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Govt. names Lukla Airport after Tenzing-Hillary
The government has named Lukla Airport and trekking route from Lukla to Everest Base Camp (EBC) after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first summiteers on Mt. Everest. Now onwards, the airport will be termed Tenzing-Hillary Airport and the route will be named as Tenzing-Hillary Route.
The decision regarding this was taken on a Cabinet Meeting held on February 10, 2008. The proposal for this was taken to the cabinet by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The government has also decided to name one mountain peak after Sir Edmund Hillary. Ministry source say that the peak is yet to be decided.
The government has also decided to observe May 29, the day of the first ascent of Mt. Everest back in 1953, as International Everest Day. TAAN had asked the government to commemorate the day as 'International Everest Day' and develop it as a day dedicated to mountain and mountaineering.
Likewise, the Ministry also decided to install the statues of Sir Edmund and Tenzing Norgay at the premises of International Mountain Museum in Pokhara.
Eco Everest Expedition in April
With the objective of raising awareness about the impact of climate change in the Himalayas, Eco Everest Expeditions 2008 is being organized in the spring of 2008 jointly by International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Asian Trekking. The expedition will also mark ICIMOD's 25th anniversary.
This was informed in a press conference organized in Kathmandu on February 11, 2008.
'Eco Everest Expedition will be a platform to draw maximum global attention to the issues of climate change and melting glaciers in the Himalayas. It will specifically highlight the threats glacial lake outburst floods pose to the local communities and environment in the region. It will also raise awareness on early warning systems and on conserving the fragile mountain ecosystem,' reads a press statement release jointly be the organizers.
Renowned Japanese alpinist and conservationist, Ken Noguchi will also be on the expedition as its senior advisor. Likewise, it is supported and endorsed by the pioneering US mountaineer Conrad Anker. Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking will lead the expedition.
As the main partner, ICIMOD will provide technical support for the expedition and carry out scientific research in the Khumbu Region, focusing on the Imja and Dig Tsho glacial lakes.
At the sidelines of the expedition, clean-up campaigns, awareness raising workshops amongst local communities, a photo exhibition will also be organized. Likewise, the organizers are also planning to develop a ten-point recommendation for 'Eco Code of Conduct' which will be field tested during the Eco Everest Expeditions 2008.
Growth in tourist arrival continues in January
The increasing trend in tourist arrival to Nepal continued in January, 2008, bringing in 2985 more visitors as compared to January last year. According to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), January recorded healthy increment of 12.9% against the arrival figure of same period last year (via air only).
According to statistical figures disseminated by NTB, arrivals from the SAARC region increased by 7% despite the decline in arrivals from India (-12.2%) and Sri Lanka (-12.5%). The European and North American markets have registered robust growth of 33.1% and 34.3% respectively.
China (96.8%), South Korea (5.1%), Thailand (23.2 %) and Malaysia (12.1 %) posted a remarkable growth. In January, South Korea contributed more than 10% of the total tourist arrival. However, arrivals from another stable market for Nepal, Japan, went down by 15.3%.
Among European countries, the UK (33.9 %), France (78.5 %), Germany (4.5 %), Spain (28.5 %), and Netherlands (36.5 %) have recorded a significant growth showing increased consumer confidence towards the destination. However, arrivals from Austria declined by 7.5%.
Nepal received record number of visitors in the year 2007 surpassing the best figures of 1999. With substantial increase in tourist arrival in January, it can be expected that the coming months will also record impressive growth rates.
TIMS to be implemented from January 1
An agreement has been signed between Nepal Tourism Board(NTB) and Trekking Agents Association of Nepal(TAAN)
with an objective of maintaining the database of trekkers and discouraging illegal operation in trekking business
to implement the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) from 1st January 2008.
As per the provision, all trekkers should have the valid TIMS Certificate that is distributed free of charge by
the TIMS counters of NTB and TAAN. Nepal Tourism Board will provide TIMS Certificate free of cost to
both trekkers who wish to go to trekking through government registered trekking companies and individual trekkers(FIT).
As per agreement, TAAN would use the offices of all its member agents as TIMS Counter.
Trekking agencies that aren't affiliated with TAAN, however, have to get TIMS certificates from either
TAAN Secretariat or NTB. Similarly, TAAN's Pokhara Chapter member agencies of TAAN Pokhara Chapter would distribute TIMS
Certificate in Pokhara.
It is believed that the database will become useful to rescue the trekkers during the emergencies and it will also help
us to ascertain the number of trekkers in a particular trekking route.
TIMS Certificate can be obtained from NTB Office,
Bhrikutimandap, NTB Office Pokhara, Belahia-Bhairahawa, Gadda Chauki- Mahendranagar, Kakarvitta and other designated counters by NTB in future.
Nepal
Airlines to expand its services
In a bid to upgrade its fleet and extend services, the
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is planning to acquire
two more aircraft-- one wide-bodied and another
medium-sized aircraft.
Unveiling the white paper of NAC on December 3, 2006,
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation,
Pradeep Gyawali announced the decision. The white paper
has emphasised the need for the national flag carrier to
have at least two aircraft to tap the European and
regional markets.
NAC has formed a committee under the convenorship of its
Deputy General Manager Mr. K B Paudyal to forward the
process of buying the aircraft.
According to Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Secretary at the
Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the
committee will conduct a cost-benefit analysis within a
month to pave the way for early procurement of new
aircraft.
With its ageing two Boeing 757s, the national carrier
operates flights in seven countries at present
Tourist
arrivals goes up by about 7%
With the peace process gaining due momentum, the
Nepalese tourism business has begun showing indications
of recovery.
