No bonus for NOC staff: MoCS
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 11 -
The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) has decided not to pay bonuses to the staff of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) ending a dispute over the additional benefits. The ministry on Wednesday made it clear that distributing bonuses to the employees of a company reeling under massive losses and debts was not justifiable.
This decision has overridden the agreement reached on Aug. 5 between the NOC’s board and two agitating unions that bonuses would be distributed as per the existing Bonus Act ending a two-day stalemate that had disrupted fuel supplies for one and a half days.
However, it was not clear what the Bonus Act defines. On one side, the Bonus Act allows any corporation to distribute bonus of up to 8 percent of the profit even if it has incurred a cumulative loss; however, on the other hand, it is apparent that the government could stop the distribution process.
At a press meet organized here on Wednesday, Purushottam Ojha, secretary at the MoCS and chairman of the NOC board said that the move was against the government and the anti-corruption body, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) that had also issued order to stop bonus distribution. “We don’t want to go against the decision made by the government and the CIAA,” Ojha said. The state-owned oil monopoly had made a profit of Rs. 3.31 billion in the last fiscal year. NOC had earlier decided to distribute the bonus from its profit of fiscal year 2008/09. It, however, was forced to withdraw its decision following criticism from the government, the CIAA and consumer rights groups.
However, soon after the NOC management withdrew distribution of bonus, the unions started their agitation with their 13-point demand that also incorporated bonus issue as a prime focus.
The unions and the NOC board were at loggerheads after the board reversed its decision of distributing bonus worth Rs. 198.8 million. Dissatisfied union had justified that it was just a provisioning as per the Bonus Act but withdrawing it was to dishonour the employees’ rights. “As per the corporation auditing, the bonus has been allotted for the provisioning but not for distribution purpose,” Ojha said.
For the bonus distribution process, NOC has to request the MoCS. The Finance Ministry then has to give the permission to distribute the bonus. The government has a 98 percent stake in NOC.
Monday, August 16, 2010
New radar for TIA soon: CAAN
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 15 -
Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country’s only international airport, is to get a new radar. Installation of the automated equipment will help TIA to handle the growing air traffic and improve safety and efficiency.
The system will enable pilots and air traffic controllers to see displays with highly accurate
traffic data from satellites, displays that update in real time and don’t degrade with distance or terrain. The system will also give pilots access to weather services, terrain maps and flight information services.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the new radar equipment will help improve reliability, provide additional weather data, reduce maintenance costs, improve performance and provide digital data for presentation on air traffic controller displays.
TIA’s existing radar is 12 years old and cannot provide coverage to new air routes, CAAN told the Post.
“If the new system is installed, we don’t have to bear high maintenance costs for the old ones. We will also be free of the hassle of looking for rare spare parts for the old radar,” said Mahendra Singh Rawal, director at Communications Navigation and Surviallance (CNS), CAAN.
The new radar can cover the whole of Nepal. Currently, there are two radar systems at TIA — primary radar and secondary survialance radar. The primary radar has a coverage of 60 nautical miles while the secondary radar has a coverage of 200 nautical miles, Rawal said.
CAAN has invited two experts from CNS and Air Traffic Management (ATM) from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to study the new radar installation and do a feasibility study of the precision approach landing system at TIA, said CAAN director general Ram Prasad Neupane.
“The study will be completed in October, and CAAN will call a global tender to install the radar,” Neupane said. CAAN has not made an assessment of how much it’s going to cost.
The existing radar was set up at a cost of US$ 34 million. It was serviced at a cost of Rs. 42.5 million last April 8 after a gap of 12 years even though maintenance is required every seven years.
According to Rawal, there are three types of radar systems -- primary and secondary radar, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast and multiluteration radar. “The selection will be made after a study which will suits the surveillance system,” he said. CAAN is also mulling where to install the radar. A study will be conducted on a feasible place either on a hilltop or in a plain area in Kathmandu.
TIA, which was designed to handle 1,300 passengers per hour, sometimes has to process over 2,000 passengers.
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 15 -
Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the country’s only international airport, is to get a new radar. Installation of the automated equipment will help TIA to handle the growing air traffic and improve safety and efficiency.
