NEWSFLASH - August 2009
HAN to promote NTY 2011 in Bangkok
Aug 31st: HAN is organising a Nepal Night in Bangkok on 1st Sept to promote Nepal among prominent hotel entrepreneurs, travel agents, tour operators, international media personalities and high government officials of Thailand. Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY) will also be promoted by HAN in collaboration with the Nepalese embassy in Thailand and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
NATTA to promote Nepal in China
Aug 28th:According to NATTA, a team of 25 representatives from different Nepali travel companies is visiing Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong from August 29 to September 5. NATTA president Ram Kaji Koney said the main aim of the visit is to promote Nepal Tourism Year 2011, the 3rd NATTA Himalayan International Travel Mart and the 43rd World Congress of UFTAA.
Nepal -Tibet Trade Fair in Shigatse
Aug 28th: The twelfth Nepal-Tibet trade fair will take place in the Tibetan city of Sigatse. The five-day trade fair begins on September 3. The trade fair is organized with the objective of promoting economic and business exchanges between Nepal and the People’s Republic of China. Nepal-Tibet trade fair is held every two years alternately in Nepal and Tibet since 1985.
PATA Conference to be held in Nepal
Aug 27th: PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart will be held in Nepal next February. The event is taking place at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kathmandu from 1-5 February. Official carrier Nepal airlines is offering special fares for all delegates.
UK based travel group to operate Kathmandu-Amsterdam flights
Aug 26th: A UK based international leisure travel group, TUI Travel PLC is all set to start direct flights from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Kathmandu from October according to nepalnews.com. The group has received permission to operate flights from Amsterdam to Kathmandu from October to April .
TUI Travel will start flying a 180-seater chartered aircraft from Amsterdam to Kathmandu and vice-versa once a week from October 12. The direct air connection between Europe and Nepal is expected to facilitate European tourists visiting Nepal and also increase the number of European visitors in Nepal.
Pokara to be air-linked with Indian cities
Aug 24th: Speaking at a programme organised by Pokhara Tourism Council on 23rd August, MoTCA Minister,Sarat Singh Bhandari said that direct air service between Pokhara and some Indian cities was possible provided that the Indian government allow the flights in its internal air routes.He said that the government was preparing ground work so as to begin air service.
Nepalese celebrate Gokarna Aunsi or Father's Day
Aug 20th: Today Hindu Nepalese are celebrating Gokarni Aunsi or Father's day. Children show their gratitude to their fathers by showering them with good wishes and presents. Those without fathers worship at the shrine of Gokarneswor Mahadev on this day. It is a sacred shrine of lord Shiva , renowned for his close communion with the souls of dead . The shrine lies in Gokarna village, five miles east of Kathmandu.
World's largest helicopter and flying hotel - The Hotelicopter
Aug 19th: A flying hotel and largest helicopter in the world,the Hotelicopter is modeled on the Soviet-made Mil V-12, of which there were only two prototypes ever made by the Mikhail Leontyevich Mil helicopter plant in Russia.(More)
Now Swiss Embassy in Nepal
Aug 18th: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal inaugurated the newly opened Swiss Embassy in Ekantakuna, Lalitpur amid a function on Monday.Switzerland, one of the Nepal's long-time development partners, has finally opened up its embassy in Nepal.
Nepal Tourism Year Main Organsing Committee meeting held
Aug 18th: According to a press release issued by NTB the second meeting of the Main Organizing Committee of Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 national campaign was held on August 16, 2009 under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Tourism Minister and Chairman of Main Organizing Committee Mr. Sarat Singh Bhandari. During the meeting, Member-Secretary and CEO of NTB-Mr. Prachanda Man Shrestha presented the programs prepared by 14 sub-committees and 5 regional committees after the first meeting on January 18, 2009 and the publicity received till date.
Plans underway to woo more tourists to Nepal
Aug 17th: Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari has asked the tourism sector to launch programmes to attract the tourists from neighbouring India and China. Speaking at the 4th anniversary of Gantabya Nepal in capital, Bhandari also pointed out the role of media in creating public awareness about the importance of tourism and promoting the country’s unique tourism products at domestic as well as international markets.He informed that the government was preparing to work out package programmes for the event.
Lhasa to build 1st ever tourist information service center
Aug 14th: First-ever tourist information office and service center will be built by 2011 in Lhasa. According to Wang Ping, chief of Lhasa's tourism administration, travelers would be able to arrange accommodation, transport and guide services from the travel agencies in the center by phone or online. The center would offer assistance for independent travelers, as well as emergency help & complaint center for tourists. Large screens would provide latest travel information & pictures of tourist destinations in Tibet. Currently tourist information are available on the tourism bureau website as well as on outdoor screen at Potala Palace Square.
