Highlighted Tourism News

The ministry for tourism & civil aviation and different government agencies, travel trade associations have decided to celebrate Nepal Tourism year 2011. The government has set the target of bringing one million foreign visitors in the country in 2011. Other objectives of the campaign are to establish Nepal as a choice of premier holiday destination with a definite brand image; to improve and extend tourism related infrastructures in existing and new tourism sites; to enhance the capacity of service providers; to build community capacity in the new areas to cater the need of the tourists; and to promote domestic tourism for sustainability of industry.

Government of Nepal has given authority to TAAN ( Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal ) and NTB (Nepal Tourism Board ) to issue and distrubute TIMS ( Trekker's information management system ) from 1st January 2008 with the objective of maintaining the database of trekkers and discouraging illegal operation in trekking business. Both organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the effective implementation of TIMS.

As per the provision, all trekkers should have the valid TIMS Certificate that is distributed free of charge by the TIMS counters of TAAN and NTB.

The TIMS mechanism would help secure business for government authorized trekking agents as it discourages independent trekking leaders that were robbing the trekking agents off their business.

TAAN has devised separate TIMS certificates for Organised and Individual Trekkers.

For the effective distribution of TIMS certificates, TAAN will use the offices of all its member agencies as TIMS Counter. Trekking agencies that aren't affiliated with TAAN, however, have to get TIMS Card from either TAAN Secretariat or NTB. Similarly, TAAN's Pokhara Chapter member agencies of TAAN Pokhara Chapter will distribute TIMS Card in Pokhara.

The database will become useful to rescue the trekkers during the emergencies. Also it will help to ascertain the number of trekkers in a particular trekking route.

TAAN's announcement to implement the TIMS was accepted by thunderous applause of its general members. The members requested the TAAN Executive Committee to fix the criteria for individual trekkers, lobby in maintaining one-window policy for all concerned services and the effective publicity of the TIMS.

Nepal opens travel, trekking, rafting businesses to foreign investors

The Nepal Government has opened the travel, trekking and rafting sectors to foreign investment. The government has introduced this provision by amending the Travel and Trekking Regulations and promulgating Rafting Regulations.

These sectors were limited only to domestic investors. But foreign investors were allowed to invest in hotels, lodges, casinos and restaurants.

More foreign companies are likely to make investments in these sectors in Nepal . This could help Nepal 's entire tourism industry, as the bigger foreign companies will market the country in an effective manner.

Familiarisation trip to Khaptad, Rara

In order to highlight the nature-blessed Khaptad and Rara areas as premier holiday destinations, a familiarization trip for journalists was organized in June this year. The Tourism Resources and Product Development Department of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the team included representatives of television channels. The main objective of the trip was to highlight "Ganga Dashera Mela" of the Khaptad region. This is one of the most revered festivals of the far western Nepal . Meanwhile, a new concept of "Wild West Triangle" was introduced by NTB with the joint effort of Nepalese travel trade partners. Once Khaptad is added to the Wild West Triangle of Rara, Bardia and Shuklaphanta, the cultural and natural attractions of the region could lure more tourists.

Scrapping of provision of special permit for Manaslu area sought

Tourism entrepreneurs say that the provision of special permit for the Manaslu area has hampered the promotion of tourism in the region.

According to a news report published in a daily, seven Village Development Committees situated in the northern part of Gorkha district have been included in the Manaslu Conservation Area for the last nine years. As home to many species of flora and fauna and Buddhist monasteries, the area offers scenic view for tourists. This is the area where Mt. Manaslu lies.

A foreign tourist has to pay US$ 75 per week for entering the area from December to August. He/she has to pay additional amount of US$ 15 during September to November. Besides, tourists have to pay Rs. 2000 as entrance fee to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project that looks after the management aspect of the area.

The government has revised existing tourist visa fee to be effective from September 1, 2008. As per the new fee structure, US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency is required to obtain Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 15 days. Likewise, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 90 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100. from the entry point, tourist will have to buy 90 days visa if required more than 30 days but it can be extended from the city office as required days.

Likewise, the government has also revised fee required to extend days of stay and visa renewal. As per the revise fee structure, Tourist Visa can be extended by paying US $ 2 or equivalent Nepalese currency per day. Likewise, Multiple Entry facility can be obtained only for the extension period by additional US $ 20 and visa fee for the extended period. Similarly, tourists can renew their visa by paying Nepalese currency equivalent to US $ 3 on the regular visa extension fee.

In a bid to attract more trekkers in the controlled areas, the government has revised permit fee in different controlled areas of the country effective from September 1, 2008.

As per the new provision, a trekker in Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo has to pay US $ 500 or equivalent foreign currency per person for first 10 days. Likewise, fee for per extra day per person has been fixed at US $ 50 or equivalent foreign currency. Trekker in Manasulu Region needs to pay US $ 70 for a week and US $ 10 per person for each extra day during September to November. However, only US $ 50 is charged per trekker per week during December to August and additional US $ 7 per trekker per each extra day. Similarly, permit fee for Humla (Simikot-Yari) has been fixed at US $ 50 per person per week and US $ 7 per person per extra day.

Likewise, permit fee for Kanchanjunga, Lower Dolpa and Gaurishankar and Lamabagar has been fixed at US $ 10 per person per week. However, permit fee for Chekampar and Chunchet of Gorkha district (Sirdibas-Lhokpa-Chumling-Chekampar-Nile-Chule) has been fixed at US $ 35 per person for eight days during September to November and US $ 25 per person per eight days during December to August.

“I am awestruck by the beauty and profound significance of this sacred site, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. I am moved by the life journey of Prince who left behind all comfortable circumstances to comfort the hard realities of life, late becoming founder of one of the largest religions. As the Secretary General of the UN, I sincerely hope that the life, philosophy and the teaching of Lord Buddha will guide us to promote peace, harmony and reconciliation among people of different religions, belief, culture and creed,” Ki-moon wrote in the visitor’s book of the Lumbini Development Trust.

Ki-moon also inspected various monuments, monasteries and other places of archeological importance, including the Mayadevi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar, during the visit

Of the five UN General Secretaries who have visited Nepal, Ban is the fourth one to visit the birthplace of Buddha. Lumbini is a major pilgrimage site for more than 350 million Buddhists spreading all over the world.

The arrival in October 2008 is 50567 by number and up by 16.3% as compared to the arrival figure of same period last year.

According to a press release issued by the NTB, the number of foreign visitors to Nepal in the first ten months of 2008 has reached 307,748 which is an increase of 4% as compared to the arrival figure of same period last year.