Govt rejects request to extend royalty repayment deadline
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 10 -
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) on Sunday turned down casino operators’ request to extend the royalty payment deadline. The operators had also demanded that they be allowed to repay in installments.
Casino operators had put up the demand after the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) On Dec. 29, 2010 issued directives to the government to scrap the licences of casinos failing to clear their dues within 35 days.
Pressure further mounted on casinos after Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said at a PAC meeting that the country does not require casinos as they do not pay royalty to the government, rent to the hotels and salary to their workers.
As per the PAC directives, The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) on Jan. 8 issued a public notice to Casino Anna, Casino Nepal, Casino Shangri La, Casino Tara, Casino Royale, Casino Venus, Casino Radd, Casino Fulbari and Casino Grand to repay their royalty dues within 35 days.
A meeting between the tourism ministry, DRI, Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Customs Department and casino operators on Sunday decided not to consider the casinos’ request, but follow the PAC directive strictly.
According to a DRI official, representatives of casinos operators, who were present on Sunday’s meeting, requested the ministry to extend the repayment deadline and allow them to repay on installment basis. In response, the ministry said the request could not be considered and they have to repay their outstanding dues within the given timeline or close operations.
“We (the ministry) cannot ignore the PAC decision,” said Laxman Prasad Bhattarai, the tourism ministry spokesperson.
In the meeting, the ministry also endorsed a decision to scrap the licences of the casinos allowing entrance to Nepalis. The PAC had also instructed the government to scrap the licences of those casinos allowing in Nepalis. “Apart from recovering royalties and restricting entrance to Nepalis, the tourism ministry will also regularly monitor casinos,”
said Bhattarai.
The ministry has started preparing directives for casinos, which would be finalised within a couple of months.
The PAC had instructed the government to draft a regulatory framework
and guidelines for the operation of casinos. “After preparing the directives, all stakeholders related to casinos will be invited for a broad consultation. The Cabinet will then endorse the guidelines,” said Bhattarai.
The government has been on a mission to recover royalty dues from the casinos for the last three months. Only a few casinos have made partial payments. Casinos under the Nepal Recreation Centre owned by Rakesh Wadhwa have not made any payment. Wadhwa has been absconding ever since the police issued an arrest warrant against him.
The government has entrusted the DRI with the responsibility of recovering dues from casinos. Casinos so far have paid around Rs 30 million in dues. However, they still owe Rs 193 million.
Of late, the government has been making efforts to recover the casino dues, with police conducting raids and revenue administration authorities summoning casino operators.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Old planes dumped at TIA to be auctioned
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 07 -
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is preparing to auction old aircraft that have lain abandoned at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for scrap.
The TIA management has passed a proposal to get rid of these unserviceable planes that have been an eyesore at the airport besides posing a safety hazard. “As per the TIA proposal, the ministry will form a valuation committee for these aircraft,” said TIA general manager Dinesh Shrestha. After the valuation is done, the process of auctioning the junk will begin.
A few months ago, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had directed TIA to improve its competitiveness level for better performance.
As part of its regular monitoring, the anti-graft body had directed TIA to proceed immediately to remove junk from the airport grounds for safety reasons.
“Following the CIAA’s instruction, we have issued notices to the concerned companies regarding the sale of their useless aircraft. As there was no response from them, the airport management has forwarded a proposal to auction the aircraft to the ministry,” Shrestha said.
The airlines that have dumped their old planes at TIA have not even paid parking charges. There are 13 such aircraft including three 19-seater Dorniers and a 100-seater Fokker belonging to Cosmic Air.
Cosmic owes TIA Rs 12.8 million in parking, landing and navigation charges. Similarly, Nepal Airways owes Rs 1.17 million for its helicopter and Y-12 aircraft, and Necon Air Rs 46.3 million for its Avro aircraft.
KATHMANDU, JAN 07 -
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation is preparing to auction old aircraft that have lain abandoned at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for scrap.
The TIA management has passed a proposal to get rid of these unserviceable planes that have been an eyesore at the airport besides posing a safety hazard. “As per the TIA proposal, the ministry will form a valuation committee for these aircraft,” said TIA general manager Dinesh Shrestha. After the valuation is done, the process of auctioning the junk will begin.
A few months ago, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had directed TIA to improve its competitiveness level for better performance.
As part of its regular monitoring, the anti-graft body had directed TIA to proceed immediately to remove junk from the airport grounds for safety reasons.
