INTERNSHIP REPORT AT RAMDUNG EXPEDITION PVT.

LTD

By:

Raju Lama

Nepal College of Travel and Tourism Management

TU Registration no : 5-1-33-118-2005

TU Exam Roll No : 199

An Internship Report Submitted to

Office of the Dean

Faculty of Management

Tribhuvan University

in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of

Master’s in Travel and Tourism Management (MTTM)

Ratopul, Gaushala, Kathmandu

Nepal

June, 2016

DECLARATION

The project work entitled “Internship report at Ramdung Expedition Pvt. Ltd” is

submitted to Nepal college of Travel and Tourism Management (NCTTM) college is a

original work done by me under to supervision and guidance of Mr. Bishwo Raj Johsi

(Supervisor, NCTTM college) & Mr. Sanjib Ghimire (Coordinator, NCTTM college,

MTTM faculty).

This internship report has been done in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

Degree of Master’s in Travel and Tourism Management (MTTM). This report has not

been previously submitted in any form to any examination/institute/university or any.

The information which I included here is true and in original as per my best knowledge

and research, with taking possible references if any.

..............................................

Raju Lama

Date:…………………….

RECOMMENDATION

This is to certify that the internship report

Submitted by:

Raju Lama

Entitled:

Internship report at Ramdung Expedition Pvt. Ltd

has been prepared as approved by this college in the prescribed format of the Faculty of

Management

This internship report is forwarded for examination.

Supervisor Coordinator

Name: Bishow Raj Joshi Name: Sanjib Ghimire

Signature: Signature:

Date: Date:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Internship provides best opportunity for students to use their

educational/theoretical knowledge and learn practical knowledge in and of the field. It is

very essential platform as students are put at various organizations: to see and apply their

knowledge and gain experience.

During preparation of this report, I owe my sincere thanks to many great

persons who helped and supported me during preparation of this project report. I would

like to have special mention of the following.

First of all, I am very grateful to Mr. Saila Tamang (Managing Director,

Ramdung Expedition), for providing platform where this project is undertaken. His

support, guidance, leadership is example and very appreciable. Likewise, I am thankful to

following person of Nepal College of Travel and Tourism Management program Mr.

(Principal), Mr. Sanjeev Adhikari (Co-coordinator, Master in Tourism Management) for

providing internship opportunity in this program and Mr. Bishow Raj Joshi (Supervisor,

Internship Report of MTTM), under whose guidance I am able to complete my report.

Raju Lama

Abbreviation

NCTTM Nepal College of Travel and Tourism Management

MTTM Master in Travel and Tourism Management

MD Managing Director

MOCTCA Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation

GAP Guide Accommodation Porter

TAAN Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal

CDO Chief District Officer

NMA Nepal Mountaineering Association

NCA Nepal Canyoning Association

VITOF Village Tourism Promotion Forum Nepal

VAT Value Added Tax

NTB Nepal Tourism Board

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This internship report has been prepared based on the information taken from

Ramdung Expedition Pvt. Ltd, one of the reputed trekking company of Nepal, established

in 1993. This report starts with an introduction about Ramdung Expedition, its

organizational analysis, history of trekking tourism in Nepal.

This report shows much about Ramdung Expedition, its organizational structure,

marketing and operation strategy it is following, its past experiences, brief strength and

weakness analysis of the company, opportunity and threat this company faces in the

market, and measures to grow and lead the trekking business in the market.

At the end of the report, there is briefing about internship project and my

personal experience which I have achieved during doing this project.

