A TOURISM firm that works with communities in Nepal says it will be on hand to help rebuild areas affected by the earthquake.

North Yorkshire-based InnTravel organises walking holidays to Nepal’s Sailung Valley in association with Village Ways Partnership. Both confirmed they had no tours in the area at the time of the disaster, but some holidaymakers had been due to travel there from India on Sunday.

In a statement on their website, InnTravel said “our thoughts and prayers lie with all those affected by this tragedy”, and David Quick, head of marketing with Village Ways Partnership, said he had been trying to reach villagers in the area.

Mr Quick said: “Where we work is slightly to the east of Kathmandu, away from the epicentre and fortunately there have been no casualties but damage to buildings.

“It’s a relief, but communications have been very, very difficult so we’re not totally sure of the full picture at this point. We have had some contact through Facebook with a couple of Nepalese guys who work with us and were able to say they were okay and no-one had died in their village but there was some damage.”

Travel to Nepal is now restricted to emergency aid services, but Mr Quick said once they were able to start scheduling new visits, it would be of benefit to the local communities.

He said: “The emergency services are doing their work and that’s not what we do. Once the situation stabilises we will look to work with the communities to get them back on their feet and get visitors back there in the next few months, so the economic benefits of tourism can resume because without those it would be difficult for the people.”