Nepal Travel and Tourism

The country marked the 38th World Tourism Day yesterday. Because of the earthquake and the unofficial Indian blockade, 2015 was a particularly bad year for the country’s tourism sector. Tourist arrivals to Nepal fell to a six-year low last year. However, the industry seems to have bounced back now. There has been a sharp increase in tourist arrivals for mountaineering and trekking activities in the past few months. This is a much needed respite for the tourism industry and the economy as a whole.

The travel and tourism sector accounts for 9.5 percent of global GDP and plays a key role as a driver of growth and job creation. The industry now accounts for one in 11 jobs on the planet according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). In terms of direct contribution to job creation by the industry, Nepal is ranked sixth among 184 countries by the WTTC. The Tourism Employment Survey 2014 of the Nepal government shows that every six tourists create one job in Nepal and that the tourism industry provides better access of revenues that it generates to poor communities.

This means Nepal’s economic growth and employment generation depend to a consideration extent on the advancement of the tourism sector. In a welcome move, the Tourism Ministry recently launched the new National Tourism Strategy 2016-2025, which envisages a fivefold increase in arrivals to 2.52 million annually by the year 2025.

Achieving the target, however, is going to require more work than simply drafting a plan. With eight of the 10 highest mountains in the world and a rich Hindu and Buddhist heritage, Nepal does have a high potential to be a tourist hotspot, but it is far from realising it. The annual number of visitors to the country has yet to reach the one million mark. Last year’s quake and the subsequent avalanches in the Himalayas dented Nepal’s image as a safe tourist destination. So the government needs to repair the trekking routes and enhance their safety.

But the main focus of government spending in the tourism sector should be on developing infrastructures like airports. Flying is key to the country’s tourism industry as it is an important mode of transportation in Nepal given its difficult terrain and limited road connectivity. But our air safety record leaves a lot to be desired; there have been four air crashes in the past six months alone. As such, improving the quality of our aviation needs serious attention. And the country’s only international airport, the Tribhuvan International Airport, has just one runway and was rated the third worst airport in the world last year by sleepinginairports.com, a website that does research on airports. TIA needs a complete overhaul.

Other tasks like upgrading the Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa to an international airport should also be completed on time. With China and India touching 150 million and 50 million outbound tourists by 2020, Nepal’s best bet to meet its set tourist target is to enhance the travelling experience within the country so as to attract at least a fraction of these tourists.

News Source: Kathmandupost

TAAN celebrates World Tourism Day Today

Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) organized 'Heritage Walk with People with Disabilities' in Kathmandu on Monday on the eve of World Tourism Day 2016.

Tourism fraternity across the world is celebrating World Tourism Day by organizing various programs on Tuesday. The theme for this year's celebration is 'Tourism for All: Promoting Universal Accessibility'.

World Tourism Day 2016 - Tourism For All

As the theme of this year's celebration is related to making tourism services accessible to all, TAAN organized a walk with people with disabilities. Around 30 people with disabilities actively participated in the program, carrying placards with messages like 'Tourism for All', 'Promoting Universal Accessibility', 'Put no barriers in tourism', 'Make tourism services accessible to all', Everyone can travel', 'Yes, we can travel' and 'Make Nepal accessible to all', among others.

Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Shankar Prasad Adhikari, inaugurated the rally that started from Tridevi Marg and passed through Narsingh Chowk, Thahity, Bhedasingh and Indrachowk before culminating into a corner meet in.

Speaking at the corner meet, TAAN General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama said that the main objective of the program was to create awareness about accessible tourism among both the government and the private sector. Similarly, Ram Prasad Sapkota, coordinator of TAAN's Sports and Events Department, said the event was organized to draw attention of policymakers toward the need to make tourism services accessible to all. "There should be no barrier in tourism. Everyone has the right to travel. The government should prepare necessary infrastructures to uphold such rights," he added.

Similarly, Uttam Deuja of Accessible Himalayas said that the government needs to learn a lot from other countries in terms of making tourism accessible to all.

TAAN President Chandra Prasad Rijal said disabilities shouldn't confine one's willingness to travel and enjoy tourism products and services. He also urged the government to make tourism services accessible to all without further delay.

News Source: Myrepublica

1 Spanish Trekker, 3 Nepalese Guides Killed in Nepal Manaslu Landslide

A Spanish trekker and three Nepalese guides were killed Thursday and 14 other people were injured when they were hit by a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Nepal's northern mountains, officials said.

Government administrator Narayan Prasad Bhatta said the landslide occurred near Kerauja village, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Kathmandu, the capital. The injured were airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu, where 10 were admitted.

The identities of the victims were not immediately released. They were on a trekking trail heading toward Mount Manaslu.