New species of flora and fauna discovered in the Eastern Himalayas
Aug 11th: A decade-long study made by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Nepal, India and Bhutan has revealed the discovery of at least 353 new species of flora and fauna in the Eastern Himalayas between 1998 and 2008.The discoveries include 242 plants, 16 amphibians, 16 reptiles, 14 fish, two birds, and two mammals and at least 61 new invertebrates. Forest minister Deepak Bohara released the report at a function in Kathmandu, Monday. Some of the species have been named 'nepalensis' attributing their orgin to Nepal.
Nepali Woman Climber to climb the seven summits
Aug 11th: Junita Sambahangphe , the 18th woman to scale Mount Everest , is planning to scale the seven summits.She will scale Kilimanjaro (5895 metres), Denali (6194 metres), Elbrus (5642 metres), Aconcagua (6962 metres), Carstensz Pyramid (16,023 ft) and Vinson (4897 metres). She has already scaled Mount Everest on May 19.Junita will begin her expedition from April 2010 with the mission, ‘Peace and Tourism Promotion - Visit Nepal 2011’ from Elbrus, Ukraine (Europe).
Air India to have own security post at TIA
Aug 9th: The government has given permission to Air India (AI) to run its own security checking at the run way of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).The government is currently working on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for such security checks by officials of a foreign airline at the country´s only international airport. Once the procedures are ready, AI will be allowed to basically second-screen passengers and luggage with portable x-ray machines in the sterilized zone of the tarmac. Currently, officials of the Indian airline are only allowed to carry out manual-frisking of passengers at the ladder of the airplane.
DOI to introduce Online Visa Application System
Aug 6th: The Department of Immigration (DOI) will be introducing online visa application system for foreigners intending to visit Nepal soon. Once the new system is put in place, a foreigner can apply for visa online and collect it upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without having to stand in queue for hours. Immigration officials will be able to issue visa immediately as the details of the visiting guests will be available online. .The DOI announcement comes in the wake of the government plan to increase the number of inbound tourists to 1 million in the tourism year 2011.The DOI is also developing integrated computerized data of foreigners visiting Nepal.
Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu
Aug 6th: Switzerland is officially opening an embassy in Nepal later this month, upgrading its cooperation office in the capital, Kathmandu. The upgraded diplomatic representation facilitates the visa procedure for Nepali citizens travelling to the European single border area, including Switzerland.
US Skydivers break freefall record
Aug 4th: On 3rd August a group of skydivers set a world record for the biggest number of people in a freefall formation , as 108 US jumpers dived headfirst out of planes, travelling at speeds of up to 180mph in Illinois,mid- western America.Watch online video @ www.news.sky.com.
Shoton Festival in Lhasa (August 20th -26th)
Aug 4th: Shoton Festival is one of the liveliest summer festival celebrated by Tibetans. This year festival will begin on Aug. 20th, and will last for one week.During the week long festival large Thangkas of the Buddha are displayed at Drepung and Sera monasteries. Tibet opera is performed at at Norbulingka Summer Palace and horse and yak racing is held at Lhasa racecourse. (More)
Tibet Festival- Nakchu Horse Racing Festival (August 10 -16)
Aug 3rd: Every summer (July/August), the city of Nakchu comes alive to the beating horses hoofs and the yells and hoots of the horsemen and the crowds. Nakchu, a vast pastoral area bordered by rugged mountain terrain, is home to the hardy Tibetan nomads or drokpas, and has been for centuries. Nakchu is popular throughout Tibet for its annual Horse Racing Festival. Shows of horsemanship skills, including archery on horseback and racing, are the main attractions during the festival. This year, the festival dates are from 10th to 16th August. (More)
Tourist Arrivals in July
Aug 3rd: According to the figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), tourist arrivals in the month of July 2009, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 10% to 23,266. All major market segments: Asia (SAARC), Asia (Other), Europe, Oceania and North America have registered positive growth trend. European markets registered an overall positive growth of 26%. Arrivals from the UK have maintained the increasing trend with a significant increase by 42%.Tourist arrivals from Australia, Canada and United States of America have registered robust growth of 28%, 34%, and 13% respectively. Similarly, Chinese arrivals have increased by 16% along with Japan (16%), Thailand (94%), South Korea (3%) and Singapore (4%).In aggregate the Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 16%.
