Year 2011 starts with healthy growth in international tourist arrivals

The anticipated performance of tourism industry in 2011 is firmly confirmed by the steady rise of arrivals in the very beginning of the month.

The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that visitor arrivals in the month of January 2011, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 26.2% to 32914.

All regions have shown positive growth in the first month of 2011. India which constitutes the major market of Nepal, has recorded positive growth of 35.5%. In the SAARC region, arrivals from Bangladesh and Pakistan have registered positive growth by 10.3% and 13.3% respectively. However, the arrivals from Srilanka declined by 47.5%. In aggregate the South Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 28.8%.

Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have also recorded positive growth of 36.6% in aggregate with all markets showing improved performance. The visitor's arrivals from China have increased significantly by 79.6%. Similarly, the arrivals from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea have also increased by 8.2%, 51.9%, 29.1%, 3.2%and 20.3% respectively.

An overall positive growth of 14.6% has been observed from the European markets with arrivals from major generating markets such as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Russia up by 7.5%, 35.3%, 48.9% and 40.3% respectively. However, the arrivals from France, Italy and Switzerland have declined by 17.4%, 5.0% and 5.5% respectively compared to the same month last year.

Tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA have also registered robust growth of 23.8%, 59.7%, 9.8% and 27.6% respectively.

Nepal has enjoyed a sustained positive growth in the international visitor arrivals since June 2009 and the trend continues even in year 2011. These figures reflect rising confidence among visitors and tour operators to Nepal. The sustained positive growth will hopefully be effective in achieving the target of Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

A total of 40,507 foreign tourists departed from TIA in January 2011. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 64,755 while 72,100 Nepalese departed from TIA in January 2011.

PATA Adventure Travel & responsible Tourism & Mart (AT&RTCM;), February 7-11, 2011

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter is pleased to confirm that Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Gap Adventures, Canada, is to be the keynote speaker at the Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2011 (AT&RTCM2011;). Under the theme ‘Social Give Back: Doing Well by Doing Good’, the event will take place at the Fulbari Resort and Spa, Pokhara, Nepal from February 07-11, 2011.

Andrew Jones, guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, will be the moderator in a panel debate on ‘Social Give Back: Doing Well by Doing Good’, as well as the interactive plenary session ‘Greening of Travel and Tourism’ and interactive breakout session on indigenous tourism. Said Jones: “I had the good opportunity to participate in the PATA AT&RTCM; 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal. I found that the PATA Secretariat put together an excellent programme of speakers and events where like-minded people in the travel-and-tourism industry could network and share information and business opportunities. The PATA Nepal Chapter members greatly supported this programme, and I am looking forward to attending this very special event again next year in Pokhara in February, especially as it is ‘Visit Nepal Year’.”

Said David Jones, former director general, WYSE Travel Confederation and Speaker, “Youth travel makes a unique contribution to our shared objective of promoting sustainability and responsible travel. Young people travel to explore, to engage, and to learn. They ‘travel with purpose’ and a respect for the cultures and environments they visit. Aware, socially concerned and linked to vast social networks, they seek sustainable travel experiences and are early adopters of responsible travel habits. Young travelers are the best ambassadors for tourism destinations and set the travel trends that will define the future shape of our industry. At the AT&RTC; Youth Travel session, a panel of leading professionals will explore youth market travel trends and how to create sustainable programmes of excellence to meet the growing demand for new diverse youth travel experiences John King, managing director, Global Tourism & Leisure Pty Ltd will also participate in the interactive breakout session on indigenous tourism. Said King: “As the world becomes more and more homogenous and experiences more contrived, the need for an increased role for indigenous cultural tourism participation in differentiating destinations and in delivering more authentic experiences, will increase. The Pacific Asia region has the world’s greatest concentration and variety of indigenous peoples and culture of any region in the world. The session will look at the role of indigenous tourism and that of the tourism industry and governments in fostering it; examples of successful indigenous tourism development and activity and the need to bring indigenous tourism to the centre of each country’s tourism experience and industry.”

Pawan Tuladhar, Chairman of PATA Nepal commented that more than 200 participants are expected for the conference. Out of this 85 people from 22 foreign countries are participating. There are a total of 20 speakers from 13 countries including 3 from Nepal. 27 tour operators from 12 countries covering 5 continents are being hosted as buyers and 27 sellers from 5 countries including 19 from Nepal will be exhibiting. This will be a great event that will promote the region and more importantly Nepal as a prime adventure destination in the world thus adding another feather in the hat for NTY 2011.

The AT&RTCM2011; is supported by the Nepal Tourism Board, NTY2011 and endorsed by Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Sustainable Travel International. Official airlines are Nepal Airlines and Buddha Air.

