Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) has been implemented to ensure the safety of the trekkers and aims to control illegal trekking operations. When the trekker enters a protected area in Nepal, you will be asked to provide some information about the dates of your trip, the itinerary, and a contact number. This data will be put in the visitors’ database, where it can be accessed for park management purposes or in case of accidents or natural disasters, in order to inform the concerned institutions about the trekkers inside the park at any time. TIMS cards need for both Free Individual Trekkers (FITs) and trekkers taking the service of government authorized trekking organizations.
Past experiences have exposed that difficulties were seen while carrying out rescue operations during times of accidents and natural hazards. Due to the lack of proper records of trekkers, rescue and search missions used to face difficulties in a spot of the missing trekkers. Based on the data collected through TIMS cards, it will provide the right location for a trekker in case a rescue operation is needed. TIMS card system came into effect on January 1, 2008. After this, the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) started recording trekkers’ details and began issuing TIMS Card to trekkers.
NTB and TAAN noticed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 18, 2010, to apply the TIMS system in a new format from April 1, 2010. NTB and TAAN have set up separate TIMS Cards for FITs and organized groups.
FITs need to have Green TIMS cards by paying Nepali currency equivalent to the US $20 per person, while those traveling in groups from Trekking agency need to have Blue TIMS cards by paying Nepali currency equivalent to the US $10 per person. Trekkers taking the service of trekking agencies can pay the fee for the TIMS card in US dollars also.
TIMS will not be required for:
- Expedition members permitted to climb the mountains
- Visitors in the controlled areas with permits by the Department of Immigration
- Foreign guests invited by the Government of Nepal
- Authorities from the various diplomatic missions present in the country, who hold official letter/s and travel at their own risk
- Visitors on certain missions recommended by the concerned Governmental Department(s);
- Foreign Nationals possessing a residential visa.
