Elderly to get 50 per cent discount on airfare : Tourism Minister

Unveiling his one-year work plan, tourism minister Yogesh Bhattarai today during a press meet announced that domestic passengers above 70 years will get 50 per cent discount on their airfare.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will hold discussions with stakeholders to implement the new policy, he said, claiming that his ministry will form new legal provisions and reform the old policies to meet the standards of the European Union (EU) aiming to get off from the EU’s air safety list.
Presenting a gamut of his to-do list for a year at a press meet – almost a month after his appointment as the tourism minister – Bhattarai said that the ministry will conduct a feasibility study of opening an international standard flying school to produce skilled manpower for the aviation sector. “Draft of new acts will be prepared soon,” he said, adding that he is prepared to complete all the activities that are scheduled for the current fiscal year efficiently, citing that he has a strong team backing him up.
Likewise, the minister has also announced to provide incentive package to airline companies that operate flights to Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). “Construction of GBIA is all set to be completed by December,” he said, hoping that the airport will be fully operational within three months after the completion of the construction. “We will be providing incentive packages to those airline companies that operate commercial flights to and from GBIA.”
He also claimed that the site clearance for Nijgadh International Airport (NIA) will also be completed by the end of the year.
On the occasion, minister Bhattarai also said that the ministry will issue expression of interest (EoI) to develop those airports as air sports activity centres. Many a airports in the country have remained non-operational at the moment.
Bhattarai, talking about upgradation of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), said that the country’s sole international airport is capable of providing 24-hour service. “The ministry will offer special packages to those airline companies that operate flights after midnight,” he said, adding that the ministry will also prepare new criteria for VIP movement at TIA to address the congestion and traffic jams during VIP movements. “The ministry is also preparing to organise a Global Tourism Ministers’ Conclave – by the end opf the year – in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) with the theme ‘New Year in Nepal’, to make Visit Nepal Year (VNY) 2020 successful.”
Bhattarai, on the occasion, also announced about organising tourism investment summit, to complete the work of Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to provide skill-based training related with tourism sector to 12,000 interested candidates and to instal GPS tracking system to make mountaineering sector more reliable and secure.

Nepal re-positions itself at the global tourism map, receives Best in Travel 2015

The world's famous travel publisher – Lonely Planet – awarded Nepal 'Best in Travel 2015' award at World Travel Market 2014 (WTM 2014) today.

Khumbu Region of Nepal has been awarded as one of the top 10 regions to travel by Lonely Planet under Best in Travel 2015 category.

The four-day long global travel and tourism exchange platform – WTM 2014 – concluded in London yesterday.

World Travel Market is the leading global event for the travel industry which caters top travel trade companies and government tourism organisations from around the world for promoting business and exchange new ideas and travel trend.

 This year Nepal’s stand at the World Travel Market 2014 was designed based on Nepali pagoda style temple having intricate wooden carvings festooned with prayer flags around the stall showcasing its nature and cultural products.

The visitors asked about nature, culture, adventure at the Nepal stall.

Nepali delegation – led by minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Deepak Chandra Amatya – had joint secretary at the ministry Sadhu Ram Sapkota along with senior officials of Nepal Tourism Board and 12 travel trade companies.

Meanwhile, minister Amatya also attended UNWTO and World Travel Market Ministers' Summit at the World Travel Market 2014.

Participants at the UNWTO and World Travel Market Ministers' Summit stressed that 'immense synergies' between mega-events as tourism should be used to generate long-term benefits for the destinations and its people.

Speaking at the opening the Summit, UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai stressed on infrastructure development, investment, job-creation, involvement of local community for organising mega events.

Tourist arrivals drop in November

As expected the number of foreign visitors to Nepal via air has decreased in November due to travel advisory of the UK and the US during the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election.

"The number of foreign tourists to Nepal via air dropped by 7.01 per cent or 4,166 – compared to the figures of the same month last year – to 55,245 last month," the figures of the Immigration Office, Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) revealed. "Last Novemer, some 59,411 foreign tourists had visited Nepal via air."

Nepal had been observing a sustained growth in international tourist arrivals since June 2009 but started suffering a decline in the second half of 2013 may be due to the inconsistent air fare to and from Nepal to major gateways and coinciding with the CA election on November 19, Nepal Tourism Board said, adding that the decline also reflects the volatile nature of international tourists' movement which is easily affected by factors such as cost of traveling, the situation at the destination country, the global economic trends and traveling spirit of international visitors

Although, the IMF has estimated that the global economic growth is in low gear, the international tourist arrivals have shown increases of five per cent in the first eight months compared to the same period of 2012, according to UNWTO. The Asia and the Pacific region recorded six per cent more arrivals, which is largely due to the high growth of the South-East Asia region (by 12 per cent).
likewise, the number of Nepalese arrivals in November from TIA has also declined by 27 per cent compared to the same month last year. "A total of 52,970 Nepalis arrived in Nepal in November, against last November's 72,735," it said, expecting that the next year might see improvement in tourist arrivals in Nepal as it is heading towards stability.

