NEWSFLASH - October 2009
Everest Skydive 2009 Successful
Oct 29th: Explore Himalaya is pleased to announce the successful completion of Everest Skydive 2009. View the press release and the photos highlights
Hoteliers enjoying good business
Oct 29th: With the rise in the number of tourist arrivals, hotels in Kathmandu and Pokara are doing brisk business. According to a report on 'The Himalayan Times', hotel entrepreneurs, bookings and reservations are nearly full for the tourist season now. Aside from the tourist season, the increase in the number of tourists is also due to various seminars, games and other incentive programmes launched this season, said Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Ram Kaji Koney.
Entry Fee for Swoyambhu revised
Oct 29th: According to a circular distributed by the Federation of Swoyambhu Management and Conservation (FSMC), the entry fee for tourists visiting the World Heritage site Swoyambhu has been fixed at Rs. 50/- for SAARC Nationals and Rs. 200/- for visitors from other countries,effective from16th November 2009.
Bhaktapur Night on 2nd Nov
Oct 27th: Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee is organizing Bhaktapur Night on 2nd November on the occasion of Saaki-Manna Punhi, a day observed to celebrate harvesting season on the first full moon of November.Major attractions during the event will be Devi dance, Asta Matrika dance and song and dance numbers by cultural troupes from Bhaktapur and Madhyapur Thimi. The programme is promoted by Nepal Tourism Board.
NTB promotes NTY 2011 in Singapore
Oct 26th: NTB along with eight travel companies attended the Second Asia edition of ITB Berlin at Suntec City Convention Hall, Singapore from October 21-23.Nepal Tourism Year 2011 was promoted during the fair through media literature distributed among the fair organizes, visitors, buyers and exhibiting companies from Europe, America, Australia, South East Asia and SAARC countries.The event featured more than 650 companies from Asia , Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East.
Plans on to expand Bardiya National Park
Oct 26th: According to a report on Nagarik Daily, the government is preparing to expand the area of Bardiya National Park to double its present size by annexing 898 sq. km of forest area along the east-west highway in Dang, .The area of the National Park at present is 968 sq. km.The expansion of the National Park is vital for the conservation of Tigers as the area proposed to be annexed is considered an important area for habitat and food for tigers, according to wildlife experts.
Tourists flock to Nagarkot & Bhaktapur
Oct 25th: According to an official estimate, there has been an impressive increment of some 40 percent in the number of tourists visiting Nagarkot and Bhaktapur this year compared to the previous year.In September, a total of 20 thousand tourists visited the Bhaktapur district filling up the coffers of the Bhaktapur Municipality by Rs 10.261 million, in terms of revenue collected from tourists.The local hotels and resorts are also doing brisk business as a result of the rise in tourists arrivals in these areas.
Fishtail Air adds AS350 B3 to its fleet
Oct 23rd: Fishtail Air has added AS350 B3 helicopter to its fleet.The new helicopter arrived in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) from Singapore on October 18. The new AS350 B3 helicopter has a capacity to land at an altitude of 23,000 feet. Explore Himalaya congratulates Fishtail Air for the acquisition of the new aircraft!
UAAA Conference begins today in Hong Kong
Oct 23rd : Union of Asian Alpine Associations (UAAA) is holding its conference from today in Hong Kong. The meet will last till October 25th . Representatives from Japan, Korea, China, India, Pakistan and Singapore and more than 25 nations are participating in the conference.One of the chief agenda during the meet will be to form a new working committee.Mr.Ang Tsering Sherpa, President of UAAA, has said that issues on mountaineering tourism and activities to bring effectiveness in tourism, reducing negative impacts to the environment will be discussed during the conference.
PATA Travel Mart 2009
Oct 22nd : The recently concluded PATA Travel Mart in Hangzhou China (PRC) has received widespread praise from industry delegates, China-based Sellers and the host city's organising body. A survey of delegates, conducted by PATA, shows that some 80 percent of Buyers attending PATA Travel Mart 2009 were satisfied with the results of pre-matched business appointments and 87 percent were satisfied with the quality of Sellers at the Mart. Some 76 percent of Sellers stated that Buyers attend PTM 2009 met their expectations. More than 1,000 delegates, including local and international media, attended the 32nd annual PATA Travel Mart. PTM 2010 takes place at The Venetian Macao on 14-17 September. (Source: News@PATA )
Nepal - A favorite vacation destination for Hollywood Producer Emo Philips
Oct 21st: In an interview for Chicago Tribune , Hollywood producer and comedian Emo Philips has mentioned Nepal as his favorite vacation destination.(Full story)
Restriction on Vehicular Movement in Thamel from 1st November
Oct 21st: According to a new rule, the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) is declaring a 100-metre area, stretching from Kathmandu Guest House Chowk to Narasingha Chowk, Thamel as vehicle-free zone from November 1. The area will be off-limit for four-wheelers, bicycles and rickshaws. The restrictions will be enforced from 10 am and 4 pm and from 7 pm to 10 pm.
Nepal Travel and Tourism Meet in London
Oct 20th: Nepal Travel and Tourism meet 2009 was organised by Himalayas Nepal Publications and Embassy of Nepal at Nepal Embassy premises on 14th October 2009. The main purpose of the meet was to bring all Nepal travel and tourism related British companies under the same roof to interact and inform them about the latest happening within the Nepal tourism industry.Around fifty prominent British travel and tour operators, airlines representatives and national and local media personnel took part in the meet.