Bhatta said rescue efforts were delayed because of bad weather and helicopters reached the victims hours after the landslide. The area is not accessible to cars.

Trekking season in Nepal begins in September, when the monsoon rainy season normally ends. However, this year it has continued to rain.

Himalaya Airlines to launch flights to Colombo on Oct 1

Himalaya Airlines announced on Tuesday that it would be launching scheduled commercial flights between Kathmandu and Colombo on October 1, re-establishing direct air links with Sri Lanka after more than three decades.

The newly established carrier, a China-Nepal joint venture, will operate three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays using 158-seater Airbus A320 aircraft. The flight will depart from Tribhuvan International Airport at 11:30 am and land at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo at 15:15 pm local time. The return flight will leave at 16:15 pm local time and arrive in Kathmandu at 20:15 pm.

The airfare for the three-and-a-half-hour flight has been set at Rs 29,191 one way (including taxes). A return ticket costs Rs 50,041, according to the airline.  

Himalaya Airlines had received permission to operate charter flights to the island country last April. The planned direct service is the first time that scheduled commercial airlines have been allowed to connect Colombo since the 1980s.

“We reviewed the passenger traffic on the route and saw that it has potential two-way traffic demand,” said Vijay Shrestha, vice-president administration, of Himalaya Airlines. “Direct air connectivity will help both countries to promote trade and tourism.” Sri Lanka is the third largest tourist source market for Nepal after India and China. Despite the earthquakes and trade embargo last year, arrivals from Sri Lanka rose significantly to 44,367. In the previous year, 37,546 Sri Lankans visited Nepal.

Only 2.5 percent of the arrivals or 1,089 visitors came by air, a trend attributed to lack of direct flights between Nepal and Sri Lanka. According to government statistics, 97.5 percent of the Sri Lankan visitors entered Nepal overland from Bhairahawa to visit Buddhist sites in nearby Lumbini. A survey entitled Visitors Survey and Observation has shown that 72.6 percent of the visitors spent only half an hour sightseeing in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in southern Nepal.

“After the start of direct flights, we expect more travellers to visit Nepal and stay longer,” said Raju Bahadur KC, commercial general manager of Himalaya. “Currently, travellers have to spend a whole day to reach Nepal or Sri Lanka by flying through India, Malaysia, Thailand or even Dubai,” he said. “Besides, the airfare is also reasonable.”

KC said that the scheduled flights would also benefit the thousands of Nepalis working in the Maldives. “We have estimated that nearly 10,000 Nepalis are currently employed in the Maldives.”

National flag carrier Nepal Airlines, in its previous avatar as Royal Nepal Airlines, used to operate direct flights to Colombo during the 1980s. But the carrier suspended operations following an armed movement by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka. There have been no direct air links between the two countries since then.

Plans to establish direct flights on the Kathmandu-Colombo route were revived during the 18th Saarc Summit held in Kathmandu in November 2014. Subsequently, the Sri Lankan government officially applied for authorisation to conduct daily flights between the two countries with Colombo-based carrier Mihin Lanka planning to start services. In March 2015, the Tourism Ministry had issued an operating authorisation to the carrier. But the proposed services did not happen.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is to Trek Nepal

United States Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed his interest to make a visit to Nepal.

Secretary of State Kerry articulated his intent in a meeting on Tuesday with Minister for Foreign Affairs and leader of Nepali delegation Dr Prakash Shran Mahat. Minister Dr Mahat is presently in New York in course of attending the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations.

"I wished to visit Nepal last time when I was on India trip. But, I could not make my visit arrangement due to hectic schedule. I will visit Nepal on any opportune time in future. The US is ever ready to provide assistance to Nepal's efforts for her development and prosperity", Secretary of State Kerry noted.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Mahat shared that the US Foreign Secretary had expressed his interest to have a trekking on one of the tourist destinations of Nepal.

Enquiring about the situation of Nepal following the promulgation of constitution in Nepal, US Secretary of State Kerry had expressed his best wishes for the political parties of Nepal to work together for institutionalizing democracy in the country.
Source: RSS

Animal Friendly Tourism in Nepal

As the part of responsible tourism, Nepal Footprint Holiday (P) Ltd. core team decided not to operate Elephant Safari Tour on Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park from 2015. Our contribution to the animal right and nature is not against wildlife safari in Nepal but we raise strong voice for the animal friendly tourism in Nepal.

