Nepal Promotion Evening in Paris

In a continuous bid to promote Nepal in France and to celebrate Nepal Tourism Year 2011, the Embassy of Nepal and Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu jointly hosted a program last night at UNESCO Hall. Chief Guest at the function was Madame Veronique Roger Lacan, Head of the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Government of France.

The Program was jointly inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Mohan Krishna Shrestha, Ambassador of Nepal to France and Madame Roger-Lacan alighting the traditional Sukunda.

Number of Ambassadors/Permanent Delegates and the Representatives of different countries to UNESCO including that of USA, Japan, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Madgascar, Malaysia, Lao PDR and from other countries were also present. Former Ambassadors of France to Nepal, Director and Officer of the World Heritage Centre under UNESCO, Doctors, French Professors, Chief of SNCF, Researchers, Professionals, Painter, Nepali students, President of NRN France, Presidents of Everest Nepal Association, Maison Culture of Nepal, Secretary General of Nepali Ekata Samaj, French Travel and Tour company Representative, Travel writers, Long Term Nepali residents, also attended the program. At the outset, Ambassador Shrestha extended best wishes for the good health, happiness and well-being of the distinguished guests. Delivering his welcome remarks in French, His Excellency Ambassador Shrestha presented an introduction of Nepal to guests highlighting the Himalayas and geographical wonder, Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, world's only living Goddess Kumari and other socio-cultural, traditional aspects, Nepalese people and their way of life, Nepal's peace process and on the bilateral relations between Nepal and France. Ambassador Shrestha recalled the age-old relations between the two countries which is based on true friendship, mutual understanding and cooperative spirits. Ambassador Shrestha further said that although diplomatic relations between the two countries was established on 20 April 1949, but the relations precedes much earlier than that date. Expressing his wish that more and more French tourists would be visiting Nepal in coming days, he thanked all those who are effortful to promote relations between the two countries and peoples.

Chief Guest Madame Veronique Roger Lacan, speaking on the occasion said that Nepal and France are enjoying good relations and France is extending cooperation to Nepal through European Union. She further mentioned that the relations between the two countries will be continued in the field of cultural exchanges and students. Madame Lacan expressed her happiness to attend the program being organized by the Embassy on the eve of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 to promote tourism in France. She expressed happiness that growing number of French tourists are visiting Nepal these days.

A CD Rom on "Nepal Naturally beautiful – Once is not Enough" made by Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu was screened to the great delight of the guests.

Some cultural dances were presented by Miss. Prashamsha K.C. and Mr. Bimal Basyal. Guests relished the dinner consisted of Nepali food.
Miss. Barbara Coutrurier conducted the program as Master of Ceremony.

Tourism entrepreneurs work for Bhotekoshi conservation

Tourism entrepreneurs are engaged wholeheartedly for the conservation of Bhotekoshi River, the river world famous for rafting, located in Sindhupalchok district.

The tourism entrepreneurs have decided to devote them for the conservation of the river after the government planned to generate 102 mw of power from the river.

As per the entrepreneurs' campaign for river conservation, they reached the District Development Committee Office and submitted their memorandums and sometimes visited senior leaders of the political parties to appeal for the conservation. Investors in hydropower have been attracted to produce power from Indrawati, Melamchi, Bhotekoshi and other rivers in the district as they have maximum possibility of hydropower projects.

The tourism entrepreneurs have been engaged in conservation of the rivers as the number of tourists coming for rafting, kayaking, and other adventurous sports decreases if the rivers are used for hydropower projects. Bhotekoshi is well known in the world for whitewater rafting. Chairman of the Trekking Association of Nepal (TAN) Mahendra Thapa said Bhotekoshi is the major tourism site because of whitewater rafting, but if the river water is taken to the dam for power production, the river dries up. "Then, how to continue the adventurous games," he questioned.

"Tourists from different countries arrive here for rafting and kayaking," said Megh Ale, a tourism entrepreneur. The center of rafting is there where there is the possibility of producing hydropower, that's why it should not be used for hydropower project and should be preserved from the tourism point of view, he added.

"The hydropower could be produced in other rivers besides the Bhotekoshi, but why the government and the political leaders see it the main attraction for power production?" asks Ale. "This river is the model for adventurous rafting in the world; all should work for its conservation," he said.

According to the survey taken by the government, around 102 mw of power could be produced in between Barhabise and Last Resort area which is also the excellent area for rafting and kayaking.

"We have brought in leaders of political parties born in the district on the occasion of Sindhupalchowk Mahotsav for rafting to show the importance of the river for rafting," said the tourism entrepreneurs. Now, we believe that they will realize and work for the conservation of the river.

Dynamic tourism policy today’s need

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista Magar stressed on the need to make a stable and dynamic tourism policy.

Speaking at a seminar entitled ‘Media and Air Accessibility, A Key Factor for Tourism Development’ organised by Journalists’ Association for Tourism Nepal (JAT-Nepal) to celebrate its first anniversary on November 24, Bista said that country needed a new tourism master plan for its development.

As Nepal is mountainous country, development of aviation sector is very important, he said.

Bista also stressed on the need to expand and upgrade airports standard for the development of the aviation sector.

The ministry is giving high priority to buying aircrafts to Nepal Airlines Corporations, he said and added that he started consultations with the concerned bodies to the purchase of aircrafts.

"We have variety of tourism attractions in different locations and communities, which require to be developed on the basis of their specialties," he said.

Minister also highlighted the role of media in promoting tourism.

State Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Dili Marjan stressed on the need to develop the tourism sector for the development of the country. "As tourism is only one potential sector for the development of the country, we should focus on it."

Maharjan stressed on the need to solving the entire political problem first for the development for the sector.

Presenting a paper, aviation expert M B Shrestha called for strengthening the National flag carrier in bringing more tourists to the nations. "To bring quality tourists form abroad, there should be the direct air connectivity to the main tourist generating countries. This will be possible if we make Nepal Airlines strength with sufficient aircrafts," he said.

Similarly, presenting another paper Sugat Ratna Kansakar, former chairman of the NAC, also requested to revamp the national flag carrier to increase the tourism yield.

"The national flag carrier is also the prestige of the nation so we should make NAC strong to improve our tourism image at the international level," he said.

Tourism entrepreneurs stressed on role of tourism journalists to pressurise the concerned authorities to buy new aircrafts for the national airlines.

Prachanda Man Shrestha, former CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, said that expansion of tourism was directly linked with the expansion of air connectivity, and favorable expansion of air connectivity was possible only if the national airlines became strong. On the occasion, Minister Bista unveiled the souvenir published by JAT-Nepal on the occasion State minister Maharjan lunched a website of the organisation.

All the tourism related news and information will be updated in the newly launched website, Shiva Shrestha, secretary of JAT-Nepal informed. The website of the organisation is: www.paryatankhabar.com.

In this Issue :

Nepal Promotion Evening in Paris

Tourism entrepreneurs work for Bhotekoshi conservation

Dynamic tourism policy today’s need

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