The system will enable pilots and air traffic controllers to see displays with highly accurate
traffic data from satellites, displays that update in real time and don’t degrade with distance or terrain. The system will also give pilots access to weather services, terrain maps and flight information services.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the new radar equipment will help improve reliability, provide additional weather data, reduce maintenance costs, improve performance and provide digital data for presentation on air traffic controller displays.
TIA’s existing radar is 12 years old and cannot provide coverage to new air routes, CAAN told the Post.
“If the new system is installed, we don’t have to bear high maintenance costs for the old ones. We will also be free of the hassle of looking for rare spare parts for the old radar,” said Mahendra Singh Rawal, director at Communications Navigation and Surviallance (CNS), CAAN.
The new radar can cover the whole of Nepal. Currently, there are two radar systems at TIA — primary radar and secondary survialance radar. The primary radar has a coverage of 60 nautical miles while the secondary radar has a coverage of 200 nautical miles, Rawal said.
CAAN has invited two experts from CNS and Air Traffic Management (ATM) from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to study the new radar installation and do a feasibility study of the precision approach landing system at TIA, said CAAN director general Ram Prasad Neupane.
“The study will be completed in October, and CAAN will call a global tender to install the radar,” Neupane said. CAAN has not made an assessment of how much it’s going to cost.
The existing radar was set up at a cost of US$ 34 million. It was serviced at a cost of Rs. 42.5 million last April 8 after a gap of 12 years even though maintenance is required every seven years.
According to Rawal, there are three types of radar systems -- primary and secondary radar, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast and multiluteration radar. “The selection will be made after a study which will suits the surveillance system,” he said. CAAN is also mulling where to install the radar. A study will be conducted on a feasible place either on a hilltop or in a plain area in Kathmandu.
TIA, which was designed to handle 1,300 passengers per hour, sometimes has to process over 2,000 passengers.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Arrivals up by 9pc in Pokhara
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 10 -
The number of international visitors to Pokhara increased by 9 percent to 203,527 in 2009. Total arrivals in Nepal in 2009 amounted to 509,956. The number of tourists visiting Pokhara in 2008 and 2007 amounted to 186,643 and 165,177 respectively.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Indian tourists made up the largest segment visiting Pokhara last year. Tourists from India numbered 46,508 followed by Japan (15,223), the UK (14,900), Germany (14,037), China (9,501), the US (9,201), Australia (5,003) and other countries (81,335).
Of the total visitors, the number of German visitors doubled last year. In the previous year, visitors from Germany numbered 7,735. Similarly, Australian, French, British and American visitors saw a modest growth last year.
However, the number of visitors from Japan and China decreased in 2009 compared to 2008.
Pokhara is the third largest city in Nepal. It is the starting point for most of the treks in the Annapurna area. Since 2005, the number of tourists visiting Pokhara has increased by 175 percent. In 2005, there were 74,012 tourists.
Following the comprehensive peace accord in 2006, tourism in Pokhara saw a dramatic rise. There were 94,799 tourists in 2006. In 2007, Pokhara hosted 165,177 tourists, an increment of 74 percent.
Considering its huge tourism prospects, the government is planning to connect Pokhara with cities in India by air to attract more visitors. Plans are underway to start linking Lucknow with Pokhara.
With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY-2011) approaching, travel trade entrepreneurs in Pokhara have started preparations to welcome about half a million foreign visitors.
There are two five-star hotels, two three-star hotels and nine three-star hotels in addition to a large number of one-star and tourist standard hotels in Pokhara.
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 10 -
The number of international visitors to Pokhara increased by 9 percent to 203,527 in 2009. Total arrivals in Nepal in 2009 amounted to 509,956. The number of tourists visiting Pokhara in 2008 and 2007 amounted to 186,643 and 165,177 respectively.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Indian tourists made up the largest segment visiting Pokhara last year. Tourists from India numbered 46,508 followed by Japan (15,223), the UK (14,900), Germany (14,037), China (9,501), the US (9,201), Australia (5,003) and other countries (81,335).
Of the total visitors, the number of German visitors doubled last year. In the previous year, visitors from Germany numbered 7,735. Similarly, Australian, French, British and American visitors saw a modest growth last year.
However, the number of visitors from Japan and China decreased in 2009 compared to 2008.
Pokhara is the third largest city in Nepal. It is the starting point for most of the treks in the Annapurna area. Since 2005, the number of tourists visiting Pokhara has increased by 175 percent. In 2005, there were 74,012 tourists.
