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Big Ideas work positively in tourism
Mr. Renton de Alwis, Chairman of Sri-Lankan Tourism Authority
making a special presentation on "Tourism marketing- problems
and challenges ahead", on February 29, 2008 stressed the need
for aggressive marketing of Nepali tourism products in an
international arena. A presentation cum interaction program was
organized in the premises of Nepal Tourism Board on the advent
of designating special tourism campaign slated for 2010. In a
reference to "Visit Nepal Year 1998"(VNY 98) Mr. Alwis said
"Sri-Lanka could manage to organize Visit Sri-Lanka Year a year
before only". He said the best practices of VNY 98 would be
instrumental in making forthcoming tourism campaign a success.
The Government of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board and the private
sector tourism industry of Nepal are working hard to effectively
market Nepal in the changed scenario with new marketing strategy
to repositioning the image of the country as a prime tourism
destination. Mr. Alwis having already worked in Nepal for two
years as an Technical Advisor to UNDP-Project for Quality
Tourism, has fair knowledge about tourism issues of Nepal. He
during interaction said the situation in Nepal is far good than
Sri-Lanka, which is reeling under the shadow of terrorism. Mr.
Alwis asked tourism fraternity to be aware of the fact that
managing growth is more arduous than gaining growth. He
emphasized in working in big ideas in tourism which, in his
opinion, could create a huge international marketing needed for
a destination.
In a program participated by the honchos of tourism fraternity,
Mr. Prachanda M. Sherstha, CEO, NTB welcomed Mr. Alwis and hoped
to work further together. Hon'ble Minister for Culture, Tourism
& Civil Aviation, Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung was the gues of honor
of the program. Mr. Leela Mani Poudyal, Secretary of Ministry of
Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation thanking for the generous
participation from tourism entrepreneurs and academicians said
all the suggestions made during the program would seriously be
taken for future plans.
Tourist arrivals soar up by 12.9%
Press Release
February 1, 2008
The beginning of the New Year 2008 has heralded an optimistic
tourism growth in Nepal in 2008. The data released by
Immigration Office, TIA shows that arrivals in January has grown
by 12.9 %, up by 2985 compared to the same month last year.
Although decline in the arrivals from India (-12.2%) and Sri
Lanka (-12.5%) have dragged down the total arrivals from SAARC
region by 7 %, the European and North American markets have
registered robust growth of 33.1 % and 34.3 % respectively.
China (96.8%), S. Korea (5.1%), Thailand (23.2 %) and Malaysia
(12.1 %) have posted a remarkable growth. It is very notable
that contribution of S. Korean market in the total arrivals has
come to be very significant. It has contributed more than 10 %
in the total arrivals and; it is due to direct flight between
Kathmandu and Seoul. The Japanese market is down by 15.3 % which
could be due to irregular air service of national flag carrier,
NAC, to Japan.
All the European markets have shown positive growth this month,
except Austria (-7.5%). The UK (33.9 %), France (78.5 %),
Germany (4.5 %), Spain (28.5 %), and Netherlands (36.5 %) have
recorded a significant growth showing increased consumer
confidence towards the destination.
It is expected that more tourists will travel to Nepal in days
to come because of easy accessibility from long haul
destinations and forthcoming tourist season.
Nepal's first time participation in Nordic Travel Fair MATKA
2008
Nepal Tourism Board along with four Nepalese private travel
companies namely Mountain Adventure Trekking, Snowland Travel
and Tours, Makalu Adventure and Sahara Worldwide Travels and
Tours actively participated for the first time in Nordic Travel
Fair Matka 2008, the biggest travel event in Nordic and Baltic
region, held from January 17 to 20, 2008 in Helsinki, Finland.
Inaugurated by Dr. Paavo Vayrynen, Minister for Foreign Trade
and Development, Government of Finland, the fair had good
response from the tour operators and professionals on the first
day specially those from nearby Estonia and St. Petersberg. The
next three days were aimed at consumers, considering the trend
of the Finnish travelers who normally shop around for the
holiday destinations during winter. There were 1,100 exhibitors
from 77 countries occupying the space of 16,000 sq. meters.
