SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, NOV. 25
Nepal's tourism industry is recovering from a six-year slump following the ceasefire and the start of the peace process. According to the preliminary figures released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), South Asia recorded a 3 percent decline in arrivals in 2009. However, arrivals rebounded strongly for Nepal during the period resulting in full-year gains of 1 percent.
Similarly, the preliminary data of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for 2009 shows that arrivals increased by 1.1 percent compared to the previous year.
Last year, tourist arrivals numbered 509,752 including 378,712 by air and 131,040 by land. In 2008, arrivals stood at 500,277 including 374,661 by air and 125,616 by land.
Tourism entrepreneurs said that the gradual growth was a sign that tourism was getting better with an improvement in the political situation.
According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva, tourism earned Nepal US$ 352 million in 2008.
The ITC has identified tourism as a potential growth sector. The prospects are likely to expand with the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign. The ambitious promotion plans to double tourist arrivals during 2011. Tourism entrepreneurs are hopeful that India and China will be a potential market to meet the envisaged goal.
The NTY implementation committee has projected that the southern and northern neighbours will contribute 40 percent of the arrivals out of the targeted one million.
"We are aiming for 265,000 visitors from India and 100,000 from China," said Yogendra Sakya, coordinator of the NTY implementation committee.
"The Chinese are attracted to Nepal for business opportunities," Shakya said. Pilgrimage is a chief lure for Indian tourists.
"We don't have new products presently, however, the focus will be on international events and activities," he said.
Apart from mountaineering and trekking, golf, cricket and other sports and adventure activities are expected to pull in young visitors.
The pledge made recently by 19 political parties not to organize bandas or strikes during 2011 is another encouraging development for NTY.
"This has removed the obstruction to marketing our products," said Prachanda Man Shrestha, chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board.
"With the commitment made by the political parties, there will be a substantial improvement in the travel advisories about Nepal," he added. "We can assure international visitors that Nepal is a safe destination to visit through the travel advisories."
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Where fruits reap no benefit for growers
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, NOV 25 -
Nepal produces 250,000 tons of oranges annually, but only 10 percent of this output reaches the market due to inadequate transportation facilities, poor market access and dismal export performance.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, only 23,000 tons are shipped to buyers while the rest ends up as food for livestock. A ministry official said that although demand has not expanded and orange farmers are yet to learn how to get better prices, recent data shows that orange growers have been enlarging the area under cultivation.
Orange output amounted to 260,054 tons in the fiscal year 2009-10. The area under cultivation has increased to 23,098 hectares from 6,250 hectares in the last 10 years. Similarly, output increased to 260,854 tons from 66,654 tons during the same period, the ministry’s data showed.
Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Hari Dahal said that poor exports and supply in the domestic market due to inadequate transport facilities had prevented orange growers from reaping benefits.
The country exported 830 tons of oranges and 10,656 tons of orange juice in 2009-10. Orange is grown in over 54 districts, particularly in the hilly areas. Orange accounts for 25 percent of the total fruit production. Apart from poor transport facilities, ineffective collection, inadequate cold storage facilities, poor market access and low prices have prevented producers from getting the real value of their production, Dahal said.
Although the area under cultivation and productivity have increased in the last decade, the benefit for farmers has not grown proportionately. Orange production has overtaken mango production, which was at the top position. “In terms of value, oranges worth Rs. 10 billion are produced annually,” Dahal added.
Considering the increasing interest of farmers towards orange cultivation, the country could produce oranges worth Rs. 20 billion in a couple of years. However, the government should bring an appropriate incentives package to boost output, he said.
The Western Development Region is the largest producer of oranges accounting for 40 percent of the total output. Syangja is the largest orange producing district with a total output of 11,732 tons in 2009-10. Lamjung stood second with 10,814 tons followed by Tanahu (9,631 tons), Salyan (8,598 tons), Kavre (7,565 tons), Gorkha (7,011 tons), Dhading (6,341 tons), Terhathum (7,193 tons) and Dhankuta (95,935 tons).
KATHMANDU, NOV 25 -
Nepal produces 250,000 tons of oranges annually, but only 10 percent of this output reaches the market due to inadequate transportation facilities, poor market access and dismal export performance.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, only 23,000 tons are shipped to buyers while the rest ends up as food for livestock. A ministry official said that although demand has not expanded and orange farmers are yet to learn how to get better prices, recent data shows that orange growers have been enlarging the area under cultivation.
