2009 August 2009 New Swiss embassy February 2009 New transport fares February 2009 Narayanhiti Palace Museum, KTM Role of Women in Tourism January 2009 Visitor Arrivals in December 2008 by air Lukla Yeti Airlines crash report NTY 2011 Campaign Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS)

August 2009

Within the reallocation of the FDFA’s resources abroad, the Swiss Government has recently decided to elevate the rank of its representation in Kathmandu from consulate-general to embassy. The Embassy’s official inauguration scheduled for 17 August, in the presence of a Swiss delegation led by SDC Director-General, Ambassador Martin Dahinden, will thus represent another milestone in the unfolding relations between Switzerland and Nepal, and the occasion to celebrate in a most dignified manner the results of 50 years of cooperation with the country.

Source: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, August 2009

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March 2009

The Government of Nepal announced new transport fares based on distance. Travellers will be charged NRs 1.18 per km on long routes (more than 250 km) and NRs 1.25 on medium routes (25 - 250km) in the Tarai and NRs 1.60 for both long and medium routes in mountainous regions. Around Pokhara and Narayangadh NRs 1.33 per km will be charged.

In the Kathmandu Valley NRs 9 will be charged as minimum fare on routes up to 3 km, NRs 10 on 4 km, NRs 11 on 7 km, NRs 12 on 9 km, NRs 13 on 12 km, NRs 14 on 15 km and NRs 16 on 20 km and NRs 18 on 25 km routes.

Source: Nepal Government, Ministry for Labour and Transport Management, March 2009

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February 2009

The entry fee is NRs 100 for Nepalis and NRs 20 for students, NRs 250 for SAARC nationals and Chinese. Other foreign visitors have to pay NRs 500 at the museum's entrance.

Visitors can take a look at nineteen different blocks and belongings of the former royal, e.g. furniture, precious artefacts, wardrobes, the crown.

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February 2009

An interaction on 'Women mainstreaming in Tourism' was organized in Pokhara on February 18, 2009 to discuss the role of women in the tourism industry of Nepal commemorating the forthcoming Women's Day. Organised by Nepal Tourism Board, women from different walks of life coming from Kashi, Gorkha and Lamjung actively participated the interaction and sought their role in tourism in the present context.

Addressing the interaction Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami said that the women are the base of tourism industry in Nepal and their role should be redefined in the new Nepal. "Involvement of women in tourism will create sustainability in tourism and there should be good coordination among old and new women tourism entrepreneurs to increase the participation of women in tourism and to exchange their ideas and experience ", she said. Minister Yami further said that effort has been there to put tourism in Special Economic Zone which would help develop and promote tourism in places like Pokhara because it would provide special leverage to conduct business in that area. " History has given women an opportunity to improve their status and tourism industry is the where there is good opportunity and we should not miss it out."

Mrs. Ambika Shrestha, senior woman tourism entrepreneurs and managing director of Hotel Dwarika's, in her address, said that women must not ask for reservation but for equal right and opportunity. Sharing her four decade long experience in tourism, she said women have now become successful in many areas and told the participants to be the employer of the tourism business, not employee. Ms. Lucky Chettri of Three Sister Adventure Trekking said that there are exploitation of women in tourism but tourism could be a tool of poverty alleviation if women are given role to play in tourism. Giving the examples of a few successful women in Nepalese tourism, she said women do not need sympathy, they need education and opportunity. Another paper presenter, Ms. Jagan Gurung of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)shared her two decade long experience in ACAP saying that women are still not the owner of tourism business despite their hard work running tea shop and house in trekking areas.

Ms. Brinda Hada, Secretary of Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare summing up the whole papers presented in the interaction said that over the last few years, many reforms were made to involve women in different strata of government machinery and other areas but in reality only 25% was implemented. She further said women must come out to get the benefit that system has given to them. "Tourism is one of the few areas that has good scope for women to develop," she said.

Mr. Agni Kandel, Board Member, Nepal Tourism Board and Mr. Bacchu Ram Tiwari, President of Pokhara Tourism Council also made comment on the role of women in tourism. Women participants requested Minister Yami to create favourable environment for women in tourism industry so that they could free compete with men.

In a press meet organized just after the interaction, Minister for Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami explained about role of women in new tourism policy. She also requested media to lobby for the promotion and development of Pokhara from their side.