Following the comprehensive peace accord in 2006, tourism in Pokhara saw a dramatic rise. There were 94,799 tourists in 2006. In 2007, Pokhara hosted 165,177 tourists, an increment of 74 percent.
Considering its huge tourism prospects, the government is planning to connect Pokhara with cities in India by air to attract more visitors. Plans are underway to start linking Lucknow with Pokhara.
With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY-2011) approaching, travel trade entrepreneurs in Pokhara have started preparations to welcome about half a million foreign visitors.
There are two five-star hotels, two three-star hotels and nine three-star hotels in addition to a large number of one-star and tourist standard hotels in Pokhara.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Happy holidays for govt staff planned
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 08 -
Civil servants are in line to get a 15-day annual holiday package called “paid holiday” or “leave tourism” from the current fiscal year if things go according to plan.
Officials at the Ministry of Finance said that such a provision was being considered and that its implementation would depend on the government’s programmes and policies for the fiscal year 2010/11.
The government is planning to initiate the programme to promote domestic tourism and to replace the surplus holiday system of more than 100 days being given to civil servants under public holiday entitlement, said Krishna Hari Banskota, revenue secretary at the Finance Ministry.
“We expect the package will encourage civil servants to work in exchange of the paid leave,” he said. However, we are not sure of implementing the scheme until the full-fledged budget is announced, he added.
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has proposed the concept to the government which is new to Nepal but is in practice in several countries to boost the morale of their civil servants.
“Mobilizing civil servants to visit potential internal vacation destinations will boost domestic tourism. In the meanwhile, they will get to learn about the national geography and the unseen prospects that the country holds for planners,” said Laxman Prasad Bhattarai, spokesperson at the Tourism Ministry.
Paid leave in other countries is mostly a feature in employment agreements that provide a “resource” of hours that an employee can draw from to take time off from work and tour the country.
The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who “travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours and not
more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.”
However, the tourism policy in Nepal does not incorporate domestic visitors as tourists. The initiative will thus give recognition to Nepali travellers undertaking domestic tours as tourists, Bhattarai said. If the paid leave scheme comes into effect, about 400,000 government employees will be entitled to the package.
There are 85,000 civil servants, 55,000 Nepal Police personnel, 30,000 Armed Police Force personnel, 95,000 Nepal Army personnel and about 125,000 teachers who qualify for the programme.
Discussions on the modality are underway. Some planners have proposed a monthly package while others are in support of a fortnightly scheme. “The government’s total budget expenditure for the employees’ salaries is Rs. 5 billion every month. Implementing a fortnightly scheme will require an extra budget of Rs. 2.5 billion per month,” he added.
The Tourism Ministry has proposed a budget of Rs. 3 million to implement the programme in the first phase.
“The amount is relatively low to implement the package. However, since the package is being introduced for the first time, we will gradually increase the amount,” said Bhattarai.
According to him, India has a domestic tourists movement of over 650 million each year.
Recently, under the Tourism Ministry’s trial initiative, 59 civil servants representing different ministries and government bodies visited and observed different locations viable for the programme.
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 08 -
Civil servants are in line to get a 15-day annual holiday package called “paid holiday” or “leave tourism” from the current fiscal year if things go according to plan.
Officials at the Ministry of Finance said that such a provision was being considered and that its implementation would depend on the government’s programmes and policies for the fiscal year 2010/11.
The government is planning to initiate the programme to promote domestic tourism and to replace the surplus holiday system of more than 100 days being given to civil servants under public holiday entitlement, said Krishna Hari Banskota, revenue secretary at the Finance Ministry.
“We expect the package will encourage civil servants to work in exchange of the paid leave,” he said. However, we are not sure of implementing the scheme until the full-fledged budget is announced, he added.
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has proposed the concept to the government which is new to Nepal but is in practice in several countries to boost the morale of their civil servants.
“Mobilizing civil servants to visit potential internal vacation destinations will boost domestic tourism. In the meanwhile, they will get to learn about the national geography and the unseen prospects that the country holds for planners,” said Laxman Prasad Bhattarai, spokesperson at the Tourism Ministry.
Paid leave in other countries is mostly a feature in employment agreements that provide a “resource” of hours that an employee can draw from to take time off from work and tour the country.
The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who “travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours and not
more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.”
