Domestic private air carrier Buddha Air today started scheduled commercial flights on Kathmandu- Varanasi-Kathmandu route to cash in on growing religious tourism between Nepal and India. The airliner has been operating chartered passenger services on the sector since 2012.
Varanasi – in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh – is a holy city for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. The Kathmandu-Varanasi-Kathmandu flights will be operated twice weekly, on Fridays and Mondays.
Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari flagged off the flight today at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). "We also have to focus cross-border flights to other Indian states to increase India footfalls in Nepal,” Adhikari said, adding that the airports in the bordering areas will be upgraded to international standards.
"The government has announced Visit Nepal 2020 with the aim of attracting 2 million tourists," the minister said, adding, "such initiative will help to realise the government’s goal."
"The plan to conduct scheduled flights is to promote religious tourism as the number of pilgrims has been growing," informed managing director of Buddha Air Birendra Bahadur Basnet. "The direct flight connectivity is not only to bring Indian pilgrims to Nepal but also to provide affordable packages for Nepalis going for a holy tour," he added.
Buddha Air will be operating a 45-seater ATR aircraft for the 50 minutes flight.
Buddha Air has also developed three different packages – Varanasi-Sarnath package at Rs 32,500, Varanasi-Bodh Gaya package at Rs 34,000 and Varanasi-Allahabad-Ayodhya package at Rs 41,500, according to the airliner.
Varanasi – in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh – is a holy city for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. The Kathmandu-Varanasi-Kathmandu flights will be operated twice weekly, on Fridays and Mondays.
Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari flagged off the flight today at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). "We also have to focus cross-border flights to other Indian states to increase India footfalls in Nepal,” Adhikari said, adding that the airports in the bordering areas will be upgraded to international standards.
"The government has announced Visit Nepal 2020 with the aim of attracting 2 million tourists," the minister said, adding, "such initiative will help to realise the government’s goal."
"The plan to conduct scheduled flights is to promote religious tourism as the number of pilgrims has been growing," informed managing director of Buddha Air Birendra Bahadur Basnet. "The direct flight connectivity is not only to bring Indian pilgrims to Nepal but also to provide affordable packages for Nepalis going for a holy tour," he added.
Buddha Air will be operating a 45-seater ATR aircraft for the 50 minutes flight.
Buddha Air has also developed three different packages – Varanasi-Sarnath package at Rs 32,500, Varanasi-Bodh Gaya package at Rs 34,000 and Varanasi-Allahabad-Ayodhya package at Rs 41,500, according to the airliner.
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