Orange output amounted to 260,054 tons in the fiscal year 2009-10. The area under cultivation has increased to 23,098 hectares from 6,250 hectares in the last 10 years. Similarly, output increased to 260,854 tons from 66,654 tons during the same period, the ministry’s data showed.
Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Hari Dahal said that poor exports and supply in the domestic market due to inadequate transport facilities had prevented orange growers from reaping benefits.
The country exported 830 tons of oranges and 10,656 tons of orange juice in 2009-10. Orange is grown in over 54 districts, particularly in the hilly areas. Orange accounts for 25 percent of the total fruit production. Apart from poor transport facilities, ineffective collection, inadequate cold storage facilities, poor market access and low prices have prevented producers from getting the real value of their production, Dahal said.
Although the area under cultivation and productivity have increased in the last decade, the benefit for farmers has not grown proportionately. Orange production has overtaken mango production, which was at the top position. “In terms of value, oranges worth Rs. 10 billion are produced annually,” Dahal added.
Considering the increasing interest of farmers towards orange cultivation, the country could produce oranges worth Rs. 20 billion in a couple of years. However, the government should bring an appropriate incentives package to boost output, he said.
The Western Development Region is the largest producer of oranges accounting for 40 percent of the total output. Syangja is the largest orange producing district with a total output of 11,732 tons in 2009-10. Lamjung stood second with 10,814 tons followed by Tanahu (9,631 tons), Salyan (8,598 tons), Kavre (7,565 tons), Gorkha (7,011 tons), Dhading (6,341 tons), Terhathum (7,193 tons) and Dhankuta (95,935 tons).
Lukla No 8 in world’s 10 most thrilling airports
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, NOV 24 -
Lukla Airport, the gateway to the Everest region, has been ranked eighth among the world’s top 10 stunning and inspirational airport approaches by PrivateFly.com.
The private jet-booking agency based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire has suggested its 10 recommended airports to adventure lovers as “A View to a Thrill”.
The surrounding terrain, thin air, highly changeable weather and the airport’s short, sloping runway make it one of the most challenging landings in the world. History Channel’s Most Extreme Airports programme has ranked Lukla as the most dangerous airport in the world.
Lukla is a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu. It is the busiest domestic airport in the country, handling more than 50 flights daily during the tourist season. Only short take off and landing (STOL) airplanes can land at Lukla.
The runway is 351 m long and rises over 30 m from the bottom to the top, giving it an angle of about 10 degrees. The airport lies at an elevation of 2,800 m.
It was built in the 1960s with the support of Sir Edmund Hillary.
In January 2008, the airport was renamed Tenzing-Hillary Airport in honour of the first Everest summitters.
PrivateFly.com has named Sion Airport in Switzerland the perfect touchdown at Europe’s most stunning airport. St. Maarten-Princess Juliana Airport in the Netherlands was placed third.
St. Barts in the Caribbean, Gibraltar, St. Gallen-Altenrhein in Switzerland, Madeira Funchal in Portugal and London City airport come after Lukla as the most thrilling and adventurous airports.
KATHMANDU, NOV 24 -
Lukla Airport, the gateway to the Everest region, has been ranked eighth among the world’s top 10 stunning and inspirational airport approaches by PrivateFly.com.
The private jet-booking agency based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire has suggested its 10 recommended airports to adventure lovers as “A View to a Thrill”.
The surrounding terrain, thin air, highly changeable weather and the airport’s short, sloping runway make it one of the most challenging landings in the world. History Channel’s Most Extreme Airports programme has ranked Lukla as the most dangerous airport in the world.
Lukla is a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu. It is the busiest domestic airport in the country, handling more than 50 flights daily during the tourist season. Only short take off and landing (STOL) airplanes can land at Lukla.
The runway is 351 m long and rises over 30 m from the bottom to the top, giving it an angle of about 10 degrees. The airport lies at an elevation of 2,800 m.
It was built in the 1960s with the support of Sir Edmund Hillary.
In January 2008, the airport was renamed Tenzing-Hillary Airport in honour of the first Everest summitters.
PrivateFly.com has named Sion Airport in Switzerland the perfect touchdown at Europe’s most stunning airport. St. Maarten-Princess Juliana Airport in the Netherlands was placed third.
St. Barts in the Caribbean, Gibraltar, St. Gallen-Altenrhein in Switzerland, Madeira Funchal in Portugal and London City airport come after Lukla as the most thrilling and adventurous airports.
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