VNY to be inaugurated from Dasharath Stadium

The government is inaugurating Visit Nepal Year 2020 (VNY2020) campaign from the Dasharath Stadium on January 1.
Addressing the fifth meeting of the main organisation committee of the VNY campaign today, tourism minister Yogesh Bhattarai confirmed that the campaign will be inaugurated from the Dasharath Stadium by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari in active participation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli along with ministers, chief ministers of seven provinces, national and international diplomats, tourism ministers from 40 countries, chiefs of international airline companies.
The meeting also decided to include 15 other institutions in the main organisation committee for the effective implementation of the VNY 2020.
The meeting also decided to celebrate the inaugural ceremony for two days – December 31 and January 1 as pre-event day and the main event. On December 31, street festivals will be organised in Thamel, while pictures of different tourist locations of the country will also be displayed on Ghantaghar through hightech light projector as a pre event.
Likewise, the main organising committee will light 2020 lamps at Swoyambhunath, Pashupatinath, Janakpur, Boudhanath Stupa and Lumbini to commemorate the event.
On January 1 – according to the committee – some 108 conch-shells will be blown together at Pashupatinath and monks will organise a chanting session at Swoyambhunath in the morning. The tourists travelling to Nepal – on the first day – will receive surprise gifts at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), while welcome souvenirs will be provided to tourists at domestic airports across the country.
Requesting the stakeholders to come up with attractive packages for tourists during the campaign period, Bhattarai – on the occasion – asked all tourism organisations and associations to submit their one-year plan for VNY 2020 within a week.
The government is easing entrance fee for tourists in different destinations across the country, he said, adding that the government will arrange different packages and royalty discounts for the climbers to encourage mountaineers to attempt virgin peaks. “The meeting also decided to provide language and behavioural training to 1,000 taxi drivers in the valley.”
Committing to enact new laws and amend the existing ones to address genuine demands of tourism entrepreneurs, Bhattarai also said that talks were being held with international airline companies to increase the number of flights to Nepal.
Addressing the meeting, coordinator of VNY campaign committee Suraj Vaidya said that the events being prepared for VNY will not only target one year but will be effective even after that.

Chinese firm to rehabilitate TIA runway, taxiway

The civil aviation regulatory body – Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) – today signed a contract with China National Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation to rehabilitate the runway and taxiway at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
Four international firms had submitted their applications for the rehabilitate the runway and taxiway at the international airport. Of the four international firms that had submitted their applications the a state-owned enterprise of China was the lowest bidder and obtained the project worth Rs 3.78 billion, according to chief of the TIA Runway and Taxiway Rehabilitation Project Baburam Poudel.
"According to the agreement, the Chinese contractor will have to complete the runway and taxiway maintenance works within 18 months starting today," he said, adding that the contractor has been given the mandate to complete rehabilitating the 3,050-metre runway by next June, in the first phase. “After the completion of the runway maintenance, the contractor will have to begin the rehabilitation process of taxiway at TIA."
The Tourism Ministry has also decided to close the TIA for 10 hours – from 10pm to 8am – every day for the runway maintenance works from April, when the construction works of the runway begin.
The government is upgrading the sole runway at TIA as it started developing frequent cracks and potholes since the last few years, affecting many incoming and outbound flights along with other security issues.
The government had designed the runway rehabilitation project in 2014, though it could not move ahead but with the agreement today the runway rehabilitation is expected to complete on time by April. 

