Visit Lumbini promoted in South Korea

With the objectives of promoting Visit Lumbini Year 2012, the Embassy of Nepal and Visit Lumbini Year 2012, South Korea Subcommittee jointly organized a talk programme on “Lumbini Nepal and Korean Buddhism” at the embassy today. Venerable Hye Jeong, President of Jin Gak Buddhist order was the Chief Guest as well as Guest Speaker in the programme. Delivering his thoughtful remarks on the relations between Nepalese and Korean Buddhism through spreading the message of compassion, harmonious relations amongst human beings, he stressed on the attainment of inner peace through spiritualism. In regard to the publicity of Visit Lumbini Year in Korea, the Venerable monk assured for the dissemination of information about Lumbini and campaign of Visit Lumbini Year to all his followers in 120 monasteries, the university, schools and social organizations under the Jin Gak order.

The programme was attended by the senior Korean monks, representatives of Indonesian and Indian Buddhist organizations, Nepalese government officials as well as the members of Nepalese community representing social organizations including the Buddhist family.

Addressing the programme, Mr. Rajaram Bartaula, the Charge d’ affaires a.i. expressed his thanks to the venerable monks and all the participants for their support in making the programme a success. Mr. Bartaula also handed over gifts to the venerable monks.

Nepal eyes Indian MICE Tourists

Nepal Tourism Board participated at the 4th edition of MTM(MICE Travel Mart) held in Mumbai, the commercial capital of India on 13 April 2012. Major hotel properties in India few prominent hotel chain and organization from Asia and Europe also participated in the Mart targeting the growing Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) segment in India.

The legendary entrepreneur and hotelier Capt. CPK Nair, the owner of LeelaKempenski Hotels in India inaugurated the Mart in the upclassLeela Mumbai Hotel. Addressing the crowd of prominent travel trade personalities and media representatives from India and abroad, he said that the outbound MICE segment from India is growing with leaps and bounds and will continue to grow in line with the phenomenal economic growth that India has been enjoying for the last few years. But he also admitted that India lacks the needed infrastructure it needs to attract MICE tourists from other countries.

It is estimated that 20-30 % of the revenue in most of the hotels worldwide is generated by MICE segment, making it one of the most favorite clientele for hotels. The global size of the MICE segment runs in millions of travelers and France and Austria take the major share of pie which organize one international MICE event every other day. It is said that more than 1.5 million Indians traveled abroad every year as MICE tourists and the numbers are growing between 15-20% every year.

Nepal was promoted during the mart as one of the favorite destinations for the Indian MICE tourists. Short flight time to Kathmandu from Mumbai or New Delhi, wide range of activities that can be offered in the short period of time to the time-starved MICE tourists, and cultural and geographical proximity between Nepal and India makes Nepal a choice of destination among the Corporate Houses and MICE tourists. Several corporate MICE planners and tour operators were provided necessary information on Nepal in promoting the MICE segment.

Mr. Kashi Raj Bhandari, Director, represented Nepal Tourism Board at the Mart.

About 337 climbers attempting Mt. Everest this spring

The number of climbers participating in Mt. Everest(also called Qomolangma) expeditions has increased by around 28 percent this spring as compared to the same season last year.

A total of 337 climbers from various countries have got permission to attempt theworld's tallest mountain from Nepali side this spring, while the number stood at around263 in the same season of 2011, according to the Tourism Industry Division under theMinistry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The number of expeditions has also grown to 32 this spring as against 26 in spring lastyear.

According to Tuesday's The Rising Nepal daily, though there is no chance foradditional expeditions to Everest for this season, the total number of expeditions islikely to reach 100 this spring due to an increase in expeditions attempting othermountains in the remaining period of the season, said Komal Shrestha of theMountaineering Section at the Tourism Industry Division.

The increase in the number of Mt. Everest expeditors was due to the impact of theNepal Tourism Year 2011 and favorable tourism environment in the country, he said.

To encourage expeditions during all seasons, the government is offering differentroyalties during spring, autumn, and winter and summer seasons.

The royalty rate for spring is the highest and mountaineers need to pay only half that inautumn season and one-fourth in winter and summer seasons.

Around 3,000 people have climbed the world's tallest peak since it was first conqueredby Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

In this Issue :

Visit Lumbini promoted in South Korea

Nepal eyes Indian MICE Tourists

About 337 climbers attempting Mt. Everest this spring

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