Table of Contents Page No

Declaration I

Recommendation II

Via-Voce III

Acknowledgements IV

Abbreviation V

Executive Summary VI

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1-4

1.1 General Background 1

1.2 Statement of Problem 3

1.3 Internship Objectives 3

1.4 Methodology 3

1.5 Limitations 4

CHAPTER TWO: THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS ANALYSIS 5-8

2.1 Introduction of Ramdung Expedition 5

2.2 Physical Aspects 6

2.3 Administrative Aspects 6

2.3.1 Organizational Structure 6

2.3.2 Associations 7

2.4 Business Trend 9-12

2.4.1 History 9

2.4.2 Existing Business Strategy 12

2.5 SWOT Analysis 12-13

2.5.1 Strengths 12

2.5.2 Weaknesses 13

2.5.3 Opportunities 13

2.5.4 Threats 13

CHAPTER THREE: INTERNSHIP IMPACT 14-15

3.1 Experiences 14

3.2 Learning from the Internship 15-17

CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 16

4.1 Conclusion 16

4.2 Recommendations 17

REFERENCES

ANNEXES

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1. General Background

Modern tourism on Nepal began after the dawn of democracy in 1951, when the

country was opened for outside world. Successful ascent of Mount Annapurna in 1950,

Mount Everest in 1953 and the coronation ceremony of the Late King Mahendra in 1956

with the assembly of a large number of foreign dignitaries exposed Nepal as potential

tourist destination in the international community.

Tourism development board was then constituted in 1957 under the Ministry of

Industry and commerce and full-fledged department of Tourism in 1959, which in 1961

came under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

Royal Nepal Airline, the first state owned airline, operated from third July 1958.

in the 1960s, direct air links to Indian cities of Delhi, Calcuta and Patna made this land-

locked country more accessible to outside world. Necon Air and Asian Airlines came into

existence in the years 1992 and 1993 consequently. A tourism master plane was

formulated in 1972 with German assistance that led to the concept of spreading the

economic activity in the country and Nepal-style tour packages to maintain special

destination with competitive edge.

A similar study in the Khumbu region in 1979 supported by the World Bank,

recommended the need for a comprehensive approach in developing tourism in mountain

areas of Nepal. During this period, the need to enhance human capital was addressed by

establishing a Hotel management and Tourism and Hotel Management, which has

produced more than 18000 basic and management level professionals till date. In 1982,

National Tourism Promoting Committee was formed to look into the reasons for the

decline in the growth of tourist arrival in Nepal. In the same year civil aviation’s and

national air carrier were brought under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to

improve co-ordination of tourism with air transport development.

Introduction to travel agent

A travel agency is a private retailer or public service that provides tourism related

services to the public on behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise lines,

hotels, railways, and package tours .In addition to dealing with ordinary tourists most

travel agencies have a separate department devoted to making travel arrangements for

business travelers and some travel agencies specialize in commercial and business travel

only. There are also travel agencies that serve as general sales agents for foreign travel

companies, allowing them to have offices in countries other than where their

headquarters are located.

Definition of a 'travel agent'

A travel agent could be defined as any person or organization which organizes and

sells travel (usually encompassing transport and/or accommodation) to a customer. This

definition would include not just high-street travel agents, but also tour operators .as well

as retail travel agents – those who usually sell third-party tour operators' products.

Commissions of travel agent

Several areas of a travel agency’s focus pay commissions to the agency which

becomes it’s principal income. These mainly are: car rentals, cruise lines, hotels,

railways, sightseeing tours, tour operators, etc. A fixed percentage of the main element of

the price, is paid to the agent as a commission. Commissions are not paid on the Tax

component of the price.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Generally, internship program provides practical exposure to the students in their related

field. It provides experience to the students which are very essential to cope with the

difficulty when they are recruited by other organization in future. So, to collect all the

necessary information about tourism business as well as tourism environment or trends,

this internship helps me to bridge the gaps between theoretical knowledge into practical.

1.3 Internship Objectives

The core objective of internship at Ramdung Expedition adheres to identify the

overall operation of trekking business and obtain comprehensive knowledge of marketing

done by trekking business.

Specific Objectives

The objectives which I set for my internship report are :

a. identifying insight about how trekking business operates.

b. presenting knowledge on the marketing strategy needed for tourism product.

1.4 Methodology

I interned in Ramdung Eexpedition company for eight weeks.