“Following the CIAA’s instruction, we have issued notices to the concerned companies regarding the sale of their useless aircraft. As there was no response from them, the airport management has forwarded a proposal to auction the aircraft to the ministry,” Shrestha said.
The airlines that have dumped their old planes at TIA have not even paid parking charges. There are 13 such aircraft including three 19-seater Dorniers and a 100-seater Fokker belonging to Cosmic Air.
Cosmic owes TIA Rs 12.8 million in parking, landing and navigation charges. Similarly, Nepal Airways owes Rs 1.17 million for its helicopter and Y-12 aircraft, and Necon Air Rs 46.3 million for its Avro aircraft.
Travel pros to take up NAC issue
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN. 7
Travel trade entrepreneurs are preparing to dispatch an open letter to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to press him to take initiative for purchasing aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) at the earliest.
A meeting of major travel trade organisations—Travel Agencies Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Nepal Association of Tour Operators, Tourist Guide Association of Nepal and Pacific Asia Travel Association, Nepal — took a decision to this effect on Friday.
“We (tourism organisations) will draw the attention of the prime minister towards the current scenario of the national flag carrier and increasing politics in aircraft purchase process,” said Siddhartha Thapa, operation director of President Travel. Thapa said it is not possible to make Nepal Tourism Year-2011 a success until NAC’s capacity is increased. If the government fails to bring in aircraft this year as well, it is sure that NAC aircraft deal will be more complicated in the coming days, added Thapa.
Issuing a press statement, tourism organisations said the prime minister should take a concrete policy level decision for the aircraft purchase. “Bookings of travel agencies and hotels in 2010 indicate that tourist arrivals will grow significantly in 2011 and ahead,” read the press statement. Inadequate connectivity of the national flag carrier in the long-haul routes and other potential markets could be a major setback for the Nepali tourism industry.
On the other hand, Nepali migrant workers will suffer largely, the press release said.
KATHMANDU, JAN. 7
Travel trade entrepreneurs are preparing to dispatch an open letter to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to press him to take initiative for purchasing aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) at the earliest.
A meeting of major travel trade organisations—Travel Agencies Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Nepal Association of Tour Operators, Tourist Guide Association of Nepal and Pacific Asia Travel Association, Nepal — took a decision to this effect on Friday.
“We (tourism organisations) will draw the attention of the prime minister towards the current scenario of the national flag carrier and increasing politics in aircraft purchase process,” said Siddhartha Thapa, operation director of President Travel. Thapa said it is not possible to make Nepal Tourism Year-2011 a success until NAC’s capacity is increased. If the government fails to bring in aircraft this year as well, it is sure that NAC aircraft deal will be more complicated in the coming days, added Thapa.
Issuing a press statement, tourism organisations said the prime minister should take a concrete policy level decision for the aircraft purchase. “Bookings of travel agencies and hotels in 2010 indicate that tourist arrivals will grow significantly in 2011 and ahead,” read the press statement. Inadequate connectivity of the national flag carrier in the long-haul routes and other potential markets could be a major setback for the Nepali tourism industry.
On the other hand, Nepali migrant workers will suffer largely, the press release said.
Prez to cut NTY ribbon amid gala event
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 07 -
President Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to inaugurate Nepal Tourism Year 2011 next Friday amid a gala ceremony at Dasrath Stadium, Kathmandu.
NTY is expected to project to the world Nepal’s hospitality and admirable culture and rejuvenate the country’s image as a tourist destination marred by a decade-long conflict.
“The time has finally arrived since the campaign was announced two years ago,” said Prachanda Man Shrestha, chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, at a briefing held to announce the major programmes to be held on inauguration day.
The political commitments made during the first part of 2010 had raised the hopes of travel trade professionals that the country could increase the number of visitors.
The record tourist arrivals seen in 2010 have further buoyed the spirits of the tourism industry, said Shrestha.
“Another good news is that the country has also confirmed 9-10 major international events in 2011,” Shrestha said.
According to the NTB, more than 25,000 guests will be attending the inauguration at Dasrath Stadium. “About 6,000 artists (including those from the Nepal Police, Nepal Army and schools) will perform in the event,” said event manager Kul Bahadur Thapa.
There will be 500 security personnel deployed around the venue. In addition, 250 traffic police personnel will handle the traffic besides 150 volunteers. Parking for 2,000 four-wheelers has been arranged at different places around the stadium and in commercial complexes.
There will be a separate event at Tundikhel for the general public, the NTB said. An air show of motor paragliding will be a major attraction in which 21 pilots will perform. In the evening, there will be a firework display and other entertainment at Tundikhel. The NTY implementation committee will be spending Rs 10 million on the opening festivities.
