PATA Nepal Chapter postpones NICE

The ‘Nepal India China Expo (NICE)’ scheduled initially for February 22-25 has been postponed due to some unfavourable circumstances, and limitations on the travel of Chinese delegates due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, according to PATA Nepal Chapter.
 The executive committee meeting of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter held today decided to postpone the event as a matter of precaution to the health and safety of all the delegates and invitees.
“At the moment, we are closely monitoring the ongoing crisis (coronavirus pneumonia) in China, and shall endorse an appropriate future date for NICE once the situation seems controlled and favourable for this historic tri-national tourism expo,” the chair of PATA Nepal Chapter Bibhuti Chand Thakur said, adding that they have requested all its registered delegates, invitees, and stakeholders to stay tuned for further updates from the association.
The National Programme Coordinator of Visit Nepal Year 2020 (VNY2020) Suraj Vaidya said that NICE is one the top priority event, which shall play an instrumental role for the growth of tourism in Nepal, and we will be working together with PATA for making this a successful event of 2020.
Likewise, PATA Nepal Chapter chief executive Suresh Singh Budal informed that the necessary preparation is almost completed with confirmed participation of 120 buyers and 50 exhibitors however, due to the present unfavourable scenario, the association has decided to organise the event on later dates this year. “It's a high time to come together to show our solidarity for speedy control and recovery of health crisis; meanwhile, we have to take precautions and work together for the possible risk mitigation and crisis management in tourism,” he added.

Tourism agencies announce discount offers

As the Visit Nepal Year 2020 (VNY2020) starts in two days, tourism agencies have announced discount offers to encourage foreigners to prolong their stay in Nepal and also visit frequently.
The VNY2020 being launched with formal programme on January 1 warrants attention and engagement of the people from diverse sectors for its grand success. Tourism ministers from 10 countries and special guests from various 40 countries will take part in the inaugural ceremony of the VNY2020.
Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has decided to provide 30 per cent discount on its services, according to the first vice chair of HAN Binayak Shah.
There are some 2,000 hotels including the luxury star hotels affiliated to HAN, which can accommodate some 2.5 million guests.
Likewise, Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) is also launching promotional activities and providing 20 per cent discount on its service, whereas Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) is going to provide concession of 10 per cent to the service seekers. Similarly, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATA) has offered 10 per cent discount on its services on the occasion of VNY2020. According to NATA president CN Pandey, the customers, who purchase tour packages through NATA-associated travel agencies shall be provided 10 per cent discount in its services. Similarly, Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) president Ganga Prasad Nepal shared that NARA has announced 15 per cent discount for rafting and other water-related adventure sports to the foreign visitors on the occasion.
Likewise, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is also going to announce some package for the tourists, whereas Homestay Association's president Keshav Badal informed that foreign guests choosing homestay will be offered up to 20 per cent discount on lodging and foods. There are more than 600 homestays being run in 57 districts and are associated with the association.
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter president Bidhutichand Thakur also informed that PATA Nepal Chapter is going to organise various promotional events targeting the VNY2020, one of which is Nepal, India, China Expo ('NICE' event) coming February.
Thamel Development Council is also going to organise various promotional events round the year in 2020.

Nepal to host NICE tourism fair in February

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter in collaboration with Visit Nepal Year 2020 and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is organising the historical and first-of-its-kind Nepal India China Expo (NICE) in February 2020.
NICE is the first tri-nation tourism expo that will bring together tourism and hospitality stakeholders and organisations from public and private sectors of the three neighboring countries including Nepal, India and China, the chairman of PATA Nepal Chapter Sunil Shakya said at a press conference today.
“It will bring three countries on a single platform by facilitating with unparalleled networking and business opportunities, industry insights and inspiration,” he said, adding that the first of its kind event is expecting 1,000 plus delegates from three countries including 200 plus regional buyers, 100 exhibitors, 15 plus high-value speakers and hundreds of guests and delegates including government officials, trade visitors. “Nepal has not been able to tap the prospective tourists’ influx from these two important market nations.”
“We believe that NICE will play an instrumental role in strengthening the tourism ties between the three countries adding significant value in support of the target set by the government with the Visit Nepal Year 2020,” he added.
The organisers will be collaborating with different tourism organizations and stakeholders in Nepal, India and China. PATA has sought cooperation and support from sponsors, airlines, hotels, media and the travel-trade fraternity of Nepal. The event will take place from February 21 to 24, 2020 in Kathmandu.
Nepal is rightly and geopolitically placed between the two giant economies and can contribute hugely in bridging tourism development potentials of these countries which, have arranged bilateral trade but, have never organised a tri-nation’s event, according to PATA Nepal Chapter.
China and India are two of the largest outbound source markets in the world with Nepal as one of its immediate recipient nation. According to 2018 statistics, approximately 150 million Chinese traveled abroad, out of which only 0.1 per cent visited Nepal while only 0.75 per cent Indian tourists visited Nepal out of 25.85 million Indian outbound, the PATA data revealed.