Nepali mountaineers lit torch atop Mt. Amadablam

An ace Nepalese climber has lit a flame atop 6,812 mts Mt. Amadablam to launch the country''s tourism year 2011 campaign.

Everester Pemba Dorji Sherpa lit the torch to herald the tourism campaign during which Nepal hopes to attract one million tourists.

Heading a nine member team the Nepalese climbers lit the torch at the base camp at 4,600 metres and took it atop the peak two days later in marathon climbing.

The expedition members also lit fire crackers on top of the peak to spread message of launching of Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

Pemba, the Guinness World Record holder climber, told a press conference today that his expedition was aimed at spreading the message of Nepal’s tourism campaign worldwide.

Pemba has climbed Everest in 8 hour 10 minute setting a world record. The team also includes Temba Chhiri Sherpa, who set a world record by climbing the Everest at the age of 16 years.

Other members of the team were women climbers Sushmita Maskey and Nawang Futi Sherpa, both the Everest summiteers. The expedition made a history by lighting torch on the peak of the beautiful Mt. Amadablam and spread message of launching Nepal Tourism Year to the entire world, said Tourism Minister Sharad Singh Bhandari addressing a press meet here today.

The torch was taken to the base camp of the mountain on the same day from Kathmandu''s Dashrath Stadium where President Ram Baran Yadav officially launched the NTY campaign amidst a grand function on January 14.

The torch brought all the way from Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, the Apostle of peace, was taken to the mountain peak two days later.

Red Panda Observation Tour as a New Ecotourism Product in Ilam

Red Panda was discovered 48 years later. The red panda (which is much smaller than the giant panda) resembles a raccoon in size and appearance. The red panda weighs 3 - 6 kg (7 - 13 lb). It lives in mountain forests with abamboounderstory, at altitudes generally between 1500 and 4800 m (5000 - 15,700'). Red pandas almost exclusively eat bamboo Also fruit, berries, leaves, blossoms, fungi, seeds, acorns, lichens, grass, eggs, birds, small rodents, insects, and fish. They are good tree climbers and spend most of their time in trees when not foraging. A female red panda picks a location such as a tree hollow or rock crevice for a maternal den, where she will bear 1 - 5 young. Red pandas are solitary, except for the mating period and the time when a mother and its young are together.

In Nepal red panda is found in an Eastern Himalaya, Choyatar (Inglea, Jamuna 8 and 9, Ilam district) including China, India, Bhutan and Myanmar. Where red pandas were found during a survey in the 1970s, Red pandas may also occur in Nepal's Rara National Park located farther west of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. There are estimated 2500 pandas are left and it is rare and continues to decline. The major threats to red pandas are loss and fragmentation of habitat due to deforestation (and the resulting loss of bamboo for timber, fuel and agricultural land; poaching for the pet and fur trades; and competition from domestic livestock. So, the Choyatar Red panda Tourism Management Group help the Choyatar Community in its conservation. Choyatar is one of the few ecotourism spots in the country run and managed by the local community. The Choyatar Red panda Tourism Management Group promoting real panda tour in that area .Maximum 2 groups each group consists of 5 members allowed to visit in a day Choyatar Red panda Tourism Management Group introduces the home stay concept where the home stay program allows visitors to Nepal to stay with Nepalese family. The Home stay participant lives with the family -- sleeping in a Nepali home, taking their meals with the family, and maybe even touring the city or celebrating a holiday or birthday with them. The program provides a unique opportunity to learn about Nepali culture, make new friends and extended family, and provide direct assistance to the Nepali people. Our local guide will lead the red panda tracking within the community forest. These local guides are also available for visits outside the forest area.

Funds collected will be utilized for conservation and community development of Chayatar area.

How to get to Choyatar Forest?
Flight Flight to Bhadrapur, the nearest airport
Drive Bhadrapur to Ilam 3.5 hrs
Drive Ilam to Ingle, Jamuna-8 3.0 hrs
Hike Ingla to Choyatar Forest 2.0 hrs

Further Detail Information:
Choyatar Red Panda Tourism Management Group
Choyatar Community Forest Users Committee
Ingla, Jamuna 8 & 9, Ilam, Nepal..
Tel: (+977) 9742655973

In this Issue :

Year 2011 starts with healthy growth in international tourist arrivals

PATA Adventure Travel & responsible Tourism & Mart (AT&RTCM;), February 7-11, 2011

Nepali mountaineers lit torch atop Mt. Amadablam

Red Panda Observation Tour as a New Ecotourism Product in Ilam

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