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Nepal gets
Most Integrated Presentation Award at TTF -
Chennai
January 13, 2010
As a part of its regular tourism promotion
program, Nepal Tourism Board in cooperation with
private travel trade companies has recently
participated in Indian Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF)
that was held at Raja Muthiah and Rani Meyyammai
Halls, Egmore, Chennai from 8 -10 January 2010.
The interest among the potential visitors to
visit Nepal has been diversified in the recent
days as the younger generation like to visit for
various other activities such as cultural tours,
study tours, adventure activities and as
honeymooners.
The three day fair was significant to
disseminate the tourism information of Nepal
among the consumers and to interact with new and
existing tour operators and with local media as
well. Nepal with its brand slogan "Naturally
Nepal - Once Is Not Enough" has been presented
among the Indian tourists with various packages
that were offered during the fair by
participating Nepalese tour operators. The
message of government led national tourism
campaign 'Nepal Tourism Year 2011' was
highlighted during the entire fair among the
consumers, business people and the local media
through the interaction, interviews and visual
display in the Nepalese stall. The fair was
visited by significant number of potential
visitors and Indian tour operators.
The visitors were especially interested in the
different travel packages prepared by Nepalese
tourism entrepreneurs focusing on religious tour
to Shri Pashupatinath Temple in Kathamndu,
Muktinath temple in Mustang, and pilgrimage tour
to Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal. People were
also curious about Janakpur and Pokhara.
Most of the queries made by the visitors were
related with entry permit to Nepal, and airfare
as they feel it is too expensive to visit Nepal.
People were also concerned about the political
instability of Nepal. They also made queries
about Nepal Tourism Year 2011 with much interest
about the preparation and special offering and
packages for the Indian tourists. The Local
Indian travel agents who participated in the
fair have strongly suggested to arrange the
direct flights from Bangalore / Chennai or any
nearby cities to Kathmandu as the connectivity
is the main hindrance to promote Nepal in South
India. There are several flights from Chennai
Madras (Meenambakkam) International Airport (MAA),
to many international destinations like Dubai,
Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, New York,
Brussles, London, Kuwait, and Frankfurt by
different international airlines so to increase
the arrival from Southern India, direct air
connectivity is must from South India to
Kathmandu. The announcement of the airline
Spicejet from Bangalore created positive impact
to the potential visitors from South India.
The fair was organized by Fairfest Media Limited
and was supported by Minister of Tourism,
Government of India and travel trade bodies like
PATA. Nepal stall bagged “Most Integrated
Presentation Award” during the Fair. During the
award ceremony Mr. Lila Bahadur Baniya gave a
short presentation on Nepal highlighting NTY
2011. Eight Nepalese Tour Operators Dharma
Adventure, Fishtail Air, Heritage Tour and
Travel, Manakamana Travel, Samrat Tours and
Travel, Satyam Tours and Travel, Shrestha
Holiday and Sunny Travels had co-exhibited in
the mart from Nepal.
Nepalese Stall was unique in itself and the
picture of the stall was published in The Hindu,
India’s national daily newspaper and other local
newspapers. On behalf of NTB, Mr. Lila Bahadur
Baniya (Manager) and Mr. Kundan Sharma Mishra
(Officer) took part in the fair.
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Visitor
Arrivals Records Sustained Growth in 2009
January 1, 2010
The year 2009 has ended with positive notes both
in terms of total visitor arrivals for the month
of December and also for the whole year. The
figures released by Immigration Office,
Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal
that visitor arrivals in the month of December
2009, compared to the same month last year, have
increased by 4.4% to 31,396. Also, the total
number of visitor arrivals in aggregate
(Jan-Dec, 2009), compared to same time-period in
2008, have increased by 1.1% to 378,712. A total
of 374,661 visitors arrived in Nepal by air in
2008
In December 2009, there has been a robust growth
of 51.4% in visitor arrivals from China.
Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have
recorded positive growth. Visitor arrivals from
South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand
have registered a positive growth of 25.1%,
7.8%, 22%, and 26.5% respectively. However Japan
has suffered a soft decline by 1%. In aggregate
the Asian segment (other than South Asia) has
registered a positive growth of 19.4% in the
month of December and 10.1% in the year 2009.
In the SAARC region, arrivals from Pakistan have
grown by 8.2% but arrivals from India and Sri
Lanka have declined by 5% and 31.5% respectively
in December 2009. In aggregate the South Asian
segment has registered a negative growth of 4.3%
in the month of December and 2.5% in the year
2009.
An overall positive growth of 10.1 % has been
observed from the European markets for the month
of December 2009 and 4.5% in the year 2009.
Arrivals from the UK, France, Germany, Italy,
the Netherlands and Austria up by 2.2%, 4.3%,
1.9%, 30.6%, 14.2% and 37.1% respectively.