Tribhuvan International Airport among the world's worst airports

Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is one of the world's worst airports, according to an international survey.
Pakistan's Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International is the worst international airports, followed by Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International and Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport, according to The Guide to Sleeping in Airports, a travel website that produces an annual survey to identify the world's worst and best aviation terminals.
No wonder the only international airport in Nepal is being listed as one of the worst international airports as the airport lacks basic facilities. The government's plan to upgrade the airport has also not taken momentum due to prolonged political transition and red tape in the bureaucracy.
After being crowned worst three years in a row, Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport has this year lost its place at the bottom of the heap to Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad. It's now climbed to the heady position of fourth worst.
Despite the website's name, airports weren't just rated according to how easy it is to catch some shuteye. Readers were also asked to judge facilities in four categories: comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service.
Airport officials didn't reply to CNN's requests for a comment, but survey respondents were less than complimentary, the survey quoted respondents, adding that the Benazir Bhutto International Airport is [like] a central prison.
The survey ranked Saudi Arabia's busiest airport.
Manila's climb to fourth follows what many respondents said was a 'slight improvement' created by the recent opening of its Terminal 3.
Three European airports frequented by low-cost carriers were next in line.
Paris Beauvais-Tille International Airport and 'not-in-Frankfurt' Frankfurt Hahn International Airport tied for sixth. Bergamo Orio al Serio International Airport near Milan was listed as eighth worst.
Likewise, New York City's LaGuardia International Airport, ranked 10th, was the only US entry to make top 10 list.
Singapore's Changi International took the title for being the best airport as usual since the survey began 18 years ago. Its success is credited to the spa, pool, gym, four-story slide and movie theaters that make the airport a destination in itself, the survey added.
Offering almost as many cool perks as its Singapore counterpart, South Korean's Seoul Incheon International was named second best.
Amsterdam Schiphol and Hong Kong International Airport (last year's third and fourth best airports) dropped out from the top five to ninth and seventh spots, respectively.
Helsinki International Airport, Munich International Airport and Vancouver International Airport wrapped up the top five.


Worst Airports of 2014
1. Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan
2. King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
3. Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal
4. Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines
5. Tashkent International Airport, Uzbekistan
6. Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport, France
6. Frankfurt Hahn Airport, Germany
8. Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport, Italy
9. Tegel Airport, Berlin, Germany
10. LaGuardia Airport, New York City


Best Airports of 2014
1. Changi Airport, Singapore
2. Incheon International Airport, South Korea
3. Helsinki Airport, Finland
4. Munich Airport, Germany
5. Vancouver International Airport, Canada
6. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia
7. Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
8. Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan
9. Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, Netherlands
10. Zurich Airport, Switzerland

TAAN rescues 77 trekkers from Manang district

A team of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) rescued some 77 trekkers from different parts of Manang district today.
"Of the total rescued trekkers, some 17 were Israelis, 29 Nepali support staff, five Indonesians, 10 Germans, five Spanish, four Indians, three Canadians, two Russians, and two Polish, said the association that had deployed two choppers – AS 350 B3 and MI 17 – for rescue works.
Likewise, rescue workers have recovered 10 bodies from Phu and Kangla area of Manang district.
The association had sent rescue team from land route in the Mustang side of Thorang La Pass. The team brought down five bodies – two Nepalis, two Israelis and one Polish - today. Similarly, one more body has been brought down to Jomsom. They have not been identified yet.
With today's deceased, the total number of death toll in Mustang side has reached 10. Rescue teams had recovered four bodies yesterday.
Rescue team of Nepal Army has told us that there are eight bodies near Doomcamp below Thorong Pass, second vice president of TAAN Pokhara Chapter Hari Bhujel, said from Mustang. "We will bring them down tomorrow."
According to Mustang chief district officer Baburam Adhikari, 64 trekkers from different countries, including Nepali support staff, were rescued from Mustang yesterday.
The association's executive members Ang Pemba Sherpa and Pasang Tendi Sherpa were in the rescue team, whereas TAAN president Ramesh Prasad Dhamala oversaw rescue works in Manang.
Coordinator of TAAN’s Rescue Department Keshav Pandey coordinated the rescue works from Pokhara. Likewise, first vice president Kami Rinji Sherpa, general secretary Sagar Pandey and treasurer Gopal Babu Shrestha were at TAAN Secretariat to coordinate the rescue works, while executive member Vidya Hirachan was at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to facilitate the operation.

Domestic airport tax will be included in airfare across the country from January 15

While flying from any domestic airports across the country, the passengers donot need to pay airport tax as the domestic airliners will include it in the airfare according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) request to implement it throughout the country from January 16.

Currently, the domestic passengers flying from Kathmandu airport do not need to pay airport tax of passenger service charge as they have already included it in the airfare from July 16.

There are 54 domestic airports in the country, out of which 34 are under regular operation. They all will implement the rule from January 16.

The air passengers will be easier to travel as they do not need to queue to pay Rs 200 airport tax at the airports before flying.

The system – that follows the international standards – will not only save time of travellers but airlines also.

Currently, there are 12 domestic airlines, including helicopters and single-engine aircraft companies and on an average.

Airport closes again, fourth time in a month, second time in a week

The only international airport in the country has closed its services temporarily today afternoon, again, after a pothole was detected – for the fourth time within a month – on a section of its runway.