Nepal has set a target to host a million visitors, double the arrivals in 2010. The last such tourism year was organized in 1998 as Visit Nepal Year.
KATHMANDU, JAN 07 -
President Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to inaugurate Nepal Tourism Year 2011 next Friday amid a gala ceremony at Dasrath Stadium, Kathmandu.
NTY is expected to project to the world Nepal’s hospitality and admirable culture and rejuvenate the country’s image as a tourist destination marred by a decade-long conflict.
“The time has finally arrived since the campaign was announced two years ago,” said Prachanda Man Shrestha, chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, at a briefing held to announce the major programmes to be held on inauguration day.
The political commitments made during the first part of 2010 had raised the hopes of travel trade professionals that the country could increase the number of visitors.
The record tourist arrivals seen in 2010 have further buoyed the spirits of the tourism industry, said Shrestha.
“Another good news is that the country has also confirmed 9-10 major international events in 2011,” Shrestha said.
According to the NTB, more than 25,000 guests will be attending the inauguration at Dasrath Stadium. “About 6,000 artists (including those from the Nepal Police, Nepal Army and schools) will perform in the event,” said event manager Kul Bahadur Thapa.
There will be 500 security personnel deployed around the venue. In addition, 250 traffic police personnel will handle the traffic besides 150 volunteers. Parking for 2,000 four-wheelers has been arranged at different places around the stadium and in commercial complexes.
There will be a separate event at Tundikhel for the general public, the NTB said. An air show of motor paragliding will be a major attraction in which 21 pilots will perform. In the evening, there will be a firework display and other entertainment at Tundikhel. The NTY implementation committee will be spending Rs 10 million on the opening festivities.
Nepal has set a target to host a million visitors, double the arrivals in 2010. The last such tourism year was organized in 1998 as Visit Nepal Year.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tourism entrepreneurs doubt NTY-2011 targets can be met
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 04 -
Nepal has targeted 265,000 and 100,000 visitors from India and China,
respectively. However, entrepreneurs say Nepal has been facing a tough task bringing in the targeted number of Chinese tourists with the existing air and surface links.
Despite a sharp rise in arrivals from India and China in 2010, travel traders said bringing 365,000 tourists from the two neighbours during Nepal Tourism Year would be a tall order.
Nepal has targeted 265,000 and 100,000 visitors from India and China, which would mean a two-and-a-half-fold and a four-fold increase respectively. Indian tourist arrivals grew 20.5 percent to 104,470 in 2010 from 86,696 in 2009. Chinese arrivals were up 36.8 percent to 25,559 from 18,677 in 2009.
The NTY implementation committee and the government have focused promotional activities in the two countries. However,
they doubt the goal can be met with
the available tour packages and present connectivity situation.
“We don’t have any schemes to increase arrivals, and the current growth can be considered a natural increase and not a result of marketing and promotional efforts,” said Ashok Pokhrel, president of the Nepal Association of Tour Operators.
The UN World Tourism Organization said China would become the world’s fourth-largest source of outbound tourists by 2020 with 100 million overseas visits.
The Annual Report of China Outbound Tourism Development 2009-10 issued by the China Tourism Academy has estimated that 54 million Chinese travellers would go abroad in 2010, up from 47 million in 2009.
Similarly, India is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world. Indian outbound has been witnessing a growth of over 20 percent over the
last few years, with the figure reaching
11.58 million in 2009.
However, travel trade entrepreneurs said Nepal had been facing a tough task bringing in the targeted number of Chinese tourists with the existing air and surface links.
“Airfares from China to Nepal are among the world’s expensive fares, and the distances are also long,” said Rajendra Bajgai, general secretary of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN).
Bajgai added that the preferences of Indian tourists to Nepal had shifted from shopping and honeymooning to adventure. “The government and the private sector need to identify the changing tastes of visitors to meet the target of bringing one million tourists during NTY.”
The government and the Nepal Tourism Board plan to continue their marketing campaign in the Indian and Chinese markets during the tourist season. “Although the two neighbours are our short-haul source markets, air connectivity, particularly with China, will be a major hindrance to achieving the target,” said Kashi Raj Bhandari, director at the research department of the NTB.
He added that the NTB had requested
the government to talk to the China about starting direct air service between Kathmandu and Beijing, but nothing has happened. “In the present scenario, the target seems unattainable.”