Visited by 9178 tour operators and 85000 consumers, the fair
showed an encouraging prospect of Nepalese tourism in Finnish as
well as North European market.
A long feature article on Himalayas of Nepal and cultural
heritage in the MATKA issue of Panorama magazine, written and
edited by Mr. Reijo Harkonen, Honorary PRR for NTB, fetched good
interest from quite a number of visitors in the Fair. In
addition to that, another beautiful article published in "Helsingin
Sanomat"- popular daily newspaper with the circulation of
450,000 - on the third day of the fair, January 19, 2008 about
Annapurna trekking made the visitors even more curious about
Nepal in general and trekking in particular. Inquiries about
Nepal by the visitors were tremendous. According to the response
of the visitors, they seemed more interested in trekking. Yet,
other natural and cultural products have not lost any charm
among the Finnish people.
There are more than 10 Nepalese Restaurants, very much well
known among the locals, in Helsinki. Their observation about the
Finnish people's interest about Nepal shows a great hope and
prospect of the growth of Nepalese tourism in Finland. In fact,
they can be very good platforms to increase the awareness about
Nepal's diverse tourism attractions. The active Nepali diaspora
in Finland have played a significant role in generating public
awareness about Nepal and cultivating interests in them to visit
Nepal.
Finland's national carrier Finn Air has published special fares
for Helsinki/Delhi & Helsinki/Mumbai sectors for MATKA 2008
making it "Fast & Easy" travel to Nepal as well. Very soon they
are going to come out with a special Pro Rata basis fare for
Helsinki/KTM via Delhi. This definitely is a positive sign that
supports NTB's first ever participation in Finland along with
the Nepalese travel trade.
Sir Edmund Hillary will always live in Nepali hearts
A condolence meeting was organized on January 15, 2008 in memory
of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first summiteer of Mt. Everest. Sir
Edmund Hillary passed away at a hospital in Auckland, New
Zealand on January 10, 2008, at the age of 88. Prayers were
performed as per the Buddhist and Hindus tradition where Lamas
and Batuks chanted sacred Mantras for the eternal peace of the
departed soul.
Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung, Hon'ble Minister for Culture, Tourism
and Civil Aviation committed that he would take proposal to the
Cabinet Meeting to name Lukla Airport as Tenzing-Hillary
Airport. Mr. Jyoti Adhikari, President of Trekking Agents'
Association of Nepal proposed for the different awards in the
memory of Tenzing and Hillary and requested tourism industry and
the ministry for the approval.
Miss Elizabeth Hawley, Executive Director of Himalayan Trust
sending her message to the condolence meeting said that the loss
of Sir Edmund Hillary would be felt all over the world.
Discussion on New Tourism Campaign held
In order to capitalise the positive affect shown by the tourist
arrivals in 2007, a meeting was organised on January 6, 2008 at
the Ministry of for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation under
the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister for Culture, Tourism and
Civil Aviation Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung to explore the new
avenue for tourism industry in the changed context of Nepal. The
meeting was attended by the president of various travel trade
associations and high government officials.
In the meeting various issues were discussed pertaining to
tourism infrastructure, safety and security of tourists and
celebrating special campaign for tourism. It was also discussed
in the meeting urging the government to provide high priority to
the tourism and tourism related campaign. Addressing the meeting
Minister Gurung said that the government would announce the
tourism campaign after doing proper homework in appropriate
time. He also stressed there should be the synergy between
tourism and overall development of the country.
Analyzing the pros and cons of tourism campaign, the Secretary
of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Leela
Mani Poudel requested all tourism related associations to come
up with proper homework for new tourism campaign for further
discussion. Sharing his experience of the past, Chief Executive
Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Prachanda Man Shrestha said
that it is necessary to imbibe the target, objectives and
results of Visit Nepal Year '98 while declaring the new tourism
campaign setting new indicators for its successful
implementation.
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