Furthermore the arrivals from Belgium, the
Netherlands and Switzerland have registered a
marginal growth. However, Spain, Denmark and
Norway have posted a nominal negative growth.
Tourist arrivals from Australia, Canada and USA
have also registered remarkable growth of 13.8%,
5% and 10.9% respectively. However the 'Others'
category has witnessed a negative growth of
18.4% and 21.1% in 2009.
More than 75,058 trekkers visited Annapurna
region in 2009 (this is derived from the number
of permits issued by Annapurna Conservation Area
Project offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara).
Similarly 1769 trekkers visited Manaslu region
in the year 2009.
According to UNWTO Tourism Barometer published
in October 2009, till August, international
tourism demand declined by 7% compared to the
same period of last year. If this general trend
is continued through the remainder of the year,
full year results are expected to show a decline
in arrivals of between 4% and 6%. However Nepal
has enjoyed a sustained positive growth in the
international tourist arrivals since June 2009,
although the year started with negative growth
of 15.8% in January 2009. The trend indicates
that the decline in international tourism
continues to bottom out.
A total of 34,991 foreign tourists departed from
TIA in December 2009. The number of Nepalese
arrivals stood at 49,845 while 58,611 Nepalese
departed from TIA in December 2009. Similarly a
total of 417,679 foreigners and 583,139 Nepalese
departed from TIA in 2009.
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Flydubai
reaches new heights with touchdown in Kathmandu
Flydubai, Dubai's first low cost carrier landed
at Tribhuvan International Airport on December
15, 2009 becoming the eleventh in Flydubai's
network and its first east of Dubai. Kathmandu
is also the furthest destination reached by
Flydubai's Boeing 737-800NG aircraft at 3,000kms
from Dubai and a flying time of 3hours 55
minutes.
The Flight was welcomed by Mr. Shatrudhn Prasad
Singh, State Minister of Tourism and Civil
Aviation, Mr. Subash Niraula, Officiating CEO,
Nepal Tourism Board and other high ranking
officials of Ministry of Tourism and Civil
Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board and Civil Aviation
of Authority of Nepal.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai was also on
board: "This is a great time for Flydubai. The
past four weeks have been one of the busiest
periods since we launched. We signed major
aircraft financing agreements worth nearly $200m
at the Dubai Airshow and we have opened routes
to Khartoum, Baku, Bahrain and now Kathmandu."
The thriving capital of Nepal is becoming a
popular destination for hundreds of thousands of
tourists, many of them coming for the
breathtaking views and treks of the Himalayas.
Almost three times as many tourists have visited
the region in the first half of this year as in
the same period in 2008, said the country's
tourism authority.
"Our strategy is to combine well known routes
that enjoy a service from many airlines, with
routes that are less popular and are underserved
by the larger carriers. Kathmandu is a great
destination with room for more services and I'm
confident that Flydubai's simple, low cost fares
will prove to be very popular on this route.
Nepal is an experience waiting to happen, and we
will make it happen," Al Ghaith added.
On the occasion, Mr. Shtrudhn Prasad Singh,
State Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism
said: "The commencement of Flydubai's direct
connection between Dubai and Kathmandu will
provide greater access to Nepali community in
UAE and will surely enhance future trade,
commerce, and tourism between two countries. We
are happy to know that Flydubai operating out of
Dubai International Airport will provide greater
access to world travelers from Dubai into
Kathmandu with increased convenience. We welcome
Flydubai into Nepal."
Flydubai operates four flights a week to
Kathmandu. FZ567 leaves Dubai International
Airport Terminal 2 at 0700hrs, and arrives at
1240hrs local time, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
and Sunday. The return flight FZ568 leaves
Kathmandu at 1340hrs, arriving in Dubai at
1710hrs.
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Govt issues Everest
Declaration
The cabinet meeting of Nepal Government issued a
10-point Everest Declaration at Kala Patthar,
18,192 feet above sea level and near the
basecamp of world´s highest peak Mt Everest, on
December 4, 2009
Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal along with
23 ministers, some of them with oxygen masks,
held the meeting at the Kala Patthar plateau to
raise awareness about melting Himalaya due to
climate change.
With the Everest Declaration, the government has
committed to increase the conservation areas in
the country from 20 per cent to 25 per cent and
consolidating 40 per cent forest area. It also
focuses in raising awareness on climate change
issues and seeking international commitment and
support to address the issues.
At the beginning of the cabinet meeting, PM
Nepal briefed ministers about the motive of the
meeting. "Climate change is not only issue of
the mountainous nations or nations at the sea
level, it´s a common issue of all," he said.
"To save the earth, the biggest sacrifice is
needed from the nations producing large amount
of carbon," he added.
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