However, the tourism policy in Nepal does not incorporate domestic visitors as tourists. The initiative will thus give recognition to Nepali travellers undertaking domestic tours as tourists, Bhattarai said. If the paid leave scheme comes into effect, about 400,000 government employees will be entitled to the package.
There are 85,000 civil servants, 55,000 Nepal Police personnel, 30,000 Armed Police Force personnel, 95,000 Nepal Army personnel and about 125,000 teachers who qualify for the programme.
Discussions on the modality are underway. Some planners have proposed a monthly package while others are in support of a fortnightly scheme. “The government’s total budget expenditure for the employees’ salaries is Rs. 5 billion every month. Implementing a fortnightly scheme will require an extra budget of Rs. 2.5 billion per month,” he added.
The Tourism Ministry has proposed a budget of Rs. 3 million to implement the programme in the first phase.
“The amount is relatively low to implement the package. However, since the package is being introduced for the first time, we will gradually increase the amount,” said Bhattarai.
According to him, India has a domestic tourists movement of over 650 million each year.
Recently, under the Tourism Ministry’s trial initiative, 59 civil servants representing different ministries and government bodies visited and observed different locations viable for the programme.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Airline revenues take off with rise in traffic
SANGAM PRASAIN
AUG 05 -
Growth in tourist arrivals and movement of migrant workers has brought increased revenues for international airlines serving Nepal. While luxury airlines benefited from swelling inbound tourism, budget airlines revelled in high labour traffic.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), total passenger movement at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport in 2009 reached 2,027,147 including 984,593 departures and 1,042,554 arrivals.
Nepali arrivals and departures amounted to 562,331 and 588,645 respectively. Foreign travellers accounted for 378,712 arrivals and 417,679 departures. There were 15,701 international flight movements during the year. Currently, 25 international airlines link Nepal.
Qatar Airways flew the highest number of passengers in 2009 taking a 12.39 percent share of the market. The airline carried 251,214 passengers on 1,396 flights. Gulf Air came second with a 11.76 percent market share carrying 238,527 passengers on 1,240 flights. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) took the third position with 11.72 percent. It carried 237,751 passengers on 1,950 flight.
Likewise, Indian Airlines had a 9.85 percent market share, Thai Airways 9.19 percent, Jet Airways 8.28 percent, Air Arabia 6.48 percent, Jet Lite Airways 5.29 percent, Etihad Airways 3.84 percent and Biman Bangladesh 3.48 percent.
With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 approaching and the government aiming to bring in one million tourists during the year, a number of international carriers have upped their frequency. A few new carriers are expected to link Nepal from September. Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air and Spirit of Manila Airlines are planning to fly to Nepal, said CAAN.
Ram Kaji Koney, past president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), said that the increase in the number of international carriers was good for Nepal's tourism. He added that the weak performance of the national flag carrier had resulted in increased business for the international airlines. NAC needs to get back on its feet to promote Nepal around the world, he said.
SANGAM PRASAIN
AUG 05 -
Growth in tourist arrivals and movement of migrant workers has brought increased revenues for international airlines serving Nepal. While luxury airlines benefited from swelling inbound tourism, budget airlines revelled in high labour traffic.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), total passenger movement at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport in 2009 reached 2,027,147 including 984,593 departures and 1,042,554 arrivals.
Nepali arrivals and departures amounted to 562,331 and 588,645 respectively. Foreign travellers accounted for 378,712 arrivals and 417,679 departures. There were 15,701 international flight movements during the year. Currently, 25 international airlines link Nepal.
Qatar Airways flew the highest number of passengers in 2009 taking a 12.39 percent share of the market. The airline carried 251,214 passengers on 1,396 flights. Gulf Air came second with a 11.76 percent market share carrying 238,527 passengers on 1,240 flights. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) took the third position with 11.72 percent. It carried 237,751 passengers on 1,950 flight.
Likewise, Indian Airlines had a 9.85 percent market share, Thai Airways 9.19 percent, Jet Airways 8.28 percent, Air Arabia 6.48 percent, Jet Lite Airways 5.29 percent, Etihad Airways 3.84 percent and Biman Bangladesh 3.48 percent.
With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 approaching and the government aiming to bring in one million tourists during the year, a number of international carriers have upped their frequency. A few new carriers are expected to link Nepal from September. Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air and Spirit of Manila Airlines are planning to fly to Nepal, said CAAN.
