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American
trekker still missing; family pleas for help to
find her
Friday, 12 August 2011
The 21-yr-old trekker had checked into Langtang
National Park on April 20. She was last spotted
on 30 April near Lama Hotel, according to
locals.
At a press meet organized by Trekking Agencies'
Association of Nepal (TAAN) on Friday, Aubrey's
father Paul said they've decided to continue
search for Aubrey as they have found some
missing links in the incident.
"I have found the locals nervous. I believe they
know something about my daughter but are not
willing to share," TAAN quoted Paul as saying in
a press statement.
"I believe she is being held somewhere. She is
in big trouble," Paul said.
The Saccos have also requested Nepal Police,
Nepal Army, TAAN, Department of National Parks
and Wildlife Reserve, local administration and
all concerned for further investigation into the
issue.
Speaking at the meet, a representative of US
Embassy in Kathmandu said, the case will remain
open as long as the Saccos want.
They have also announced a cash reward of Rs 2
million for anyone who gives information on the
whereabouts of the missing trekker.
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Tourist
flow increase in July 2011
August 10, 2011
Tourist arrivals to Nepal via air in the month
of July increased by 20 percent compared to the
same period last year. According to the
Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International
Airport (TIA), a total of 35,212 visited the
country in July. With the completion of seven
months of 2011, total arrivals have crossed
280,000 which is 40 percent of the Nepal Tourism
Year´s (NTY) 2011 target.
Nepal is planning to welcome 700,000 visitors
via air and 300,000 visitors through land routes
during the year. Figures show arrivals from
South Asian region have gained an overall
positive growth of 21.7 percent. Number of
Indian tourists increased by 24.5 percent,
Pakistani by 58 percent, and Sri Lankan by 70.8
percent during this period. However, arrivals
from Bangladesh declined by 11.2 percent.
Visitor arrivals from Asia, excluding South
Asian market, recorded a growth of 56.6 percent.
China, another major source market, recorded a
phenomenal growth of 127 percent in tourist
arrivals in July. Similarly, visitor arrivals
from Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea
increased by 18.9, 36 and 23.9 percent
respectively. However, arrivals from Europe
dropped by 5.6 percent during the month compared
to July, 2010, due to fall in arrivals from
Germany (43.3 percent), the Netherlands (24.1
percent) and Spain (21.1 percent). UK, France,
and Belgium recorded positive growth of 7.1
percent, 4.7 percent and 31.4 percent
respectively. Arrivals from US and Australia
increased by 16.8 percent and 32 percent.
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TAAN's
13th Eco-Trekking Workshop in Sukute,
Sindhupalchok
August 10, 2011
Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) is
organizing the 13th Eco-Trekking Workshop at
Sukute Beach Resort on the banks of the
Bhotekoshi River in Sindhupalchok district from
August 12-14. Around 60 participants from
different member agencies of TAAN are expected
to participate in the three-day event being
organized with the theme of 'Promoting
Responsible Tourism in Destinations'. The
workshop will center on eco-tourism, developing
corporate culture, responsible tourism, trade
unionism, flora and fauna and field-based
practical for eco-tourism, according to Bachhu
Narayan Shrestha, first vice-president of TAAN.
The main objective of the workshop is to enhance
professionalism among trekking workers in TAAN
member agencies.
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Nepali civil servants set
a new record by conquering Mount Everest
May 20, 2011
In a historic achievement, nine civil servants
from Nepal have conquered the world’s tallest
Mount Everest on Wednesday. The
all-civil-servant Mt Everest expedition team put
the Nepali national flag and a flag of Nepal
Tourism Year as they reached the summit of 8,848
meter tall peak. This is the first time civil
servants from Nepal have conquered the Mount
Everest.
According to Tourism Ministry officials, the
civil servant expedition team was divided into
two groups. While a group of five members and
five support staff first reached the top at 5:45
am four other members and 10 support staff
followed them an hour later.
Those making it to the top of the Mount Everest
on Wednesday include computer engineer at the
Tourism Ministry Santa Kumar Maharjan, surveyor
at the National Land Use Project Khim Lal Gautam,
non-gazetted first class officer at the Ministry
of Information and Communications Tulsi Ram
Bhandari, non-gazetted second class officer at
the Ministry of General Administration Subir
Shrestha and non-gazetted second class officer
at the Tourism Ministry Hari Dhakal summitted in
the first lot.
Likewise, section officer at the Ministry of
General Administration Surath Pokharel, section
officer at the Ministry of General
Administration Hari Prasad Guragain, non-gazetted
first class office at the Tourism Ministry
Gyanendra Kumar Shrestha and computer operator
at the Ministry of Education Padam Bahadur
Bhandari reached the top later.
Altogether 15 civil servants had left for
Everest Base Camp early last month with an
ambitious goal to reach to the top of the
Everest. While five members abandoned the plan
due to illness team leader Lila Mani Poudel had
returned to Kathmandu on Sunday after being
recalled by the government following his
appointment as home secretary.
The government had earmarked NRS 3 crore for the
expedition and waived the fee for the climbing
permit. It is expected that the civil-servant
Mount Everest expedition will also help to
promote adventure tourism in the country. Nepal
is currently celebrating Visit Nepal Year 2011
with an objective to bring in more than 1
million tourists in the country.
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