Everest Summitter Pujan Acharya Skydives from 29,300ft
Oct 17th: Nepali Everest summitter, Ms. Pujan Acharya made a tandem jump from a height of 29,300ft. at Shyangboche this morning. The jump was made along with tandem master Tom Noonan (USA) today (October 17, 2009) at 10:30 AM (local time).
Wendy Smith (New Zealand), Jai Kishan (India) and Mery Noonan (USA) made solo jumps from a height of 27,500ft. at 8:30 AM (local time).
With this jump, Wing Commander Jai Kishan, who is a Parachute Jump Instructor of Indian Air Force, based at Air Force Station, Agra, became the first Indian skydiver to make the highest jump in the Everest Region.
The jumps were made from Tara Air’s Pilatus Porter aircraft, piloted by Captain Jack Sparrow (UK) and Praful Baidya (Nepal). Today’s jumps concluded the Everest Skydive event organized at Shyangboche by Explore Himalaya.
Congratulations to the skydivers!
Explore Himalaya’s Skydive Team will be back soon in Shyangboche for another round of this great skydiving adventure, Everest Skydive – the highest skydiving adventure in the world.
Breaking News : Everest Skydive - 5 Skydivers Jump from 25,000 feet
Oct 16th: This morning five members from the Explore Himalaya skydive team made four solos and one tandem jump from a height of 25,000 feet at Shyangboche in the Everest region.
The first group included Tom Noonan (USA), Ian Bishop (Australia) and Jay Kishan (India), who made solo jumps at 10:30 AM (local time). In the second group, world record holder and chief co-ordinator of the team, Wendy Smith (New Zealand) made a solo jump, while Ganesh Pandey (Nepal) made a tandem jump with tandem master Tom Noonan (USA) at 12:30 PM (local time).
The jumps were made from Tara Air’s Pilatus Porter aircraft, piloted by Jack Sparrow (UK) and Praful Baidya (Nepal). Jack Sparrow, an experienced pilot has performed more then 4,000 lifts for skydivers (flights for skydiving) in Europe and is preparing to launch the first skydiving club in Asia, ThaiSky Adventures.
Explore Himalaya is the first agency in Nepal to commercially organize the Everest Skydive in Nepal. Keep updated with more details in our blog or www.everest-skydive.com.
Congratulations to the skydivers!
New members for NTB
Oct 13th: Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has nominated five members from the private sector as the board of directors in Nepal Tourism Board. The nominated members are Shyam Sundar Lal Kakshyapati from the hotel sector, Ram Kaji Koney and Shikhar Prasai from the travel agency sector, Phurba Gyalzen Sherpa from trekking sector and Ganesh Bahadur Bhattarai from tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara.
Statues unvieled at NTB premises
Oct 12th: Statues of Everest heroes Tenzing Norgay & Edmund Hillary, and pioneer of tourism in Nepal , Boris Lissanevitch were unvieled amidst a function at NTB on 11th October.The statues were jointly unvieled by Tourism Minister, Mr. Sarat Singh Bhandari and Mr.Alexander Tipalovin, Minister for Culture of Kaluga State of the Russian Federation.
Nepal's caves becoming popular among Tourists
Oct 10th: According to the Kathmandu based English daily, The Himalayan Times, 1,250metres long Manjushree cave( probably the second-longest cave in Asia) located at Chovar, Kathmandu is becoming popuar among tourists. The cave is located near Chovar gorge, which according to local legend ,was created by Boddhisattva's Manjushree sword. Only 342 metres of the 1250 metres long cave has been opened to visitors. Siddhagufa cave at Bimalnagar in Bandipur is also proving popular among tourists.
Oktober fest at Fulbari Resort & Spa
Oct 9th: After Hotel Yak & Yeti, its Fulbari's turn to organise Oktoberfest. The Fulbari Resort & Spa, Pokahara has been celebrating this event for the last one decade. The fest will be held on 10th October.
Etihad Airways to increase flight frequency
Oct 9th: Etihad Airways will be increasing its flight frequency to Kathmandu from four flights weekly to seven from January.The announcement was made on the occassion of the opening of the airline's new office at Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu
Kathmandu Jazz Festival - Jazzmandu
Oct 8th: An annual musical extravaganza, featuring jazz artistes from Nepal and abroad, Jazzmandu begins today.Running into its seventh year, this year the Kathmandu Jazz Festival will last till 13th October and will feature bands from France, Thailand, Holland, USA, Brazil, India and Nepal.
ArkeFly to connect Nepal directly with Europe
Oct 6th: A Dutch airline ArkeFly will fly directly to Kathmandu from Netherlands from Wednesday, reconnecting Nepal with Europe by air after five years. ArkeFly has decided to start direct flight to Nepal as per the Air service Agreement (ASA) between Nepal and European Union (EU). This new air service is expected to give a boost to Nepal Tourism Year 2011. ArkeFly is scheduled to fly its Boeing 737 once a week initially.
Nepal participates in BTTF
Oct 5th: Nepal has participated in the three day Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair, BTTF held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1-3 October, 2009.
The fair was organized by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB). This is the second BTTF organized by the TOAB. Over 100 travel operators from 8 different countries participated the fair. Nepal Tourism Board participated in the fair for the first time. With over 30,000 visitors the fair was successful in showcasing the diversified products of the sub-continent.
Tourists arrival increase in September
Oct 4th: The number of tourists visiting Nepal by air in September increased by 5 percent as compared to the same period last year, as reported by Nepal Tourism Board.