We always raise our voices for animal right to discourage the animal exploitation in Nepal tourism. We are always passionate for  Animal right, local, unfair, ethical voice and social Justice issue which is related on our business, tourism  animal welfare and future impact. Elephant issues have been a strong area of concern. Having such an enormous wild animal restrained for many hours at a time and used for rides or to do human-like behaviors, such as kick a soccer ball or paint pictures with their trunks, has never felt right. People often think that an elephant in captivity is domesticated, and so somehow it’s OK to have them under human command. But the reality is that they never have been domesticated like dogs or horses. Even if born in captivity, they are still a wild animal, and need to be ‘broken’ to accept human control. There is much evidence that this process is exceptionally cruel. Nepal Footprint desire  wilds animal must be on wild and leave on their way into the harmony  with freedom without any strong human pressure.

We request to all travelers, we are not avoiding for Wildlife Safari enthusiast but we do not operate elephant riding in Chitwan National Park and Bardia National park. Instead of elephant safari, we recommend you to do Jeep Safari or nature trail hiking around the jungle.

For details to know about the animal friendly tourism in Nepal, please check https://www.nepalfootprintholiday.com/footprint-stop-elephant-safari-in-nepal.html

7 Days 6 Night Nepal Tour - Family Holidays

Dear 1: Arrival in International  Airport Pickup and Hotel transfer. Free for refreshment than if time available short sightseeing, visit some ethical culture places of Kathmandu By foot. Evening Welcome Dinner . Hotel Twin Share Basis with B/ B Plan.

Day 2: Everest Mountain Flight, Kathmandu Full Days sightseeing- Visit Buddhist Stupa Boudhanath, Hindu Temple Pashupatinath and Patan Durbar Square. Hotel on B/ B plan.

Day 3: Morning Drive to Chitwan National Park for Wildlife Safari – 4 to 5 hour drive by private van. Transfer Chitwan Hotel , late lunch, Afternoon Village sightseeing, Culture program hosted by Tharu People. Sunset View form Rapti River side. Dinner at Resort with Twin Share basis Room.

Day 4: Morning,  wildlife Safari in inside jungle,  drive to pokhara around 4 hours, transfer hotel refresh evening walk around Fewa lake, boating on lake free time.  Overnight  pokhara Hotel B/B plan.

Day 5: Early morning drive to Sarangkot, sunrise view with panoramic Himalayan view and paragliding and back pokhara. Jeep flying trip than Half day pokhara sightseeing included Bendabasini Tample, Davis falls, Gupetshwor cave, evening free leisure time for shopping  overnight at pokhara. Hotel B/B plan.

Day 6: Morning after breakfast, drive to Kathmandu about 200km. takes 5 to 6 hours, transfer hotel in Kathmandu, Evening free time self enjoying in the City. Hotel B/B plan.
(En-route from Pokhara to Kathmandu there is a famous Hindu Kali Temple 'Manakamana' Can be visit this temple using by short Cable Car drive. If you are interested please than also you can add on your trip. That takes only about 2 hours extra and That Cable Car ticket cost Per person 10US$ only)

Day 7:  Morning free time and final departure onward destination.

Cost Details

Total cost for Tour - 585US$ per person on B/B plan.   
Total Cost for Tour 665US$ Per person with Full Board Meal (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) Plan.
Extra Activities cost are:
Paragliding in Pokhara  30 Minute Flight - 85US$ per person.
Everest Mountain Flight - 195US$ Per person.
Bungy Jump in Pokhara - 55US$ Per person.

Cost included

All ground transport by Ac vehicles
3 Nights Kathmandu Hotel with B/B plan
1 Night Chitwan Resort/Hotel with full board package
2 Night Hotel in Pokhara with B/B Plan
Welcome dinner in Kathmandu on  typical Nepali restaurant .
Sightseeing tours with English Speaking Tour Guide.

Cost dose not included

International airfare and Nepal Visa fee
Kathmandu and pokhara Meals as per itinerary.
All Entrance fee and monuments during the tours and sightseeing.
Tips for guide and driver
Personal expenses (laundry Bill, Water, Cigarette, bar bill, telephone bill, etc )
Important Notes: All the itinerary are tailor made if you want to change something on the itinerary on your private group tours please kindly let us know. We are always ready to assist you with full of information. The world best mountain flight offer Only form Nepal to see the Nearest view. It is amazing  1 hour nonstop flight  from Kathmandu domestic airport to airport. The flight operating only when good weather in the Himalayas area of Nepal. When bad weather they will not able to fly and you will not able to see the all clear mountain. In that case the flight will cancel without any cancellation charge. Only you need to pay the transport fees which you have used.

Hotel Details on The tour:

Hotel in Kathmandu - Hotel Radisson/ Hotel De'l Annapurna or Similar.
Hotel in Chitwan - Hotel West Wood  or Similar.
Hotel in Pokhara - Hotel Grande, Athiti Boutique Resort or Similar.
Transport Mode - Toyota Hiace AC.