The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) – the gateway for the land locked Nepal to the outer world – was closed for half an hour from 2 pm. The airport closure for the patch up work of the pothole in the intersection C and D of the runway has forced Royal Bhutan flight to divert back to Paro, whereas China Eastern Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India were held in the sky and the scheduled Thai Airways flight from Kathmandu – along with around half dozen domestic flights – was delayed.
It is the second time this week the TIA saw damages on the runway. On Sunday also it had to stop flights operation for about 45 minutes after cracks were reported on the runway.
The repeated problem of crack at the runaway – which smells of a huge corruption – has not only tarnished the image of Nepal but also is going to hit the visitor arrivals during the nearing tourist season, and airlock the country closing it to the outer world.

The TIA maintenance is a temporary solution as the tarmac needs a full-fledged renovation as the more than four-decade long runaway needs a complete renovation as the number of aircraft landing at the airport has tripled –  with some aircraft weighing more than 300 tonnes including  passenger, cargo and fuel – and changing weather patters in the last five years. “The problem will reappear anytime as the current maintenance is the temporary solution only,” according to the TIA officials.

Though, the TIA has deployed a rapid action team to maintain immediately as and when the potholes reappear, the repeated disturbance of scheduled flights is not only going to hit the tourism sector but also economy hard.

JICA grant to help install two radars at TIA

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and government signed a ¥989 million grant agreement today to install two new radars at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu and at Bhatte Danda in Lalitpur district aiming at improving aviation safety, strengthening air transport capacity and making air traffic services effective.

Since the aircraft movement at the TIA has been rapidly increasing in recent years, the capability of the existing air space surveillance is not sufficient. The grant aid will be utilised in installing Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) systems at the TIA and Bhatte Danda under JICA’s Tribhuvan International Airport Modernisation Project.
JICA, under the project, had earlier provided one set of the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR)/Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR).

As the existing ASR/SSR at the only international airport has aged and deteriorated, air traffic controllers can only detect and monitor the aircraft flying near the TIA and the others flying outside the Kathmandu Valley are out of the radar coverage.
Once the new systems are installed, radars will monitor small aircraft flying on domestic air routes as well as international aircraft flying in high altitude and extend en-route surveillance up to 200 nautical miles. It will ultimately help make Nepali skies safer and increase air space capacity.

JICA has incorporated transport infrastructure in its Assistance Programme for Nepal and improvement of the air transport has been prioritised together with the land transport as vital infrastructures.
The Japanese aid agency has been contributing towards the improvement of aviation safety and capacity in Nepal by extending Official Development Assistance (ODA) like grant aid for the modernisation of the TIA and for the improvement of the existing air traffic service system.

Chief of the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division under Finance Ministry joint secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and chief representative of JICA Nepal office Tsutomu Shimizu signed and exchanged the grant agreement on behalf of their respective government and organization.

Similarly, finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi and ambassador of Japan to Nepal Kunio Takahashi signed the Exchange of Note on behalf of their respective governments.

Drop in South Asian visitors pulls tourist arrivals down

Though the country observed a sustained growth in international tourist arrivals by air since June 2009, it has dropped in October — the peak tourist month — compared to the same month a year ago.
Last October, Nepal observed 73,264 international visitors, whereas this October witnessed 7.3 per cent less to 67,901 arrivals by air due to 28.5 per cent drop in visitors from the South Asia region, according to the figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The SAARC region showed a 28.5 per cent decline compared to the same month last year, the figures revealed, adding that a key market in SAARC — India — recorded a decline of 30.1 per cent. Likewise, arrivals from Bangladesh and Pakistan also witnessed negative growth of 18.3 per cent and 45.6 per cent, respectively. However, only Sri Lanka registered a positive growth of 48 per cent.
However, the aggregate growth for the January-October — 10 months period — has remained positive with 11.5 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. A total of 494,019 international tourists visited Nepal in the 10 months compared to 2011's same period's 443,108.
The arrivals from Asia — except South Asia — recorded a positive growth of 4.9 per cent in an aggregate. Visitor arrivals from China — one of the fastest growing tourist markets for Nepal — sustained the growth of 0.7 per cent, and Malaysia also posted a growth by 83.6 per cent.
However, Japan (down by 12 per cent), South Korea (down by 16.4 per cent), Singapore (down by 6.2 per cent) and Thailand (down by 16.6 per cent) witnessed negative growth.
European markets also posted weaker arrivals with overall negative growth by 17.5 per cent. Arrivals from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Spain, Switzerland and Russia declined by 9.3 per cent, 5.3 per cent, 19.2 per cent, 23.2 per cent, 27.6 per cent, 22.5 per cent, and 18.5 per cent, respectively compared to the same month last year.
However, arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and US have registered positive growth of 17.4 per cent, 50 per cent, 0.5 per cent and 22.3 per cent, respectively.
The decrease in the arrivals by air also revealed the impact of global economic downturn in international visitors.
Similarly, a total of 75,412 foreign tourists departed from TIA in October — 9.1 per cent more — compared to same month last year.
The international airport also witnessed some 76,257 Nepalis arrivals, whereas some 58,378 Nepalis departed from TIA in October.