Monday to Friday I was to attend the company from 11am to 04pm. Saturday and Sunday

was holiday for me. Working 25 hours a week, gave me 200 total hours of internship

period for 8 weeks.

Day Started at The Sum of Hours

Monday 11.00 – 16.00 5 Hours

Tuesday 11.00 – 16.00 5 Hours

Wednesday 11.00 – 16.00 5 Hours

Thursday 11.00 – 16.00 5 Hours

Friday 11.00 – 16.00 5 Hours

Saturday holiday 0 Hours

Sunday holiday 0 Hours

25 hours per week

TOTAL WEEK 8 Week

TOTAL HOUR OF INTERNSHIP 200 hours

1.5 Limitations

The limitation of this internship are

- I got short time for preparation of this report.

- Sometimes management team were not feeling comfortable to give information

which are considered to be confidential on the other hand was essential for me.

CHAPTER TWO : THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS ANALYSIS

2.1 Introduction of Ramdung Expedition

Ramdung is the name of the peak of 5,925 meter. When our company’s Managing

Director Mr. Saila Tamang stood on the summit in 1989 A.D, he decided that it is an

ideal name to start up with and in year 1993 A.D Ramdung Expedition Pvt. Ltd was

established and that was our beginning.

Ramdung Expedition, as one of the prominent trekking company of Nepal is in

trekking business since 1993 ad. Since then, it has been providing its trekking product in

form of Tea house trek, camping trek, GAP (Guide Accommodation Porter) service to the

most popular region of Everest, Annapurna & Langtang to remote area of Nepal such as

Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, Manaslu region, Kanchenjung region etc.

Everest, Annapurna and Langtang region trekking are most popular among all

because of the attractive places, beautiful scenery, infrastructural development, easy

accessibility and near to Kathamndu. These three place provide abundant trekking

opportunities from 5 days to more than 30 days trekking. Ramdung Expedition primarily

focuses on these area trekking.

Meanwhile, remote area trek are accompanied with full camping facilities such as

tents, camping materials, kitchen utensils, animals/porter service and all. It is truly

walking in the “no vehicle” or “nomad” place of Nepal.

Vision & mission of Ramdung Expedition

Vision is ;- “building lifelong memories through traveling by enriching mind, body and

soul of travelers visiting Nepal with us.”

Mission is ;- “to offer a reliable & quality travel services, make familiar with Nepal’s

unique culture, history & lifestyle.”

2.2 Physical Aspects

Ramdung company has five rooms which are reception room, managing

director room, operation room, store room and kitchen room including two bathrooms.

All the rooms are airy and wide open and equipped with office materials such as

stationary, computer, closet, sofas and carpet.

Store room consist necessary equipment for tea house and camping treks such as tent

(sleeping, dining, kitchen, toilet, shower), mattress, duffel bags, closet to put all these

things.

2.3 Administrative Aspects

It includes overall information about the Ramdung Expedition organization.

2.3.1 Organizational Structure

Figure : Organizational analysis of Ramdung Expedition.

Managing Director

Trekking Operation

Department

Permanent Field Staff

Free Lancer Field Staff

Front Office Department

Account Reception

Marketing Department

Website Designer

The above flow chart illustrates the organizational structure of Ramdung Expedition

Company. Managing director is the head of the company. There three different

departments which are trekking operation, front office and marketing department.

Trekking operation department is responsible to make new itineraries and programs,

correspondence with clients and any inquiries. It furthers is divided in permanent and

freelancer field staffs. Staff are generally climbing guide, trekking guide, cooks, kitchen

helpers and porters.

Front office department is responsible for handling day to day operation, guest handling,

telephone receiving etc. Account and reception fall under this department.

Marketing department duties is to market all the product of Ramdung Expedition

Company.

Therefore, all the department and personnel are lead by Managing Director.

