Nepal participated at CITM 2013

Nepal participated in China International Travel Mart (CITM) 2012 which concluded on October 29, 2013 at Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Chinese commercial city of Kunming. The travel expo started from October 24 , 2013.

Jointly organized by China National Tourism Administration, Yunnan Provincial People’s Government and Civil Aviation Administration of China, CITM is one of the biggest and major Travel Trade Shows in China which focuses on inbound and outbound tourism.

Twelve Nepalese private participants Adventure Outdoor Treks and Excursion, Saathi Nepal Travels and Tours, Nepal Social Treks and Expedition, Kudan Travel and Tours, Fishtail Tours and Travels, I Tour International Travel Service, My Nepal Adventure Tours and Travels, Nepal Dream Travel Service, Nepal Mandala Travels, Next Yatra Travels, S and T Holidays and Shuang Qi Tours took part in this event.

Nepal stand occupying an area of 56 sq. m was well decorated with graphics of tourism attractions of the country. More than 4000 thousand visitors visited Nepal stand and received information on tourism attractions of Nepal. NTB distributed the collateral in Chinese language to the visitors and exhibitors during the Show.

Nepal being the first country in South Asia to receive the status of Approved Destination has tremendous potential to be favorite destination among Chinese tourists.

Most of the queries were about connectivity and tourism products. Young Chinese are more interested towards adventure while others preferred leisure and sightseeing. On top of all, most urgent requirement of the Chinese tourist is to seek the online Neplese visa rather than on arrival.

Nepal Tourism Board believes that this participation in CITM 2013 will add new dimension in the promotion of tourism of Nepal in China with greater intensity and wider mileage. Support from media persons, tour operators and well wishers from China to Nepal are highly expected in this mission.

Over the years, the arrivals from china to Nepal have increased significantly. In 2012, Nepal received 71,861 chinese nationals which is 8.9% of increment compared to 2011.

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Nepal participated ITB Asia in Singapore

The sixth edition of ITB Asia, organized by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd, was held from 23- 25 October 2013 at Suntec Exhibition and Convention Center, Singapore. It is a three-day B2B trade show where all the appointments are booked in advance. Over 750 buyers, 825 exhibiting companies from 73 countries were present in the fair.

Six private companies participated in the Trade Show under the Banner of Nepal Tourism Board. The names of the participating companies from Nepal are: Icefall Adventures Pvt. Ltd., Yeti Airlines Pvt. Ltd., Malla Travel & Trek Services Pvt. Ltd., Gangotri Tours and Travels (P) Ltd., Shangri-La Hotel & Resorts and Yeti Travels. Mr. Kundan Sharma – Officer, represented Nepal Tourism Board in the Show.

It was found that Nepal is taken as a very exotic destination and Travel Agencies from around the world wanted to know more about us. The products offered by Nepal  were unique and one of its kinds which is the key to attract more tourists to Nepal.

Nepal Stall was visited by Mr. Madhusudan Muljibhai Patel, Honourary Consulate of Nepal in Singapore. He opined that Nepalese potentiality in Tourism is immense and Nepal could learn a lot from Singapore. Mr. Deepak Shrestha, Honourary PRR of Nepal Tourism Board in Singapore was also present in the fair.

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Embassy of Nepal participated in the Diplomatic Fair

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in partnership with the City of Tshwane, hosted the annual Diplornatic Fair on the lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday, 26 October 2013, under the therne "Celebrating 50 years of the OAJ/AU - Ernbracing Diversity, Tolerance, Unity and Pan-Africanism."

About fifty foreign DiplomaticrMissions and l8 United Nations agencies participated in the fair including the Nepalese Embassy. Among them eleven Missions participated with their cultural group. The event provided Diplomatic Missions an opportunity to celebrate and showcase their history as well as their diverse heritage and culture through arts and crafts, international cuisine and cultural programme.

Nepalese handicrafts, Nepalese woollen shawls as well as Nepalese tourism promotional materials were displayed at the fair. The Nepal stall stood unique and colourful with its typical decorations including the posters of Kumari, Mourit Everest, Swyambhunath, Lumbini and others which attracted about 5,000 visitors. Many visitors enquired about the touristic destinations in Nepal and the connectivity. Some visitors wanted to buy woollen shawls displayed there. Nepal has always been one of the destinations for adventure and cultural tourism, especially for the white population of South Africa.

