Nepal eyes M-E for growth in tourism

NEPAL has set ambitious targets for its tourism industry in the coming year.

According to Senior Director of Nepal Tourism Board Subash Nirola, the country is aiming to play host to one million tourists next year.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of the ‘Special Campaign for Nepal Tourism 2011’ at Oryx Rotana Hotel at Doha, Qatar on December 19, Nirola said that Nepal was keen to attract more and more tourists from the Middle East.

The Ambassador of Nepal to Qatar HE Dr Surya Nath Mishra, Nepal embassy staff, Nepal Tourism Board officials, travel agents and a representative from the Qatar Airways were also present on the occasion.

Nirola said the situation in Nepal was now more favourable and stable for tourists.

“The country is planning to attract tourists throughout the year rather than only during its peak season from September to February.

Foreigners must enjoy Nepal’s natural beauty and see the Himalayas, including the Mt Everest.

The nine national parks, three wildlife reserves, six conservation areas, one hunting reserve, sub-tropical jungles also offer opportunities for trekking, mountaineering, boating and paragliding,” Nirola said.

“Besides, there are ancient temples, Buddhist monuments, mosques and plenty of magnificent architectures.

Nepal’s diverse ecology, culture and people are a major attraction for tourists,” he added.

Nirola said tourism in Nepal was not only “an economic issue but also a way of life”.

He said most of the Middle Eastern airlines had flight services to the country these days.

According to Nirola, Qatar Airways had three direct flights to Kathmandu daily.

Nepal Airlines, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Ettihad Airways, Gulf Air and Oman Air also have regular flights to the Himalayan country.

The second Vice-President of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents Sarbottam Lal Shrestha said that the number of people travelling to Nepal from Middle East has been growing steadily. (News courtesy: Qatar Tribune)

Int'l elephant race from Dec 26

The seventh edition of the International Elephant Race 2010 will he held in Chitwan from January 26-28 at the buffer zone of Baghmara Community Forest located at Chitwan National Park, it was announced on Sunday.

The event organized by the Chitwan Regional Hotel Association of Nepal has been organized with a view to promoting internal and external tourism of Sauraha, the third major tourism destination of Nepal. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is the promoter of the event.

On the same occasion, formal declaration of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 will also be made at regional level from Chitwan, said Keshab Pandey, the media and promotion coordinator of the event.

The event will also feature elephant calf football, elephant make-up competitions, bullock cart race, Tanga race, and other local cultural programs.

According to the organizers, 20 institutions including eight from abroad -- UK, Germany, Slovakia, China, France --will participate in the elephant race.

The organizers have prepared 20 elephants for the race and as many calves for the football competition. The football of calf will feature four domestic teams with five elephants in each team. The elephants will be sponsored by different domestic and foreign institutions.

Bachhauli Village Development Committee, Mrigakunja Consumers Committee, Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest, Chitrasen Buffer Zone Community Forest, Hatti Sanchalak Cooperative Limited, Sauraha Tourism Entrepreneurs Group and Restaurant and Bar Association of Sauraha are the co-sponsors of the event.

The tenth SAARC Trade Fair concluded

The tenth SAARC Trade Fair aimed at providing platform to the members countries to explore trade opportunities concluded on December 19.

The fair attracted a huge crowd with organisers estimating the visitors to be more than 225,000.

Sri Lankan Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Neomal Perara inspected the SAARC Trade Fair on the final day.

Members countries of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka showcased their products and services in the trade fair which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on December 15.

Promotional event of NTY 2011 held in Germany

The first ever promotional event of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 in Germany was celebrated by Himalayan Pariwar in Munich of Germany on December 19, according to the organisers.

The organisers mentioned that presence of over 100 Nepalis and well-wishers in the promotional event to raise awareness about Nepal and its resources.

The programme kicked off with the national anthem of Nepal which was hugely applauded by the German audience, said a statement issued from Munich.

During the programme, honorary consular of Nepal in Munich, Ludwig Greissl, stressed on the beauty, hospitality and demography of Nepal.

“He appealed to the invitees to visit Nepal at least once in a lifetime to experience the Himalayas and the warmth of Nepali feeling,” added the statement.

President of Himalayan Pariwar, Hari Neupane, focused on bridging the gap between two cultures and efforts that are being made to feel presence of the sizeable Nepali population.

An interesting feature of the program was an experience shared by an audience who visited Nepal a dozen times. He was of the opinion that beauty of Nepal only can be felt and perceived.

Typical Nepali cultural dances and songs were performed during the event, while Nepali dishes were served to the guests and participants, said the organisers.

Food items, handicrafts, leather products, cosmetics, jewelry, garments and kitchenware produced by the SAARC member country were at display during the fair.

Eight tourism pavilions from each of the SAARC countries were also set up with a view to promoting regional tourism.

The trade fair will help boost trade, commerce and tourism in the SAARC region and establish business links among industrialists and business communities of the region, said Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, executive director of Trade and Export Promotion Centre of Nepal, the main organiser of the event.

Multiple Guinness holder steps up campaign for NTY in US

As part of a campaign promoting the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 to ensure its success‚ Deepak Sharma Bajagai‚ goodwill ambassador to Colorado in US‚ has intensified meetings with US officials and politicians.

According to the International Nepali Literary Society (INLS)‚ Guinness World Record holder in five categories Bajagai separately visited US Congressman Ed Perlmutter of Colorado‚ Anthony E Graves‚ Director of Tourism Bureau in Denver and Pam Sweetser‚ Executive Director of Colorado Heritage Society and discussed on the issues of NTY 2011.

Congressman Perlmutter inquired about the peace process of Nepal‚ the country of Mt Everest and Buddha. He was positive about assisting Nepal in tourism development‚ according to an INLS statement issued Tuesday. Graves and Sweetser also expressed solidarity to make the NTY 2011 successful.

The campaign of promoting NTY 2011 is being organised in more than 15 states of the United States including Denver and Colorado‚ said Gyanendra Gadal‚ central president of the INLS. The programmes will be organised from January 22 in coordination with Gadal and Joseph Lavigne‚ Director of Global Intersection‚ which will be organised by Work for Children in Nepal.

Bajagai set world records for reading aloud continuously for 113 hours and 15 minutes‚ hitting a table tennis ball in the air for 4 hours‚ 39 minutes and 42 seconds; chipping 70 postal stamps on envelops in a minute among others.

In this Issue :

Nepal eyes M-E for growth in tourism

Int'l elephant race from Dec 26

The tenth SAARC Trade Fair concluded

Promotional event of NTY 2011 held in Germany

Multiple Guinness holder steps up campaign for NTY in US

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