Destination Presentation at Nepal Promotion Evening at BernMonday, July 4th, 2016

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 4, 2016 - To re establish its presence in the Europe market with message that Nepal’s tourism is back to business, Nepal Tourism Board participated in the Nepal promotion event “Mountains: Connecting Cultures and People” organized by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations and the Embassy of Nepal in Geneva, Switzerland. The program was held on Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Treffpunkt Wittigkofen, Jupiterstrasse 15, 3015 Bern.

The program entailed an assortment of Nepali cultural performances, complimented by formal address by His Excellency the Ambassador of Nepal to the Permanent Mission Mr. Deepak Dhital. HE Mr. Dhital briefed the audience about the long-standing relations between Switzerland and Nepal, thanking the Swiss government and the people for the immense support provided for recovery from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. He also elaborated on Nepal as a country and tourist destination, and encouraged all to visit Nepal, which he said was an ideal adventure and eco-tourism destination. HE Mr. Dhital also noted that the tourism industry of Nepal was quick to bounce back in the aftermath of the earthquake.

At the program, destination promotion presentation of Nepal was done by NTB representative Ms. Archana KC Rana. Ms. Rana spoke about Nepal’s tourism pertaining to recovery post the earthquake and focusing on the evolving tourism relations between Switzerland and Nepal. Her address was supplemented by promotional visuals of Nepal with destination and product information. The visuals were highly appreciated by the Swiss as well as Nepali audience.

The program also hosted Guest of Honor Dr. Annemarie Huber-Hotz, Former Federal Chancellor of Switzerland and present President of the Swiss Red Cross, who spoke of the history of friendship between Switzerland and Nepal, and was positive about continuous support and cooperation from both sides in the coming days. Similarly, Guest of Honor Mr. Marc Batard, a renowned mountaineer who summitted Mt. Everest without oxygen in less than 24 hours in 1988, gave the audience a glimpse of his experience in Everest expedition then.

Vice President of the Swiss-Nepal Society Mr. Peetam Gurung and President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Switzerland Mr. Heera Bal Gurung also participated at the program. Both spoke about the potential cooperation between the two countries in terms of investment and tourism.

The platform was ideal to communicate latest tourism updates streamlining positive message to strengthen Nepal’s destination image in Switzerland market and assert a definite brand image of Nepal. About 120 people including officials from diplomatic mission in Geneva, members of the travel trade, friends of Nepal in Switzerland, and members of the NRN community participated at the program. The program was followed by Nepali dinner.

Europe is a prime value market for Nepal, and therefore, NTB has put special effort to reestablish its presence in the Europe market and rebuild confidence in traveling to Nepal among the European outbound travelers. The destination presentation promotion program in Bern, Switzerland, follows Nepal’s participation at renowned travel trade fairs across Europe including at ITB – Berlin, CMT – Stuttgart, BIT – Milan, MITT – Moscow, Vakantiebeurs – Utrecht, FITUR – Madrid, and EUROAL – Malaga, since January 2016.

Switzerland is a stable market for Nepal. Around 5,000-10,000 Swiss tourists visit Nepal every year. In 2014, the total Swiss tourist arrival in Nepal was 6,447, while in 2011 the Swiss tourist arrival had reached the highest in five years at 11,020. Among Swiss travelers most opt for 15-day to 90-day visa and are adventure explorers with avid interest in trekking, mountaineering and surveying the Himalayan terrain.

The first famous Swiss to visit Nepal was the Late Tony Hagen, a geologist and a pioneer of Swiss development assistance in Nepal. Hagen trekked 14,000 km of snow-covered and hilly terrain of Nepal in 1950, observing, interacting, researching, discovering, and noting facts about the people and the landscape of Nepal.

He drew similarities between the Himalayas and the Alps, Nepal and Switzerland, and the people of the two countries. Hagen recommended certain development measures for Nepal, to follow the development lead of Switzerland. Switzerland remains an epitome of peace and development in the world to this day; while Hagen remains a legend and a hero who first opened Nepal to the eyes of the Western world, leaving a legacy as a friend and a well-wisher of Nepal for always.