Dolls and toys
• Embroidery
• India-Sri Lanka Land Bridge
• Board of Investment (SL) announces Indo-Lanka Land Bridge as toll road/rail link (May 2002)
• Joint Statement signed between SL-India to jointly undertake techno-economic feasibility study of Land Bridge across the Palk Strait in July 2002
• Connecting the island nation with the mainland of South Asia by road and rail through India. The proposed bridge is between Dhanushkodi (South-East of Tamil Nadu state) and Talaimannar (North-West Sri Lanka).
• Envisaged bridge is expected to be 44 kms in length.
– Toll Road
– Railway Link
– Telecom/Optical Fiber Link
– Transmission Link
– Power Generation
– Gas Pipeline
Consider Economies of Bundling of
Land bridge with the following :
• 40 km span across Adam’s Bridge
• 4-lane toll way : Rail link (connecting Columbo/Trincomolee)
• $500 - $900M initial cost estimate
• The Land Bridge will connect the entire South Asian community in terms of transport, exchange of people, movement of goods and services and other development purposes
Land Bridge and Tourism: Economic Gains
It will open up the avenues for passenger travel between the two countries at a very low cost, and within the South Asian region (except Maldives) in general.
• It will extend the tourist resorts of India and Sri Lanka over new geographical areas : massive expansion of the industry to take place.
•Open up a ‘new’ differentiated tourism markets in India and Sri Lanka, as compared with their traditional ones.
Sri Lanka TourismSri Lanka Tourism
2009 2016
Tourist arrivals 447,890 2,500,000
FE earnings (US$ mn)
326.3 3,000
Average Duration of Stay
9.1 8.5
Expenditure per day in US$
80 130
Employment (direct and indirect)
125,000 625,000
Sri Lanka TourismSri Lanka Tourism
2009 2016
Tourist arrivals 447,890 2,500,000
FE earnings (US$ mn)
326.3 3,000
Average Duration of Stay
9.1 8.5
Expenditure per day in US$
80 130
Employment (direct and indirect)
125,000 625,000
Nepal – China :Kathmandu-Kodari-Lhasa - old route :
Trade and tourism getting integrated
Bus service started : China bringing railway line
New routes are being discussed for use as trade and tourism points/facilities
Railway line : Golmund (Qinghai province) to Lhasa crossing – 1118 km railway $ 3.6 billion
Started construction in 2001 and Running since July 2006
Railway line could link the Nathu la trade route with other major business centres in eastern and
south-eastern sea coast of China known for their massive commercial activities and
also the Special Economic Zones.
Sikkim and surrounding areas could become a dry port,
Sikkim route is shorter and more friendly for both the Indian and the Nepalese traders.
Bangldesh, Bhutan and Nepal could use this trade route for
Both trade and tourism
Tourism Potentials
Buddhist circuit now identified : priority areas in GOI policy Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Rumtek in Sikkim,
Tawang in Arunanchal Pradesh, Lumbini in Nepal and Paro in Bhutan -- to Lhasa in Tibet. Nathu la trade route : could integrate the tourism industry
of Himalayan states
Most fascinating Eco-tourism Route
Most endowed intellectual properties
Chinese tourists can also come to Eastern India
High Potentials to Extend to South Asia
Tibet
Tourists arrival figure reached2.25 million in 2008 as against 0.928 in 2003
Revenue recorded 2.259 billion Yuan (US $ 376.5 million) in 2008 as against
1 billion Yuan (US $ 125 million) in 2003.Direct employment to 20,000 people and
indirect employment to 75,000 people.
Mansarovar : Pilgrimages: foreign tourismMansarovar visit : 6000 pilgrims from India every year
So far used routes Pulan Port at Taklakot (Uttaranchal)
Kathmandu – Lhasa routeLhasa to Mansarovar lake is more than 1000 kms.
Nathu la would be economic and also magnificently attractive
Trade has started taking place:
However, very low volume in 2008 (May – October)
TAR Traders could only sell items worth $ 3000Sikkimese trader US $ 21111
On the other hand: Nepal’s export to Tibet Autonomous Region through land border route has increased from US $ 5.8 million in 1991-92 to US $ 32.72 million 2005-06
Nepal’s import from China has increased from
US $ 13.25 million in 1991-92 to US $ 107 million in 2005-06.
Major Recommendations
Phasing of Actions
2005-2010 : Initial Trading Actions on both sides Start building wider and deeper infrastructural facilities.
2010 : Major trading actions start : based on highly upgraded and developed infrastructures
2012 : Integration of Trade with Tourism activities A fresh bilateral arrangement is required
to facilitate the movement of tourists across the border. Package Tours : During 2012-2015, for only Indian
and Chinese tourists Open tourism : 2015 onwards among Indian
and Chinese tourists.
2015 : Inclusion of movement of freights to and from the neighboring countries
2018 onwards : SAARC Tourism. Open for all the tourists to cross the border.
i) Lift Ban on Foreign Touristsii) Tourism Infrastructure Package