2.3.2 Associations

Ramdung Expedition Company is associated with the following tourism associations.

a.) Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN)

Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) was formed and registered in

the Kathmandu CDO Office in 1979 by a handful of trekking agents who realized that it

was time to assemble and create an umbrella organization; under which they could work

together to meet their common goals and also assist the government by providing

suggestions to make trekking business revenue generating industry and also provide

employment opportunity to the locals. Such a body was necessary for many reasons. The

need for such a body was felt very much, which could undertake the major

responsibilities to develop and promote adventure tourism in the country. It was also

essential to play a significant, conducive role to mitigate mountain environmental stress.

b) Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)

The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is the national mountaineering

association of Nepal. This association was founded in the year 1973 with its main

objectives aiming to promote the mountaineering activities in the Himalayan region, to

safeguard the interest and to upgrade the professional and mountaineering skill of

Nepalese mountaineers, to popularize mountaineering activities among Nepalese students

and youths, to create awareness both in national and international level to preserve the

beauty of Himalayan region for future generations.

c) Nepal Canyoning Association

NCA was established in 2007 as the rendezvous of Nepali Canyoneers where

the members discuss, develop and share new ideas among themselves and canyoneers

from all over the world. Nepal Canyoning Association with the collaboration with its

international partners have managed to open about 30 canyons across the country.

d) Village Tourism Promotion Forum Nepal (VITOF)

It is a nonprofit organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Forum was

established with main objective of Village Tourism promotion. You will find our

objectives, activities, projects, plans and other news of the forum.

2.4 Business Trend

Ramdung has been organizing trekking to group of travellers more from

Spain, Germany, Austria and other Europe countries. It also took part in many document

filming in the past years.

After the earthquake on April, 2015, the business has been hugely affected as

many foreigners were afraid to visit Nepal. However, the number of visitor are increasing

in the recent year.

2.4.1 History

– Successfully conducted more than 30 expedition in +8000mtrs mountains till 2015.

– Conducted trekking, climbing, expedition and tour program to more than 50 peaks and

routes.

– Take part in making documentary with international companies like Transglobe Films

(Spain), One world Film (Spain), ES Docu (Spain), Joint venture with ENDESA (Spain)

for electricity project in Kakkot (Dolpa)

– Established link with National & International agencies for tourism betterment

Year 2016

13 person Spanish team on Thorung pass of Annapurna circuit trek

Year 2015

12 Person German group at Upper Dolpo Area

11 person German team in Island and Mera peak expedition

Year 2014

Summit of Ama Dablam

2.4.2 Existing Business Strategy

In recent years, there is tough completion among the fellow travel agencies in the

price. Moreover, recent earthquake on April 2015, has almost shut down many emerging

agencies. In all this hurdles, Ramdung has following business strategy which they are on.

- Quantity travelers in best price maintaining quality.

- Market promotion through social medias.

- Promotion through different tourism magazine which will be submitted in

international tourism fairs.

- Search new travel companies agencies and tie up business relation in near

future.

2.5 SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis gives overall strength of a company on the other hand weakness

it should improve in order to get opportunities in the market. However, threat is always

there which should not be ignored.

SWOT analysis of Ramdung Expedition done below.

2.5.1 Strengths

- More than 30 years’ experience in trekking and expedition business

- Honest, friendly, skilled field staffs

- Good connection with tourism associations and channels in case of emergency

- Good past customer link, base and recommendation of customers.

2.5.2 Weaknesses

- is not following the present marketing tactics and trends.

- Shortage of reliable staff in case of many group in one particular season.

- More skills and training needed to staff as compared to other company staffs.

- Weak on travel forum such as Tripadvisor, Lonelyplanet which are good source of

getting new customers.

- low focus on branding.

2.5.3 Opportunities

- Tap the new market of long days high pass trekking such as Upper Dolpo, Humla Jumla

trek etc.

- Grab attention of past customers attention with marketing regularly and use their

recommendation.

- Use social sites for marketing tools.

- Government of Nepal is giving much support on developing tourism sector and offers

various packages, loans and investment. Ramdung may have this opportunity to grab it.

2.5.4 Threats

- Market competition

- Lack of adequate skilled manpower.