Ram Kaji Koney, past president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), said that the increase in the number of international carriers was good for Nepal's tourism. He added that the weak performance of the national flag carrier had resulted in increased business for the international airlines. NAC needs to get back on its feet to promote Nepal around the world, he said.
Fuel supply to resume today
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 05 -
Agitating unions of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and the NOC board reached an agreement on Thursday evening, ending a two-day stalemate that had disrupted fuel supply.
In a meting between the agitating unions and the NOC board at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, the NOC staff agreed to resume the supply of petroleum products from Friday.
According to Commerce Secretary Purusottam Ojha, both sides have agreed on bonus distribution as per the existing law. The Bonus Act allows any corporation to distribute bonus up to 8 percent of profit even if it has incurred a cumulative loss.
Babu Ram Rai, president of Nepal National Employees' Union, said the agreement has been reached between the board and the unions and petroleum supply will resume from Friday.
The unions and the NOC board were at loggerheads after the board reversed its decision of distributing bonus worth Rs. 198.8 million. The NOC had earlier decided to distribute the bonus from its profit of fiscal year 2008/09.
It had made a profit of Rs 3.31 billion that fiscal year. It, however, was forced to withdraw its decision following criticism from the government, the CIAA and consumer rights groups.
Both sides have agreed to complete the maintenance of NOC's old depot within a year. Likewise, automation of the new depots will begin within a month, according to Rai. The losses of the NOC will be managed through a loss management plan.
Due to the bonus row, delivery of gasoline by NOC to petrol pumps in Kathmandu doubled on Thursday. Normally, NOC's Thankot depot supplies 500,000 litres of petroleum products daily. On Thursday, the supply was almost double. According to Thankot depot chief Bhuwaneshwor Rajbhandari, 962,000 litres of fuel were
supplied to private and public petrol pumps.
The agitating unions of NOC on Thursday closed its depots across the country after 1 p.m. The unions had closed the depots all day on Wednesday.
With the depots remaining open for only three hours, there was a long queue of over 100 tankers waiting to be refilled at the Thankot depot.
Of the total shipment made on Thursday, state-owned refuelling stations received 50,000 litres of diesel and petrol, said Rajbhandari. However, there was long queue of motorists on state-owned petrol pumps on Thursday.
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 05 -
Agitating unions of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and the NOC board reached an agreement on Thursday evening, ending a two-day stalemate that had disrupted fuel supply.
In a meting between the agitating unions and the NOC board at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, the NOC staff agreed to resume the supply of petroleum products from Friday.
According to Commerce Secretary Purusottam Ojha, both sides have agreed on bonus distribution as per the existing law. The Bonus Act allows any corporation to distribute bonus up to 8 percent of profit even if it has incurred a cumulative loss.
Babu Ram Rai, president of Nepal National Employees' Union, said the agreement has been reached between the board and the unions and petroleum supply will resume from Friday.
The unions and the NOC board were at loggerheads after the board reversed its decision of distributing bonus worth Rs. 198.8 million. The NOC had earlier decided to distribute the bonus from its profit of fiscal year 2008/09.
It had made a profit of Rs 3.31 billion that fiscal year. It, however, was forced to withdraw its decision following criticism from the government, the CIAA and consumer rights groups.
Both sides have agreed to complete the maintenance of NOC's old depot within a year. Likewise, automation of the new depots will begin within a month, according to Rai. The losses of the NOC will be managed through a loss management plan.
Due to the bonus row, delivery of gasoline by NOC to petrol pumps in Kathmandu doubled on Thursday. Normally, NOC's Thankot depot supplies 500,000 litres of petroleum products daily. On Thursday, the supply was almost double. According to Thankot depot chief Bhuwaneshwor Rajbhandari, 962,000 litres of fuel were
supplied to private and public petrol pumps.
The agitating unions of NOC on Thursday closed its depots across the country after 1 p.m. The unions had closed the depots all day on Wednesday.
With the depots remaining open for only three hours, there was a long queue of over 100 tankers waiting to be refilled at the Thankot depot.
