尼泊尔震后重新开放古建筑

AS IT IS 2015-06-16 After Quake, Nepal Reopens Centuries-Old Structures 尼泊尔震后重新开放古建筑

Nepal has reopened its major World Heritage Sites in an effort to get tourists to return. Nepal depends heavily on money spent by overseas visitors. The number of visitors dropped sharply after a major earthquake struck the Himalayan nation on April 25th. The earthquake forced officials to close off severely¹ damaged structures so that workers could remove the wreckage².

Nepalese officials opened many popular heritage sites early Monday. These places include three former “durbar or royal squares” in the cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Their centuries-old palaces and historic religious temples once had tens of thousands of visitors, including many tourists from India.  

In Bhaktapur, dancers and musicians performed to celebrate the reopening. Tourism Minister Kripasur Sherpa urged people to come to the country for a holiday “to help Nepal rebuild.”

An official with the Nepal Tourist Board, Aditya Baral, says Nepal wants to send a message that the country is safe and wants to host tourists with “renewed enthusiasm.”

However, getting tourists to return may prove difficult. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization released a statement last week. In it, UNESCO expressed concern over reopening the heritage sites and asked the public to be extra cautious. The organization says that some sites are still at risk -- in a precarious³ state.

Nepalese officials, however, believe that there are no risks. They say visitors will be given guided tours and only will be permitted to visit safe structures. In some places, they will be given safety helmets for protection.

Those involved in Nepal’s tourism and travel industry say media reports of damage are, in their words, “highly exaggerated.” Reports of damage to roads and other infrastructure⁴ and cultural heritage sites have kept tourists away from the country.

Tourism officials say everything from the airport in Kathmandu to most hotels and communication links are operating.

Prasidha Panday is Managing Director of the Shangri-La Hotel in Kathmandu. He says much of the city is back to normal. He sees no reason for visitors to stay away.

The government wants foreigners to return because nearly 500-thousand people depend on earnings⁵ from tourism. Now, they are finding it extremely difficult to rebuild their lives as they are left with no livelihood⁶.

Hare Ram⁷ Baral is head of the Tourist Guide Association of Nepal, says the situation is hard for thousands of workers with low-paying jobs.

So, the return of Nepal’s tourism industry is important to the country. But there also are concerns about repairing its cultural treasures.

Aditya Baral of the Nepal Tourism Board says it will be a difficult task that could take many years.

UNESCO is leading the effort to repair the damaged heritage structures. Officials estimate the repair work could cost up to $18 million.

Words in This Story

heritage – n. traditions, beliefs or cultural objects (structure in this case) that are part of the history of a group or nation

glittering – adj. shining brightly

cautious – adj. to be careful about avoiding danger or risk

precarious – adj. not safe or strong

livelihood – n. a way to earn money

1 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

2 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

3 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

6 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

7 ram   

(random access memory)随机存取存储器

参考例句：

• 512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。