Increased arrivals have attracted big players to invest in resorts, hotels and aviation. Growth in air services mean the country can emerge as an attractive leisure and MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) destination.
The government’s readiness to promote MICE tourism has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs. “The hotel sector has been receiving more Indian corporate clients these
days,” said Madhav Om Shrestha, executive director of the Hotel Association Nepal. However, poor road and air links with China prevent increasing arrivals from the northern neighbour, he added.
Nepal’s security situation is also another concern for tourists, particularly for Indian visitors. “Increasing instances of strikes have discouraged potential tourists from India. However, the good news is that more Indian tourists are visiting Nepal,” Shrestha said.
KATHMANDU, JAN 04 -
Nepal has targeted 265,000 and 100,000 visitors from India and China,
respectively. However, entrepreneurs say Nepal has been facing a tough task bringing in the targeted number of Chinese tourists with the existing air and surface links.
Despite a sharp rise in arrivals from India and China in 2010, travel traders said bringing 365,000 tourists from the two neighbours during Nepal Tourism Year would be a tall order.
Nepal has targeted 265,000 and 100,000 visitors from India and China, which would mean a two-and-a-half-fold and a four-fold increase respectively. Indian tourist arrivals grew 20.5 percent to 104,470 in 2010 from 86,696 in 2009. Chinese arrivals were up 36.8 percent to 25,559 from 18,677 in 2009.
The NTY implementation committee and the government have focused promotional activities in the two countries. However,
they doubt the goal can be met with
the available tour packages and present connectivity situation.
“We don’t have any schemes to increase arrivals, and the current growth can be considered a natural increase and not a result of marketing and promotional efforts,” said Ashok Pokhrel, president of the Nepal Association of Tour Operators.
The UN World Tourism Organization said China would become the world’s fourth-largest source of outbound tourists by 2020 with 100 million overseas visits.
The Annual Report of China Outbound Tourism Development 2009-10 issued by the China Tourism Academy has estimated that 54 million Chinese travellers would go abroad in 2010, up from 47 million in 2009.
Similarly, India is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world. Indian outbound has been witnessing a growth of over 20 percent over the
last few years, with the figure reaching
11.58 million in 2009.
However, travel trade entrepreneurs said Nepal had been facing a tough task bringing in the targeted number of Chinese tourists with the existing air and surface links.
“Airfares from China to Nepal are among the world’s expensive fares, and the distances are also long,” said Rajendra Bajgai, general secretary of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN).
Bajgai added that the preferences of Indian tourists to Nepal had shifted from shopping and honeymooning to adventure. “The government and the private sector need to identify the changing tastes of visitors to meet the target of bringing one million tourists during NTY.”
The government and the Nepal Tourism Board plan to continue their marketing campaign in the Indian and Chinese markets during the tourist season. “Although the two neighbours are our short-haul source markets, air connectivity, particularly with China, will be a major hindrance to achieving the target,” said Kashi Raj Bhandari, director at the research department of the NTB.
He added that the NTB had requested
the government to talk to the China about starting direct air service between Kathmandu and Beijing, but nothing has happened. “In the present scenario, the target seems unattainable.”
Increased arrivals have attracted big players to invest in resorts, hotels and aviation. Growth in air services mean the country can emerge as an attractive leisure and MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) destination.
The government’s readiness to promote MICE tourism has encouraged tourism entrepreneurs. “The hotel sector has been receiving more Indian corporate clients these
days,” said Madhav Om Shrestha, executive director of the Hotel Association Nepal. However, poor road and air links with China prevent increasing arrivals from the northern neighbour, he added.
Nepal’s security situation is also another concern for tourists, particularly for Indian visitors. “Increasing instances of strikes have discouraged potential tourists from India. However, the good news is that more Indian tourists are visiting Nepal,” Shrestha said.
Sugarcane price fixed
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 04 -
After two weeks of agitation and Sunday’s violent protest, which forced the local administration to clamp curfew in Sarlahi on Monday, the agitating sugarcane farmers called off their agitation after reaching an agreement with sugar producers on Monday.
Sugar producers agreed to pay last year’s price of Rs 401 per quintal of sugarcane to the farmers after the government agreed to waive 70 percent of the Value Added Tax (VAT) levied on sugar products. However, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar
Nepal’s intervention was required to resolve the dispute between the sugarcane farmers and sugar producers.
A tripartite meeting held in the presence of the Prime Minister in the Capital on Monday fixed both the issues—farmers’ price demand and tax waiver demanded by sugar producers.
