2007年VOA标准英语-Peace Brings Tourists Back to Nepal

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
15 April 2007

demonstration1 by tourists to express their solidarity2 for the restoration of democracy in Nepal in Katmandu, 18 Apr 2006" hspace="2" src="http://www.wwenglish.com/up/2007/04/17654/1a.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Clementine Roux, 19, of France shows a handbill pasted on her chest as she participates in a demonstration by tourists to express their solidarity for the restoration of democracy in Nepal in Katmandu, 18 Apr 2006

Sri Lanka's tourism industry has been hit as the country slips back into civil war. The situation is the reverse in Nepal where the end of a decade-long insurgency³ is bringing tourists flocking back. Anjana Pasricha has a report from VOA's bureau in New Delhi.

Officials in Sri Lanka say tourist arrivals declined by more than 18 percent in February compared with a year ago. They say the slump⁴ began last September, months after government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels resumed fighting after a four-year lull⁵.

President of the Tourist Hoteliers Association of Sri Lanka, Hiran Cooray, says the resumption of the ethnic⁶ conflict has been a big blow to an industry that had blossomed following a truce⁷ in 2002.

"During the peace process we could not handle the business," he said. "Tourism has dried up from France, because there is a very strong travel advisory⁸ from the French government, the Germans, the Dutch are also not doing too well."

Tourism officials fear the situation may worsen after rebels mounted their first air strike at an air force base near the country's international airport in March. The raid prompted Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airlines to temporarily suspend daily flights in and out of Sri Lanka.

Tourism officials have begun a massive advertising⁹ campaign in key markets such as India to calm fears, and point out that the fighting is in areas far away from the country's beaches and other tourist spots.

The story is dramatically different in Nepal, another South Asian country that has witnessed a protracted¹⁰ civil conflict. Nepal's decade-long insurgency is over, and the Maoist rebels have joined an interim¹¹ government.

As a result, tourists are flocking back to the country, where some of the world's tallest peaks are a big draw. That is good news for an industry that saw tourist arrivals decline steadily¹² since 1999, when they had peaked at half a million.

The head of Nepal's Tourist Board, Aditya Baral, says there are hopes that tourist arrivals will rise substantially this year.

"We are quite optimistic in terms of tourist arrival, and as per the ground survey we are doing in terms of arrival we are almost about 35 percent increase compared to last year this month," said Baral.

Tourism provides employment for an estimated half a million people in Nepal. And the tourist industries of both Sri Lanka and Nepal are significant foreign exchange earners for the two countries.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

3 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

4 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

5 lull   

v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇

参考例句：

• The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
• Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

8 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

9 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

10 protracted   

adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争，我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

12 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。