- Lengthy government rules, permit procedure and 13% VAT provision.

- Politics and political instability in Nepal is hugely harming tourism sector.

- Less stay of foreigners.

CHAPTER THREE : INTERNSHIP IMPACT

What I mean the impact here is the influence of what I have got when performing

my internship for 8 weeks. The impact of internship is very useful because it enables me

to have a positive view about the real job in the future.

3.1 Experiences

It was the extracurricular and outer gaining practical based study. So far I

concern after all my work experience over 8 weeks in this organization I found this

organization has earned good will in the national and international sector for building of a

hospitality service with good relations. This organization seems to have ability to fulfill

determinants of service quality such as reliability, responsiveness, assurance and tangible

aspects.

The industrial practice in an agency has developed my confidence to work in a

travel agency. I am much more aware of the rules and regulations that has to be followed

by liberal tours and travels. This type of organizational practice or internship required for

the tourism students to develop skills knowledge and experience in travel and tourism

industries. It is more fruitful to build confidence and ability which will be very helpful to

the students for the further career development

I have found it very beneficial and interesting to work as an internee in

Ramdung Expedition Pvt. Ltd. However there are some constraints that I have realize and

found during my internship. Due to the time constraint I couldn’t gain much knowledge

which I have hope to learn. the number of employee is very less where they are not

properly hired in their work.

3.2 Learning from the internship

Choosing Ramdung Expedition among others was very important decision of

mine while doing internship. There were other agency which I could select but Ramdung

stands the best for the internship in order to achieving my preset objectives. And so far I

achieved too. Ramdung team and officer were very friendly in teaching what they had to.

From how to issue permit, to how to deliver the good service and lot more. I experienced

that the working attracting customer, sending quotes, giving information is just 30% of

the work. Meanwhile, other 70% is done in the field once foreigners come for visit. The

success and unsuccessful of the entire operation depends on staffs ability to handle the

field work, weather condition, clients fitness and overall packaging.

Secondly, marketing is very important tool to bring clients. Happy customer of

past plays vital role in marketing the company in their home country. The

recommendation is the best way of marketing in the tourism business. The use of social

media also plays crucial role in marketing the tourism product to the customer. It is the

cheapest, fastest, easiest way to convey what companies tourism products are.

To point out what I learn from my internship, below are the inputs.

- Pick trekking season are : March, April, May, September, October, November.

- Operation of trekking is 30% office work and 70% is on the field.

- Field manpower should be skilled in managing and leading the group. They should be

calm, perfect decision taker, knowledgeable and very hospitable.

- Satisfied customer is the best way of marketing.

- Social media plays vital role in marketing product of company.

- Marketing is done specially in off-season such as December, January, February, June,

July, August.

CHAPTER FOUR : CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Conclusion

Concluding this report, what I learnt is trekking business has been hugely been

effected by recent earthquake. The arrival of foreigner to visit Nepal is in decreasing

trend. The top tourism organization like Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and others are still

in active in developing proper strategy to recover the tourism business. The association

can lobby with the government, tourism stake holders, local community to build the

infrastructure needed to revive overall tourism.

Marketing role is very vital in micro and macro level. Macro level includes

promotion and advertisement of the whole country important tourism product whereas

micro deals with small agents promoting Nepal from its sides.

Nepal is indeed a beautiful country, for a betterment of tourism, it needs lot of

infrastructure development as per international standard, government contemporary rules

and regulation, skilled manpower and most of all political stability.

4.2 Recommendations

Ramdung Expedition as well reputed trekking and expedition company of Nepal,

but I have found some critical point that need to be notice and implement if good way.

According to the service Ramdung Expedition offers, it is quite small

organization.

There is less roles, decision conflict, authority among all the heads of all

department. All the decisions are made by Managing Director at top level. The

decision making and authority should be distributed.

Marketing is particularly based on happy customer and their recommendation.

Company can focus and invest in marketing through social media and more

importantly participating in the international tourism fairs.