Indian railways authority agrees to promote Lumbini

Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation agreed to promote Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha.

The corporation has changed its previous schedule of earlier day return trip to a minimum one-night stay for its Mahaparinirvana Buddhist Circuit Tourists.

Deputy general manager of  Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Jitendra Kumar has agreed to change the itinerary that is expected to boost the tourism in Lumbini, the southern plains of Nepal.
The goodwill ambassador for Lumbini Bikram Pandey had had several rounds of a cordial meeting with Kumar since last one month, according to Pandey, who has also been promoting Lumbini Peace Marathon for the promotion of Lumbini.

After long negotiation and convincing of corporation officials about the advantage of keeping minimum one night in Lumbini from their present day Day-Visit Itinerary, the corporation has agreed, he said, adding that the new move would without doubt give high satisfaction to their Buddhist Circuits travelling customers.

Pokhara to have regional international airport: FM

Since Pokhara's future depends on tourism, the government is ready to improve infrastructure for the tourism promotion, according to finance minister.

Inaugurating the 15^th Pokhara Street Festival, in Pokhara today, finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala said that the budget for the current fiscal year has promised a regional international airport in Pokhara. "The budget has also allocated Rs 1 billion for the land compensation for the airport," he said, adding that the government has accelerated planning to construct international regional airport in Pokhara and add new aircraft for national flag carrier in Chinese help.

There is a lot to do to develop Pokhara commercially, Koirala said, asking to prepare a strategic plan to develop the lake city.

The incumbent government has brought the economy back on track, he added. "The new elected government will drive it to its destination as the political transition has come to an end and it's time to start economic revolution."

The government's duty is not to do business, he said asking the private sector to take the lead."

The private sector is the engine of growth, said the regional administrator of the Western region Lok Darshan Regmi. "The diplomatic mission of Nepal across the globe has to promote tourism," he said, adding that Nepalis should be proud of their culture and tradition.

The six-day street festival will see cultural dance, food fiesta, and many more fun.

Tourism entrepreneurs seek direct Kathmandu-Colombo flight

Tourism entrepreneurs today sought help from the Sri Lankan ambassador to Nepal W M Senevirathna to restart Kathmandu-Colombo flights.
"Since there is a huge potential for religious tourism, especially Buddhism, in Nepal, direct flights on the Kathmandu-Colombo route will bring more Sri Lankan pilgrims to Nepal," said president of Nepal-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bhakta Bahadur Malla, at an interaction organised by the bilateral chamber here in the valley today.
It will not only strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian countries but also promote tourism, trade, social and religious relations, he said, adding that the promotion of bilateral trade will bring both the countries closer.
Explaining about the Buddhist Circuit, tourism entrepreneur Bikram Pandey, said that the promotion of Lumbini in Sri Lanka will help boost religious tourism in Nepal. "Since Lumbini is a holy place for Buddhists all over the world, it should be promoted in Buddhist Sri Lanka," he said, adding that the campaign 'Following the Buddha's Path' under the Buddhist Circuit will help promote Nepal's tourism. "A direct flight between Colombo and Kathmandu will help promote not only tourism but also trade."
"Both the governments are doing their homework on a direct Colombo-Kathmandu flight and it will materialise soon," said Senevirathna.
Some 12 years, the then RNAC, the current NAC stopped the Colombo flight.
Nepal should promote Lumbini in Sri Lanka as 80 per cent of Sri Lankans are Buddhists and most of them are interested in visiting Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, he said, adding that Nepal and Sri Lanka should promote bilateral economic, trade and tourism relations.
Due to the absence of a direct flight, Sri Lankan tourist arrivals have started to drop in recent times. From January to April — in the four months of 2013 — some 564 Sri Lankan tourists visited Nepal via air, whereas in the same period of 2012, some 648 Sri Lankan tourists had visited Nepal, according to Nepal Tourism Board. "Likewise, in April, only 130 Sri Lankan tourists arrived via air compared to 134 in the same month last year."
In recent years, Nepal's trade deficit has also been increasing with Sri Lanka — like with other countries — which can be reduced by promoting tourism in Sri Lanka.
According to Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) data, Nepal exported merchandise worth Rs 15.48 million, whereas it imported merchandise worth Rs 139.34 million in 2012. Similarly, Nepal had exported merchandise worth Rs 15.52 million and imported merchandise worth Rs 74.38 million in 2011.

Government asks ministry to form a team to revise ASA with China

The government has asked Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to workout revision modality of Air Service Agreement (ASA) with the northern neighbour China.
The cabinet meeting yesterday evening has asked the ministry to form a team under tourism secretary to revise the ASA with China, one of the key tourist generating markets, in the recent years.
According to the current Air Service Agreement (ASA) between Nepal and China, China can operate 14 flights a week. Air China operates seven flights whereas China Eastern and China Southern operate four flights and three flights, respectively in a week leaving room for more flights between two nations. But a Chinese delegation last year had asked to add 10 more flights weekly.
China has been asking Nepal to revise the ASA that could add sufficient air flights to Nepal to attract a large number of Chinese tourists, who are compelled to choose an alternative destination for their holidays due to lack of sufficient air connectivity between the two countries.
Due to the rapid economic growth of the China, the number of Chinese outbound tourists has been increasing lately. It is expected to reach 100 million by 2015.
The Chinese government has given Nepal an 'Approved Destination Status’ for outbound tourists. Nepal has also been listed by the Chinese government as the ninth outbound tourist destination.
Likewise, proposals to revise and sign new ASAs with different countries — Australia, the US, Cambodia, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UK — have been piling up at the ministry.
Nepal has signed bilateral air service agreements with 36 countries since 1963. This provides 5.7 million seats per annum to and from Nepal. However, not even 40 per cent of this capacity is being utilised.

Chinese arrivals
Year — arrivals
2009 — 32,272
2010 — 46,360
2011 — 61,917
(Source: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation)

Nepal bags best destination award

Nepal received the best destination award at India International Travel Mart (IITM) in Maharashtra state of India last week.
The Travel mart — organised on November 23-25 — highlighted Nepal as the home of Mt Everest and birthplace of Lord Buddha.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), along with six prominent travel trade partners from Nepal showcased diverse tourism attractions offering special packages for Pune’s ardent travelers at the mart.
Besides the pilgrimage tours of Pashupatinath and Muktinath, and city tours of Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, Nepal is increasingly becoming the nearest international trekking destination for the Pune youth, following successful ascent of Mt Everest by a Marathi Expedition team 'Giripremi' this spring.
Nepal with the best flight connectivity from India has succeeded in receiving nearly 150,000 Indian visitors in the last ten months which is about 20 per cent of annual growth from India.