PATA AT&RTCM concluded successfully

Photo of the week
Photo Courtesy: Sunil Sharma The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)’s Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart (AT&RTCM) event being held in Pokhara, Nepal from Febraury 7, 2011 successfully concluded on February 10, 2011. Under the theme ‘Social Give Back: Doing Well by Doing Good’, the conference once again addressed key issues facing responsible travel, and sought to improve awareness regarding sustainable tourism practices.

The AT&RTCM attracted close to 200-delegates. Sellers were from five countries, namely, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal. Among international buyers, it is gratifying to note that the event has drawn a strong presence from Russia, Poland and Canada for the first time, as also other leading destinations.

Said Greg Duffell, CEO, PATA: “PATA’s first ever Adventure Travel Conference was held in Nepal in the late 1960s. Given this background, it is fitting that this niche event is now being held in Pokhara, after its successful return to Nepal last year. Adventure travel is seeing a massive upswing around the globe and Pokhara, through its accessibility to the Annapurna Range, offers some of the best trekking routes in the world. I am certain that the post-event tours so ably organised by Nepal Tourism will go a long way in showcasing this region’s unique adventure offerings.” Said Sheila Leong, deputy chief executive and head, office of marketing services, PATA: “This attendance is affirmation of the importance the industry accords an event of this nature. With global warming growing at the alarming pace it is, PATA is pleased and proud to be the medium through which a difference can be made to our planet, through responsible tourism measures. For the travel and tourism industry to continue to flourish, we need to first protect and nurture the environs we live in.”

This is the first official PATA event of the year 2011, which happens to be the year of the Association’s 60th anniversary, and has also been declared as ‘Nepal Tourism Year’.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was presided over by Kishor Thapa, secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation; Prachanda Man Shrestha, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board; Hiran Cooray, chairman, PATA, and Greg Duffell, CEO, PATA. Local and international journalists from China, India and Nepal attended the event.

The keynote speaker was Bruce Poon Tip, founder, Gap Adventures, Canada. Other speakers included Hiran Cooray, PATA Chairman; Andrew Jones, guardian, Sanctuary Resorts; Arlene Samen, CNN Hero; Ajeet Bajaj, managing director, Snow Leopard Adventures; Ben Keene, founder, Tribewanted; Brian Mullis, founder and CEO, Sustainable Travel International; Chirag Tolia, Kopan Monastery Village; Duangkamol Chansuriyawong, president, The Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA); David Jones, former director general, WYSE Travel Confederation; Ian Hall, founder and director Arkitrek; John King, managing director, Global Tourism & Leisure; Mina Gabor, chairwoman and president, International School of Sustainable Tourism; Manfred Haupl, owner, Hauser Exkersion; Nyima Tashi Sherpa, Kopan Monastery Village; Siddharta Bajracharya, executive officer, National Trust for Nature Conservation; Steve Harbert, director and general manager, Mountain Kingdom; Sudhir Sahi, UNDP consultant; Sweta Gurung, course instructor, Where There Be Dragons; and Dr. Zhang Guangrui, director and professor, Tourism Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The event is hosted by Nepal Tourism Board with support from the PATA Nepal Chapter 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.

Kirtipur Cultural Festival 2011

The three day long Kirtipur festival was organized from February 2, 2011 with the objective of promoting the historical and cultural features of the ancient Newar town.

Various materials highlighting the historical sites and the local culture are on display at the festival. A total of 140 statues highlighting the local ethnic communities and their culture, birds and plants were displayed at the exhibition.

First Eastern Regional Techno Fest 2011 kicks off

Eastern Regional Techno Fest 2011 kicked off in the Biratnagar for the first time in eastern region from February 10, 2011.

The three-day long event started with the aim of bringing trade, science and people in the same platform to develop education, information, science and technology in the region and also to encourage the students and colleges in science and technology.

The event is organised by Educators Private Limited. The main attractions of the event are scientific and technology innovations, 3D videos screening, branding expo, games station, musical show, food stalls, education and career counseling, according to organiser.

Tourism festival at the foot of Mt. Manaslu to promote NTY-2011

Lamjung district is all set to organise a tourism festival at the base of Mt. Manaslu from May 9 to 11 with the aim to promote and boost tourism in the district to make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY-2011) a grand success. According to the Nubri Cultural Youth Uplift Committee, the festival is organised on the occasion of the anniversary of the ascension of the Mt. Manaslu.

This is the first time that the district is organising such a festival to mark the Mt. Manaslu Day at the foot of the peak. Previously, Mt. Manaslu Day has been observed with 54 special ceremonies in Kathmandu and Gorkha.

Sonam Lhosar 2137observed

People of some indigenous communities with Buddhist faith celebrated Sonam Lhosar 2137 on Febryar 4, 2011. Tamang, Thakali, Bhote, Bhutia, Jirel, Yolmo, Lopo, Walung and Lepcha communities observed the festival.

Lho in Tibetan language means year and Sar means 'new'. The festival is observed as the new year by the Mahayana Buddhist communities of Nepal.Lhosar is celebrated by the Gurung community as the Tamu/Tola Lhosar in the last week of December, by people of Tamang community as Sonam Lhosar in the second week of February and by the Sherpa and Bhote people as Gylapo Lhosar around mid-February every year.

In this Issue :

PATA AT&RTCM concluded successfully

Kirtipur Cultural Festival 2011

First Eastern Regional Techno Fest 2011 kicks off

Tourism festival at the foot of Mt. Manaslu to promote NTY-2011

Sonam Lhosar 2137observed

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