Of the total shipment made on Thursday, state-owned refuelling stations received 50,000 litres of diesel and petrol, said Rajbhandari. However, there was long queue of motorists on state-owned petrol pumps on Thursday.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Yes... once is not enough, concur foreign tourists
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 04 -
Tourists making repeat visits to Nepal in 2009 made up almost half of the total arrivals giving credence to the travel trade’s advertising slogan “Naturally Nepal — Once Is Not Enough”.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), among the 509,956 tourists who visited Nepal last year, 158,153 were making their second visit, 7,858 were here for the third time, 7,426 for the fourth and 18,256 for the fifth or more times. Tourists visiting the country for the first time numbered 318,263.
Although past records are not available, NTB officials and travel trade entrepreneurs said that the number of tourists making repeat visits had gone up. “This shows that tourists want to come to Nepal again and again, but negative publicity has forced them to think twice about their travel plans,” they said.
Aditya Baral, senior director and spokesperson of the NTB, said it was encouraging that repeat visits to Nepal were increasing.
“Repeat visits make the tourism sector sustainable in any country,” he said. Repeat
visitors usually spend less according to international trends, but that is not the case in Nepal, he added. Indian sent the highest number of first-time and repeat visitors to Nepal.
Among the 93,884 travellers from India, 54,120 were here for the first time while the
rest were repeat visitors.
Cultural ties, pilgrimage options and better air connectivity are the major reasons behind the large number of repeat visitors from India, Baral said. The US, the UK, France, China and Spain are among the other countries sending repeat visitors to Nepal after India.
Abhinav Rana, general manager of the Radisson Hotel, said that the hotel had more repeat corporate clients in 2009 compared to the previous year.
Despite political instability and weak performance of the national flag carrier, the number of repeat visitors has swelled, said Ram Kazi Koney, managing director of Gandaki Tours & Travels and past president of the Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents (NATTA).
He added that it was a good indication that the country’s tourism sector could flourish instantly if the political situation becomes stable.
Of the total arrivals in 2009, air travellers numbered 379,322 while 130,634 came overland.
Country First time visitors Repeated Visitors
India 54,120 39764
Sri Lanka 33,264 3098
Thailand 22,972 4425
China 22,689 9583
USA 18,646 13397
UK 18,233 17149
Japan 14,943 7502
Korea 13,042 3103
Bangladesh 10,990 4395
France 10,130 12024
Australia 8,312 7149
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, AUG 04 -
Tourists making repeat visits to Nepal in 2009 made up almost half of the total arrivals giving credence to the travel trade’s advertising slogan “Naturally Nepal — Once Is Not Enough”.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), among the 509,956 tourists who visited Nepal last year, 158,153 were making their second visit, 7,858 were here for the third time, 7,426 for the fourth and 18,256 for the fifth or more times. Tourists visiting the country for the first time numbered 318,263.
Although past records are not available, NTB officials and travel trade entrepreneurs said that the number of tourists making repeat visits had gone up. “This shows that tourists want to come to Nepal again and again, but negative publicity has forced them to think twice about their travel plans,” they said.
Aditya Baral, senior director and spokesperson of the NTB, said it was encouraging that repeat visits to Nepal were increasing.
“Repeat visits make the tourism sector sustainable in any country,” he said. Repeat
visitors usually spend less according to international trends, but that is not the case in Nepal, he added. Indian sent the highest number of first-time and repeat visitors to Nepal.
Among the 93,884 travellers from India, 54,120 were here for the first time while the
rest were repeat visitors.
Cultural ties, pilgrimage options and better air connectivity are the major reasons behind the large number of repeat visitors from India, Baral said. The US, the UK, France, China and Spain are among the other countries sending repeat visitors to Nepal after India.
Abhinav Rana, general manager of the Radisson Hotel, said that the hotel had more repeat corporate clients in 2009 compared to the previous year.
Despite political instability and weak performance of the national flag carrier, the number of repeat visitors has swelled, said Ram Kazi Koney, managing director of Gandaki Tours & Travels and past president of the Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents (NATTA).
He added that it was a good indication that the country’s tourism sector could flourish instantly if the political situation becomes stable.
Of the total arrivals in 2009, air travellers numbered 379,322 while 130,634 came overland.
Country First time visitors Repeated Visitors
India 54,120 39764
Sri Lanka 33,264 3098
Thailand 22,972 4425
China 22,689 9583
USA 18,646 13397
UK 18,233 17149
Japan 14,943 7502
Korea 13,042 3103
Bangladesh 10,990 4395
France 10,130 12024
Australia 8,312 7149
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