Asia Pacific international visitor surge continues

International visitor arrivals into Asia and the Pacific grew by six per cent in June, the latest month for which comprehensive pan-regional results are available.

South Asia reported a growth performance of five per cent in June compared to last June. Across the sub-region, the Maldives was the leading destination in terms of growth (up by 29 per cent) followed by Sri Lanka (up by 13 per cent) and then India (up by a mere three per cent), the PATA said, adding that even though India’s growth rate was well below the sub-region average, it must be remembered that because of the vastly greater volume of international arrivals received annually, India actually contributed around 37 per cent of the increased volume of additional arrivals into the sub-region during the month.

The figures for June are among the strongest year-on-year growth performances so far this year. Southeast Asia set the pace once again with a solid double-digit gain, but all sub-regions reported good percentage growth performances for the month. Increasing numbers of mainland Chinese visitors played a major role in this exceptional performance in many destinations across the region. However, international arrivals into China continued to decline, the fourth monthly contraction so far this year.

“It is encouraging to see that all the tourism growth forecasts for the Asia Pacific region from not only PATA but also from the UNWTO and the likes of the Boeing Company are saying roughly the same thing in terms of strength and direction of growth,” chief executive of PATA Martin J Craigs, said adding that they were seeing these forecasts come into reality as global and regional economies continue to gain in strength. “In the first six months of 2013, the Asia/Pacific region has seen an increase of almost 7.7 million additional international arrivals on the back of a growth rate for the period of 4.5 per cent year-on-year.

Tourism entrepreneurs urge government to walk the talk

Tourism entrepreneurs today urged the government to walk the talk and accord top priority to the tourism sector.
"Though, the Cabinet had decided one year ago to accord tourism sector a 'priority industry' status, it has not been able to get the priority treatment," they said, adding that various government agencies, however, have not yet 'officially' recognised it as national priority industry.
The tourism sector has to be given incentives as it has been contributing to employment generation, the hoteliers said, adding that star hotels and resorts should be allowed to import four vehicles on tax exemption in tourism ministry's recommendation, instead of current two vehicles. "Likewise, the time period of customs benefit on import — for the construction, expansion and upgradation — of start hotels has to be reduced, government should give forced leave to civil servants and encourage them to promote domestic tourism, and it should also appoint travel attaché and establish travel information centres in the diplomatic missions to promote tourism."
The government should also exempt VAT — like in agriculture products — and municipal tax for hotels that comes under the national priority industry, apart from given tax break for the hotels, if someone constructs hotels in underdeveloped districts, the team, led by Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) president Shyam Sundar Lal Kachhapatti, said finance minister Shankar Koirala today also apprising him of the problems they have been facing recently.
The government should also establish sick industry rehabilitation fund for the hotels, they argued.
Koirala, on the occasion, assured them of government assistance to the tourism industry and give them the treatment accordingly as it is one of the largest foreign currency earners.
The government has focused on promotion of tourism in the next fiscal year 2013-14 budget as one of the key priority sectors.
The infrastructure development for tourism promotion has also been on cards in the next budget, though the visitors arrivals and tourism receipts have not been encouraging in the recent months, also due to lack of aircraft with the national flag carrier, and new tourism packages.
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2013 — published by World Economic Forum (WEF) — has ranked Nepal at the 112th position with 3.42 score among 140 countries. In the last two years there has been no improvement in the country's ranking as in 2011 index also, Nepal was ranked at 112th position. "Among the 25 countries in the Asia Pacific, Nepal ranks at 22nd position," the report stated, adding that the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness index is the composite index of three components; travel and tourism regulatory framework, business environment and infrastructure, and travel and tourism human, cultural and natural resources.
Under travel and tourism regulatory framework sub index, the country ranks at 100, whereas Nepal ranks at the lowest (128) in business environment and infrastructure, and the country ranks at 105th in the tourism human, cultural and natural resources sub index.
However, Nepal is one of the top 25 least-restrictive destinations to travel in 2012, according to the UN World Travel Organisation that has ranked Nepal as 21st open country with a score of 71 in 100.