As per the Monday’s agreement, the government will waive 70 percent of the VAT imposed on sugar products. In return, sugar producers will provide the waived VAT amount, which stand at around Rs 40 per quintal, to the farmers.
In addition to this, sugar producers have also agreed to provide Rs 33 per quintal directly to the farmers as ‘Sugarcane Development Promotion’’. Earlier, they used to contribute this amount to Sugarcane Promotion Fund. “The amount of VAT that the government waived will go to the farmers now,” said Manish Agrawal, managing director of Lumbini Sugar Mill.
Sugar producers had been asking the government for the VAT waiver for long. And, VAT was one of the major issues why sugar producers were reluctant to pay the price demanded by the farmers. “We are going to resume our operation after signing an agreement to this effect on Tuesday,” said Agrawal.
Sugarcane farmers, for last two weeks, were demanding last year’s price for sugarcane, while sugarcane producers were reluctant to pay the price.
Each year, sugarcane farmers and sugar producers have been at variance over the sugarcane price. Following a five-month agitation last year, sugar mills of Sarlahi, Mahottari and Nawalparsi had agreed to purchase sugarcane at a minimum price of Rs 401 per quintal. Then, the farmers had demanded hike in sugarcane price following surge in sugarcane price in India. However, in the wake of sugar shortage last year, sugar mills had agreed to pay as high as Rs 570 per quintal to the farmers.
However, sugar producers fixed the sugarcane price at Rs 348 per quintal for this season, after the market price of sugar dropped to Rs 58 per kg from last year’s Rs 85 per kg. The sharp drop in sugar price, according to sugar producers, made them unable to pay last year’s price.
However, farmers refused to accept the price set by the sugar mills, saying that their production cost has gone up. “We are not ready to accept low price this year,” said Paramhansa Chaturbedi, president of Sugarcane Producers’ Association, Sarlahi, before the agreement on Monday.
Currently, sugarcane is grown in over 70,000 hectares of land in 17 districts of the country. Sarlahi, Mahottari and Nawalparashi districts are the main producers of sugarcane.
Farmers said sugarcane production had dropped from 30 million quintals per year to 10 million quintals per year in six years due to the low priority of the government to this sector.
KATHMANDU, JAN 04 -
After two weeks of agitation and Sunday’s violent protest, which forced the local administration to clamp curfew in Sarlahi on Monday, the agitating sugarcane farmers called off their agitation after reaching an agreement with sugar producers on Monday.
Sugar producers agreed to pay last year’s price of Rs 401 per quintal of sugarcane to the farmers after the government agreed to waive 70 percent of the Value Added Tax (VAT) levied on sugar products. However, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar
Nepal’s intervention was required to resolve the dispute between the sugarcane farmers and sugar producers.
A tripartite meeting held in the presence of the Prime Minister in the Capital on Monday fixed both the issues—farmers’ price demand and tax waiver demanded by sugar producers.
As per the Monday’s agreement, the government will waive 70 percent of the VAT imposed on sugar products. In return, sugar producers will provide the waived VAT amount, which stand at around Rs 40 per quintal, to the farmers.
In addition to this, sugar producers have also agreed to provide Rs 33 per quintal directly to the farmers as ‘Sugarcane Development Promotion’’. Earlier, they used to contribute this amount to Sugarcane Promotion Fund. “The amount of VAT that the government waived will go to the farmers now,” said Manish Agrawal, managing director of Lumbini Sugar Mill.
Sugar producers had been asking the government for the VAT waiver for long. And, VAT was one of the major issues why sugar producers were reluctant to pay the price demanded by the farmers. “We are going to resume our operation after signing an agreement to this effect on Tuesday,” said Agrawal.
Sugarcane farmers, for last two weeks, were demanding last year’s price for sugarcane, while sugarcane producers were reluctant to pay the price.
Each year, sugarcane farmers and sugar producers have been at variance over the sugarcane price. Following a five-month agitation last year, sugar mills of Sarlahi, Mahottari and Nawalparsi had agreed to purchase sugarcane at a minimum price of Rs 401 per quintal. Then, the farmers had demanded hike in sugarcane price following surge in sugarcane price in India. However, in the wake of sugar shortage last year, sugar mills had agreed to pay as high as Rs 570 per quintal to the farmers.
However, sugar producers fixed the sugarcane price at Rs 348 per quintal for this season, after the market price of sugar dropped to Rs 58 per kg from last year’s Rs 85 per kg. The sharp drop in sugar price, according to sugar producers, made them unable to pay last year’s price.
