NTB should be empowered with more resources and means: Minister Bhandari

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Sarat Singh Bhandari paid an official visit to Nepal Tourism Board on July 7, 2009 for orientation to comprehend the activities and programs carried out by this Board. During his visit, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Prachanda Man Shrestha apprised him about the activities, programs, and plans of Nepal Tourism Board and constraints it faced. Minister Bhandari also interacted with the officials of Nepal Tourism Board.

Addressing the officials of NTB, he said that Nepal Tourism Board should play the role of coordinator of private sector and government bridging gap between two for development of tourism industry of Nepal. He further said that it is imperative to empower Nepal Tourism Board, at this juncture, viewing the massive work that has been entrusted to position the destination image of Nepal. He realized the resource constraints faced by this Board for carrying on gargantuan task of country promotion amidst the financial recession and travel turbulence witnessed in the world travel market. “Nepal Tourism Year 2011 is a national program and in order to entrust the ownership of all the individuals and agencies, to make it successful, all district development committee should earmark at least some percentages of its budget for tourism development in the concept of "One District One Destination,” he opined. Lauding the immense role NTB has to play in the days to come, and also to meet the expectation of all, he suggested NTB get ready to prepare itself to play the role of catalyst in between private sectors and the government in course of finding new products and making it reach to the international marketplace.

Visitor Arrivals by air up in June 2009

The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that visitor arrivals in the month of June 2009, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 6% to 23,222.

In June this year, arrivals from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have witnessed positive growth of 16%, 4%, and 7% respectively. The Indian market, considered as a major market for Nepal, showed a decline of 6%. Consequently, in aggregate, the SAARC segment shows a 4% decline compared to the same month last year.

Similarly, Chinese arrivals have increased by 17% along with Thailand (37%), Malaysia (3%), South Korea (55%) and Singapore (8%). The other Asian market to decline in this month was Japan (4%). The other Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 18%.

By far the most encouraging results came from European markets, having registered an overall positive growth of 25%. Arrivals from UK have maintained the increasing trend with a growth of 15%. Nepal's major generating markets in West Europe: Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Norway all have posted significant increases of 27%, 30%, 34% and 17% respectively. However, France recorded 2% decrease in the arrivals.

Tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States of America have also registered positive growth of 27%, 5%, 11% and 21% respectively.

Nepal observed a remarkable growth of 15.8% in April 2009 but suffered a trough in May with a decline of 5% in the visitor arrivals to Nepal. Increase in the arrivals again in June reflects the volatile nature of international tourism and indicates towards the need of concerted and consistence marketing and promotional efforts. The key message is as simple as continuing to position Nepal itself to enhance its image. The increase in the arrivals also shows that the global economic downturn failed to deter the spirit of traveling by international visitors from visiting the tourist destinations of their choice.

Both Europe and North America markets have positive growth trend. However, despite the general acceleration, there is still a certain degree of uncertainty prevailing in the markets and the growth will depend on the evolving economic conditions.

A total of 28,210 foreign tourists departed from TIA in June 2009. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 40,337 while 45,541 Nepalese departed from TIA in June 2009.

Golfing in the Himalayas highlighted at Busan Sales Mission

Nepal Tourism Board organized Sales Mission in Busan , Korea on June 3, 20009 in coordination with Embassy of Nepal, Seoul, one day before the commencement of the KOTFA- the largest tourism exhibition in Korea.

The Sales Mission was a remarkable success where among others, more than 72 tour operators and 5 travel media from Korea observed the tourism products and attraction of Nepal in a presentation cum interaction session followed by business session and commercial networking. The participants from Nepal in the mission included Gokarna Golf Resort, Aerolina Travels and Tours and Salmon Tours and Travel.

Addressing the Sales Mission, Ambassador of Nepal to Korea Mr. Kamal Prasad Koirala highlighted the specialties of tourism attraction and said that " Nepal could be an excellent filming destination for Koreans ", and further added that " I am looking forward to watch the premier show of a documentary film made by a Korean about Nepal" in the context regarding the wish of a Korean to settle in Nepal mesmerized by his visit to the country.

Mr. Vinod Kumar Adhikari - Joint Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation spoke about the home-stay programs in Nepal and the forthcoming plans and programs of Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

Mr. K.P. Sitoula, Hon. Public Representative of NTB in Korea made a presentation about the prominent features of tourism and also translated all the proceeding and deliberations of the program into Korean language.

Similarly, Mr. Bimal Kandel , Asst. Manager NTB also shed light about the potential of Korean market for the Nepalese tourism and the readiness of NTB to extend all possible support to the Korean travel trade operators to facilitate tourism business between the two countries. He emphasized that trekking, golfing, cultural tours and Buddhism have proved to be the chief attraction for the Korean market.

With direct flight from Kathmandu to Seoul ( 5 hours and 40 min), Korea is a highly potential market for Nepal. Besides general tourism areas, trekking, golfing and Lumbini could be the most appealing products in the market. Around 18,000 koreans visited Nepal in 2008.

NTB along with Gokarna Golf Resort, Aerolina Travels and Tours and Stairway to Heaven Treks and Expeditions is also currently participating in KOTFA tourism exhibition in Seoul (June 4-7, 2009) the largest tourism exhibition in the region, to arrest the declining arrival from Korea in the context of global recession and the psychological threat of the Swine Flu that has deterred Koreans from traveling abroad.

Nepal Trade and Tourism Exhibition, Doha, Qatar

Nepal Tourism Board, in cooperation with Nepal Airlines Corporation, participated in the Nepal Trade and Tourism Exhibition 2009 held at Hyatt Plaza Shopping Mall, Doha, Qatar from 21st till 23rd May 2009 under the aegis of Embassy of Nepal, Qatar.

NTB's presence in the exhibition was particularly targetted at propagating the message of safe and peaceful Nepal. Likewise, in a bid to woo the Gulf travellers, Nepal was also portrayed as a destination with quite a few soft adventure activities on offer. Also, the message of improved connectivity of the Gulf with the Nepalese capital was disseminated.

In the inaugural session of the exhibition attended by diplomats, media representatives and members of the NRN community based in Doha, the Chief Guest Mr. Naseer Ahmad Al Meer, Board Member of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry remarked, "I am very happy that the Nepalese Embassy has organized this exhibition. We in Qatar like cultural exchanges with communities that are actively participating in the Qatar's growth. Nepal is definitely one of them." He further added, "I think that Nepal has great tourism potential and people in Qatar need to know about it. I also hope that the exhibition will be bigger next year with more exhibitors from Nepal."

The participating exhibitors were Nepal Tea Development Corporation Limited, Yak and Yeti Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Bilakshana Handicraft Industry, Om Shiva classical Woolen Centre and Woodland Import and Export. An estimated 2000 visitors visited the stalls over the 3-days period.

NTB stall received an enthusiastic response and queries concerning safety, security, accessibility and amenities were raised by most of the visitors, Middle East visitors are passionate about travelling - informal sources quote nearly a quarter of the a year is spent vacationing on different exotic locations around the world by native Qataris. Such a tendency, with the affluent expat Community in Qatar, could generate a fair deal of tourist movements to Nepal as well - if a focussed, targetted and continuous effort is made - both on the consumer and the intermediary level. Such optimism was reflected by all key stake bearers including Embassy of Nepal, NRN community, Nepal Airlines Corporation, Media, Travel Tour intermediaries.