UNWTO-PATA join hands to advance tourism for economic growth in Asia

Advancing economic diversification, cultural and environmental preservation through tourism are the key objectives of a new Strategic Partnership signed between UNWTO and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) on the occasion of the PATA Annual Summit, today in Bangkok, Thailand.
The lasting support to the development objectives and the positioning of tourism as a central contributor to economic growth and sustainability in Asia are at the centre of the Strategic Partnership, which was signed today by UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai, and PATA chief executive Martin Craigs.
“We are proud to further deepen our relationship with PATA, a leading voice of tourism in Asia Pacific”, said Taleb Rifai, attending the PATA annual summit in Bangkok, Thailand. “In providing market intelligence, setting global standards and joining our voices to advocate for the value of tourism, this partnership will help the continued growth of tourism in Asia and the spreading of its socio-economic benefits in one of the most dynamic regions of the world,” he said.

“On behalf of PATA members, public and private, large and small across the 17 time zones and 104 destinations, I am delighted to initiate this strategic partnership with UNWTO,” PATA chief executive Martin Craigs said.

“PATA's advocacy of balanced business building and our embrace of the Complete Visitor Economy align us closely to the UNWTO's global mission,” he said.

The Strategic Partnership includes a series of projects, such as a PATA/UNWTO forum on marketing and joint research. The first research initiative will address air connectivity and its impact on tourism in the Asia-Pacific region. The study is expected to be implemented already this year, in collaboration with the Tourism Promotion Organisation for Asia-Pacific Cities. Other topics include visa facilitation, taxation, aviation policies as well as consumer and enterprise protection.
The UNWTO/PATA partnership builds on a track record of successful joint activities, such as the annual UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook, launched in 2007 in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Municipal Government of Guilin in China.

Nepal welcomes over half a million tourists by air, growth rate drops half in last two years

The country witnessed over half a million arrivals by air in 2012 but the visitor arrivals growth rate has dropped compared to last two years. In the year 2011 the arrivals growth rate stood at 21.4 per cent  but in the year 2012, the arrivals growth rate stood at 9.8 per cent only.

"The total number of tourist arrivals by air in aggregate in the year has increased by almost 10 per cent to 598,204 compared to 2011," according to figures released by Immigration Office at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA).

Total tourist arrivals was 53,219 more than in 2011, the data revealed, adding that 2012 concluded with a positive note both in terms of total visitor arrivals in December and also for the whole year. TIA figures revealed that arrivals in December stood at 44,774, some 2.4 per cent more than in the same month last year.

Arrivals from Asia — except South Asia — registered a positive growth of 15.1 per cent in the year, whereas in December alone, arrivals from the Asian market recorded a 10.3 per cent growth in aggregate with Malaysia (141.5 per cent), Japan (11.8 per cent), Singapore (12.1 per cent), and Thailand (25.9 per cent). However, China and South Korea registered a negative growth of 3.1 per cent and 1.6 per cent, respectively, compared to the same month in 2011.

Likewise, the South Asian market registered a positive growth of 10.4 per cent in 2012 with arrivals from Pakistan and Sri Lanka increasing by 4.1 per cent and 20.6 per cent, respectively, whereas arrivals from India and Bangladesh declined by 10.4 per cent and 19.7 per cent, respectively, in a month in December.

However, an overall positive growth of 3.5 per cent has been witnessed from European markets in December and 4.5 per cent in the whole year. Arrivals from the UK, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland, were up by 11.9 per cent, 25.6 per cent, 14.3 per cent, 23.7 per cent, 10.3 per cent, 14.2 per cent and 114.3 per cent, respectively. But Belgium, Spain and Russia posted negative growth of 22.8 per cent, 27.7 per cent and 32.5 per cent, respectively.

Arrivals from the Oceania — Australia and New Zealand — and North America — Canada and USA — posted an overall positive growth in the year by 15.1 per cent and 10.4 per cent, respectively. "Tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA registered a remarkable growth of 24.4 per cent, 20.3 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 4.9 per cent, respectively, in December compared to December 2011.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), international tourism witnessed a moderate growth in 2012 with over one billion international tourist arrivals. The one billionth mark is a new record for international tourism — a sector that accounts for one in every 12 jobs and 30 per cent of the world’s services exports — and UNWTO asserted that the comparative strength of tourism in a period of continued economic uncertainty is confirmed by the positive trend on tourism earnings and expenditures.

Globally, international tourism results have so far not been seriously affected by the economic volatility, with growth continuing above the average of 3.8 per cent a year projected for the decade 2010-2020, according to UNWTO’s long-term forecast Tourism Towards 2030. It has estimated a moderate growth rate of two to four per cent in 2013.

Similarly, a total of 688,566 foreign tourists departed, whereas 736,679 Nepalis arrived and 862,416 Nepalis departed, respectively, from the international airport. A total of 54,885 foreign tourists departed from TIA in December, whereas some 61,823 Nepalis arrived and some 93,133 Nepalis departed from TIA in December alone.

 

Top five markets

India — 164,680

China — 53,373

USA — 41,908

UK — 35,583

Germany — 24,575

(Source: Nepal Tourism Board)