However, farmers refused to accept the price set by the sugar mills, saying that their production cost has gone up. “We are not ready to accept low price this year,” said Paramhansa Chaturbedi, president of Sugarcane Producers’ Association, Sarlahi, before the agreement on Monday.
Currently, sugarcane is grown in over 70,000 hectares of land in 17 districts of the country. Sarlahi, Mahottari and Nawalparashi districts are the main producers of sugarcane.
Farmers said sugarcane production had dropped from 30 million quintals per year to 10 million quintals per year in six years due to the low priority of the government to this sector.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Tourist inflow reaches an all-time high
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JAN 03 -
The country enters Nepal Tourism Year on Saturday and the buzz is that tourism stakeholders will get a much needed boost. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Sunday announced that arrivals by air in 2010 had reached an all-time high of 448,769 tourists.
This is first time in 12 years that tourist arrivals have crossed the 400,000 mark. The last time that Nepal had received so many tourists was in 1999 when 421,243 tourists came to the country.
After a high of 1999, tourist arrivals in Nepal started to slump, first by the 9/11 attack and then by the escalation of the Maoist conflict in the country. Tourist arrivals continued to slide for three straight years -- from 2000 to 2002. Though there was a slight improvement in 2003 and 2004, arrivals again declined in 2005 then King Gyanendra took over direct rule. It was the peace agreement between the government and the Maoists that arrested this slump in 2006. Post-2006, the tourism sector has bounced back with a gradual upward movement of tourist arrivals.
The NTB data shows that arrivals have increased by 18.5 percent last year. Of the total arrivals, India tops the chart with 104,470 tourists followed by the US, the UK, China and France. There has been positive growth in the Asian segment, the European segment and the Americas, according to the NTB.
Though Indians are traditionally make up the largest number of visitors to the country, what is most promising for the domestic tourism market is a sharp increment in the arrival of Chinese tourists. Chinese tourist arrivals have jumped by an encouraging 36.8 percent in 2010, indicating that it is becoming one of the top markets for Nepal’s tourism. According to NTB data, a total of 25,559 tourists from China visited Nepal last year, up from 18,677 of 2009.
Hence, architects of NTY 2011 have understandably given greater priority to India and China and projected them as major source markets. The NTY Implementation Committee has targeted 265,000 tourists from India and 100,000 tourists from China in 2011. One challange to bring more tourists is expensive air fare. “Airfares from China to Nepal are among the world’s expensive fares and driving distance is also long,” said Rajendra Bajgai, general secretary of the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal.
KATHMANDU, JAN 03 -
The country enters Nepal Tourism Year on Saturday and the buzz is that tourism stakeholders will get a much needed boost. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Sunday announced that arrivals by air in 2010 had reached an all-time high of 448,769 tourists.
This is first time in 12 years that tourist arrivals have crossed the 400,000 mark. The last time that Nepal had received so many tourists was in 1999 when 421,243 tourists came to the country.
After a high of 1999, tourist arrivals in Nepal started to slump, first by the 9/11 attack and then by the escalation of the Maoist conflict in the country. Tourist arrivals continued to slide for three straight years -- from 2000 to 2002. Though there was a slight improvement in 2003 and 2004, arrivals again declined in 2005 then King Gyanendra took over direct rule. It was the peace agreement between the government and the Maoists that arrested this slump in 2006. Post-2006, the tourism sector has bounced back with a gradual upward movement of tourist arrivals.
The NTB data shows that arrivals have increased by 18.5 percent last year. Of the total arrivals, India tops the chart with 104,470 tourists followed by the US, the UK, China and France. There has been positive growth in the Asian segment, the European segment and the Americas, according to the NTB.
Though Indians are traditionally make up the largest number of visitors to the country, what is most promising for the domestic tourism market is a sharp increment in the arrival of Chinese tourists. Chinese tourist arrivals have jumped by an encouraging 36.8 percent in 2010, indicating that it is becoming one of the top markets for Nepal’s tourism. According to NTB data, a total of 25,559 tourists from China visited Nepal last year, up from 18,677 of 2009.
Hence, architects of NTY 2011 have understandably given greater priority to India and China and projected them as major source markets. The NTY Implementation Committee has targeted 265,000 tourists from India and 100,000 tourists from China in 2011. One challange to bring more tourists is expensive air fare. “Airfares from China to Nepal are among the world’s expensive fares and driving distance is also long,” said Rajendra Bajgai, general secretary of the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal.
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