 

The arrivals by air
Month — 2011 — 2012
January — 32,914 — 42,031
February — 37,584 — 42,716
March — 46,491 — 63,799
April — 51,969 — 59,415
May — 39,179 — 42,820
June — 37,226 — 43,238
July — 35,212 — 38,453
August — 43,487 — 44,571
September — 45,789 — 49,075
October — 73,264 — 67,901

Total — 443,108 — 494,019

(Source: Nepal Tourism Board)

Pokharaelis pressure government for regional international airport

The Pokharelis today came in droves on buses, micros, minis, and bikes to gherau Singhdurbar against the delay in construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport that has been mired in legal complexities, coupled with commission and corruption controversy.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is, after China visit led by torusim secretary Yajna Prasad Gautam, planning to recall the render process to simplyfy the legal complexities.

"The CAAN has no plans to obstruct construction of the Pokhara Regional International Airport," said tourism secretary Yajna Prasad Gautam, who led a team last week to China to talk to the financier of the project, China Exim Bank.

“China Exim Bank is ready to finance the airport after the clearance of legal complexities," he said, adding that they held meeting with the vice president of Exim Bank who assured of loan. "There was some legal confusion and we are planning to recall the bidding,” the secretary said.
However some informed sources claim that the needs to amend the existing Procurement Act before calling the retender for the construction.

According to Ananda Raj Mulmi, who is leading the Pokharelis in favour of airport construction, China is interested to construct the airport under Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model that means a contractor has to be selected first and it will do the final detailed project report and then the loan agreement with the Exim Bank will be signed.

But according to the current practice, the loan is signed first followed by the bidding process.

"The Chinese have constructed Srilankan Port and airports in Laos under the EPC model, which is economically beneficial for the country as there will be no tension of variation, a key headache for Nepal,” he said.

The misunderstanding on the project model made Chinese companies to bid higher, he said, adding that the Chinese companies bid was higher as they bid under EPC model.

The higher quotation made the CAAN more difficult to take decision as it would be economically unviable, a CAAN official said, adding that that it is only the implementing agency, and it’s the government that has to take the call.

Three different Chinese companies — CWT Company, Sino Hydro Corporation, and CAMC — had applied for the tender at $349 million, $337 million and $305 million, respectively.

The CAAN had announced the tender at a maximum bidding amount of $170 million and finally selected CAMC at a $305 million bid amount as it was the lowest bidder.

The CAMC will construct 3,000 metre taxiway, apron with the capacity of having six to 12 jet, and 3000 metre concrete runway, Mulmi said, adding that the concrete runway can have the life of 30 years, whereas the runway like TIA will have the life of six years only. "The cost could come down, if the government wanted less facility."

Termed as the national priority project, its work was stalled after the lowest bidder quoted $305 million that is around 80 per cent higher than the government’s earlier estimated cost of $170 million.

However, the opposition claimed that the caretaker prime minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai led government raised the cost to $287 million itself. "The UCPN-Maoist is trying to make it a milking cow at the cost of people," an opposition leader said, claiming that the huge commision has raised the cost of the project.

However, Mulmi opined that the construction work must start for the development of the country. "If there is corruption, the transparency watch dogs must keep vigil and punish the corrupt,” he said, adding that Pokhara locals will continue their protest to put pressure on the government.

On February 9, 2012, the CAAN had invited bid for the project and extended the deadline twice following the intervention by the CIAA.

The government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a detailed study for the project in 1989. It had proposed a runway 2,500m long and 50m wide, a terminal and a cargo building. Construction of the airport, which was expected to be completed in four years, was estimated to cost of $39.6 million at the time. The government had also acquired over 3,106 ropanies of land in 1975.