Ramdung Expedition Pvt. Ltd internship report. www.asianexpedition.com www.nepalexpeditions.biz

1. 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

2. 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:…………………….

3. 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:

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 3.2 Learning from the Internship 15-17
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 16
4.1 Conclusion 16
4.2 Recommendations 17
REFERENCES
ANNEXES

9. 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

10. 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,

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.”

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. Year 2016
13 person Spanish team on Thorung pass of Annapurna circuit trek
Year 2015
12 Person German group at Upper Dolpo Area

19. 11 person German team in Island and Mera peak expedition
Year 2014

20. 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.

21. - 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.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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.

25. - 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.