Her Excellency Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation hosted a Dinner in honour of the Heads of the Diplomatic Missions and the exhibitors. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of International Relations and Cogperation said that the Fair, amongst other things, had not only provided the public , with information about countries accredited to South Africa but had also brought government, businesses, the diplomatic corps and other sectors of society  together.

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Birat Int'l Trade Fair in the offing

Morang Merchants´ Association (MMA) is organizing Birat International Trade Fair in Biratnagar from December 1 with the objective to promote Nepali agricultural and handircraft products as well as products of small as well as large industries.

According to the organizers, the seven-day long will have 50 stalls from Nepal as well as from India, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. “The fair will enhance the relation between producers and the consumers and help to promote domestic products in international market,” Abinash Bohra, president of MMA, said.

Meanwhile, the organizers have provided 10 stalls for free to exhibitors of eastern hills. "We have provided the stalls free of cost to encourage companies operating there and so that they can explore international market for their products," Bohra added.

Cultural shows, interaction on development of tourism in Nepal, and a photo exhibition highlighting various tourist destinations of the country will also be held on the sidelines of the event. The fair will conclude on December 22.

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Etihad doubles flight frequency to Nepal

Etihad Airways -- the national airlines of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - is doubling its flight frequency to Nepal effective October 27, 2013.

Now onwards, the airline will operate 14 flights per week on Kathmandu-Abu Dhabi sector.

Issuing a statement, the airline said the additional flights driven by the demand from business and leisure travelers will further strengthen the commercial and cultural ties between Nepal and the UAE.

Etihad currently caters 50 percent leisure travelers and has less Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries traffic, according to the statement.

“The double daily flights will help connect more destinations over the airline´s Abu Dhabi hub to key destinations in Europe, Middle East and GCC countries,” the statement quoted Pawana Shrestha, general manager of Etihad Airways-Nepal.

Meanwhile, the airline has also announced promotional fares to some popular destinations in Europe and North America. According to the statement, the promotional fares are available to London, Manchester, Frankfurt, Milan, Munich, Brussels, Geneva, Paris, New York, Chicago and Washington.

Shrestha said that the fares are for sale until October 31 and the travel period is from October 27 to May 31, 2014.

Etihad, which started Kathmandu flights in 2007, has carried more than 620,000 passengers in the sector. The airline claimed that it enjoys 8 percent market share in the domestic aviation industry.

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Yama Panchak begins

The second greatest festival of Nepali, especially the Hindus, Tihar begins from November 1, 2013.

Tihar , also known as the festival of lights or Deepawali, is celebrated from Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha (13th day of waning moon in the month of Kartik) to Kartik Shukla Dwitya (2nd day of waxing moon) every year.

The five-day festival mentioned as Yama Panchak in Hindu scriptures comes right after the greatest Hindu festival of Dashain and is celebrated with much enthusiasm throughout the country.

This festival is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to the god of death-Yama- and animals including crow, dog, cow and ox, who maintain close relationship with humans in everyday life.

Meanwhile, people across the nation have been observing the Kaag Tihar or Kaag Puja-worship of crows by offering sweets and dishes today.

According to the Hindu belief, crow is considered as the messenger of Yama, the lord of death.

The cawing of the crows symbolizes sadness and grief in the Hindu mythology, so the devotees offer the crows food to avert grief and deaths in their homes.

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SACOSAN-V (22-24 October 2013) concluded with Kathmandu Declaration

The fifth South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-V) concluded with ten-point Kathmandu Declaration on 24th October 2013. Ministers and head of delegates from the eight participating nations of South Asia signed the Declaration, which contain specific points to accelerate the momentum of sanitation in the region.

Rt. Honorable President of Nepal Dr. Ram Baran Yadav graced the public opening of the conference at Bhaktapur on 21st October 2013, Rt. Honorable Vice President Pramananda Jha opened the Conference at Hotal Yak and Yeti on 22nd October and Rt. Honorable Khil Raj Regmi, chairman of the council of ministers addressed the closing session of the Conference on 24th October 2013.

The eight South Asian countries presented their Country Papers highlighting the state of sanitation, achievements, challenges and the way forward for achieving sanitation targets. Similarly, eight Technical Focus Sessions were organized where practitioners and experts shared their experiences and study findings on different aspects of sanitation.

About 400 official delegates participated in the SACOSAN V conference. For others, who could not attend the conference, set up was made for the virtual participation.

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