Source: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) February 2009

January 2009

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami formally launched the promotional campaign of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 on January 25, 2009 amidst a press conference in Kathmandu. Main 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 the industry. Addressing the press conference Minister Yami said that the government would give free visa to all those coming for the second time to Nepal in 2011 in order to make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) a grand success. Speaking during the first NTY 2011 promotional programme Minister Yami said the government is focusing on improving infrastructure like hotels and the airport to provide facilities to the tourists.

NTY 2011 has a target of one million tourists and to provide faculties, additional investment in tourism infrastructure is needed. "Various infrastructure developments will be done within Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA)," she assured. "With the infrastructural development, discounts will be granted for landing and parking during the peak hours. Ground Support Equipment Parking Area extension will also be made. To make passenger check-in easy and quick, Common Users Terminal (CUTE) system will be implemented," said Yami.

Nepal Tourism Board will also carry out different international promotional activities for the promotion of Nepal Tourism Year which includes sales missions and roadshows in tourist generating countries, FAM tour of international journalists in Nepal, high level delegation to different countries for interaction with travel trade and media.

As per the decision made by Cabinet Meeting on 2065/06/03, the Government of Nepal has formed the Main Organizing Committee under the convenership of Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation together with Joint convenership of the Hon'ble Vice Chairmanship of National Planning Commission. There will be 61 members in Main Organizing Committee that includes various line Ministries and Department, Chief of District Development Committees, Metropolitan, Sub-Metropolitan cities and Municipalities, presidents of travel trade and other related associations and institutions. Some 23 other institution/organization would be invitees in the same. The Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board has been designated as the Member-Secretary of the Committee.

The Main Organizing Committee meeting held on January 18, 2009 at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has decided to form 14 different functional sub committees and 5 regional sub committees to carry out different promotional, development and coordination works to make this mega event successful.

Source: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) January 2009

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January 2009

The total number of visitors in 2008 has reached to 374,661, representing an increase of 4% in comparison to the year 2007. The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that arrival figures in the month of December 2008, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 0.6% to 30,062.

The entire South Asian region has gained overall positive growth except for arrivals from Sri Lanka. Bangladesh and Pakistan have registered robust growth of 37 % and 23.4% respectively. India, the largest market for Nepal, witnessed positive growth of 1.9% in December.

As compare to 2007, the total visitor arrivals from South Asian countries registered positive growth except India.

European countries such as UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden have also maintained the increasing trend in the arrival figures in the month of December 2008, compared to the same month last year. Also UK, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, France and Denmark have registered positive growth in total comparison to the year 2007. Arrivals from the United States of America, Australia and Canada have also increased in December in comparison to the same month last year. Similarly total arrivals in 2008 from the United States of America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have also increased in comparison to 2007. However France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland have registered negative growth in the current month.

Other Asian countries do not show healthy trend. Malaysia has maintained the upward trend with 21.9% of growth. Arrivals from China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, witnessed negative growth in the arrival figures by 25.9%, 3.6%, 2.8% and 9.5% respectively in the month of December. Arrival figures for year 2008 show upward trend.

A total of 33,554 foreign tourists departed from TIA in December 2008 while the total number of international visitor departure till December 2008 reached 405,223, representing an increase of 11.24% over 2007. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 41,333 while 48,982 Nepalese departed from TIA in December 2008.

Since August as global economy faced meltdown following the hike in oil prices and the consequent cuts in airline capacity and increasing transport cost travelers trim down their length of stay and their consumption in terms of type of accommodation and other activities. Against continuing downward revisions in macro-economic expectations overall 4% growth in international tourist arrivals in 2008 as compared for the full of 2007 can be considered as healthy increment.

Source: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) January 2009

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January 2009

According to Commission report, "The probable primary cause was flight crew's misjudgment, based on the weather information from all the proceeding aircraft and Lukla Information, to enter into cloud patch on final wherein the aircraft encountered the rapidly uplifting fog on short final resulting on Control Flight Into Terrain(CFIT)." The formal investigation commenced on 10th October, 2008 following a meeting of the Commission. Experts were nominated by Germany and Australia(States of Victims).

On November 7, 2008, a record breaking 100 flights were made from Kathmandu to Lukla Tenzing Hillary Airport, according to Tribhuwan International Airport Authority. This new record is the for the first time in the aviation history and also marks the great flow of tourists in the Everest region this year compared to any other years by air.

Source: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) January 2009

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