Visitors' inflow to Nepal by air in November, 2006
increased by about 7 percent as compared to the number
of the corresponding month of last year. Likewise, the
number of Indian tourists, who came to the country last
month, shot up by 1.5 percent in comparison with the
figure of the same period of 2005.
A total of 29, 407 tourists visited Nepal in the month
of November, according to the Ministry of Culture,
Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Of the total number, Indian market covered 23%, Japanese
11%, British 8%, American 6.8% and German 5.9%.
Air China
to expand services to Nepal :
NTB- Air China agreement for joint promotion
Air China is preparing to extend its service to Nepal
from different Chinese cities from early next year.
General Manager of Kathmandu office of Air China, Qiao
Shuwen, said the airline would operate one flight every
day from Lhasa to Kathmandu during July-October 2007.
The Chinese airliner has been operating flights on
Lhasa-Kathmandu route during the high tourism season
only. "It will also give continuity to four flights a
week in March- June, which it has been operating at
present in other seasons as well," Shuwen said.
Passengers can fly to Chinese cities Beijing, Shanghai,
Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao and other major
cities from Kathmandu on the same day once China Air
expands its services. This was disclosed in a program
jointly organized by Nepal Tourism Board and Air China
on November 26, 2006.
Nepal Tourism Board and Air China have agreed to
carryout various tourism joint promotion programs in
Nepal and China. As per the agreement Nepal Tourism
Board and Air China will jointly invite 10 journalists
and Air China will invite 10 tour operators from China
for familiarization trip of Nepal between 25 November
and 2nd December 2006. NTB will take care of all the
necessary logistics and ground handling in Nepal and Air
China will provide 20 FOC (free of charge) round trip
air tickets for Beijing Kathmandu sector for the tour
operators and journalists. The journalists and tour
operators are currently visiting various places of
tourist's interest in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.
Similarly NTB and Air China also agreed to organize
press and tour operators' meets in Kathmandu and five
major cities of China viz. Lhasa, Chengdu, Guangzhou,
Shanghai and Beijing. The first leg of the program has
been organized in Kathmandu in November 26 amidst a
gathering of Nepalese and Chinese tour operators and
journalists.
Air China also made announcements of its new
flight-schedules between Chendgu-Lhasa-Kathmandu routes
during the program. According to Air China, in 2007, it
will operate daily flights between Lhasa and Kathmandu
in high season, from July 1 to October 30; 4 flights a
week in normal season, from March 29 to June 30 and once
a week during low season, November 1 to March 28.
Peace
prevails, come and visit Nepal
The much awaited Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) was
signed between the government of Nepal and the Communist
Party of Nepal(Maoists) on Tuesday evening, November 21,
2006 formally announcing an end to a decade-long armed
insurgency what Maoists termed as "People's War". Prime
Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Chairman of Communist
Party of Nepal(Maoists) Prachanda signed the historic
Accord promising to chart a new destiny for "peaceful
and democratic" new Nepal, and pledging for peaceful
coexistence of all Nepali irrespective of caste, creed,
religion and gender.
On behalf of Nepalese tourism industry, Nepal Tourism
Board salutes all those in front and behind to make CPA
a success. Over more than a half decade, Nepalese
tourism industry has suffered severely due to conflicts
at home and other untoward incidences that took place
around the world. Since both the Government and Maoists
have committed for free movement of tourists and all
Nepali in any part of the country without hindrance, it
will definitely provide a boost to ailing tourism
industry of Nepal. The signing of CPA also put full stop
to illegal donation collected by Maoists from trekkers
in the different trekking routes. Now tourists can go
anywhere in Nepal with any hiccup and hitch. Although
not a single tourist had been targeted or harmed by the
rebels during a decade-long insurgency, the conflict
emanated wrong message to world about the safety and
security situation of Nepal. With the ending of
conflict, all tourism entrepreneurs have expressed their
satisfaction and happiness in a hope that it will bring
permanent peace in the country which is vital for the
growth of tourism industry.
Signing of CPA has given a positive message to the world
that Nepalese people are capable of resolving their own
problem; and it has set an example in conflict
resolution for the whole world. What until recently was
dream of all Nepali and peace lovers has now become a
reality. Nepalese tourism industry would like to thank
all tourists and tourist generating countries for their
generous and unwavering support to Nepal and its people.
The people of Nepal would like to make a pledge to all
tourists who had postponed their tour to Nepal due to
various reasons to come and visit Nepal and see and
experience its beauty, grandeur, culture, arcane temples
and monasteries, mountains and jungles of Nepal.
Nepalese people also would like to request all tourists
to make a New Year Resolution for 2007 to visit Nepal as
a life time experience.
News & Events About Traveling In Nepal |
Peace breaks out in
Nepal
Finally the peace talks between Maoist and Seven party
alliance have been successful
and the rebels came back home from the jungle and have
agreed to participating in democratic system .
The ruling seven-party alliance and the Maoist rebels
have finally reached a historic agreement putting an end
to the decade-long armed insurgency. The different
rounds of informal meetings and "summit meets" held
between the two sides since May, after the collapse of
the autocratic royal regime, have finally resulted in
agreements on all political and arms issues, paving way
for the Maoist rebels to join the political mainstream.
The groundbreaking agreement comprising six major points
was reached after 21 hours of rigorous discussions
between the two sides during the fifth round of summit
talks that took place on Monday and Tuesday at the Prime
Minister's Residence at Baluwatar.
The historic agreement was signed by the top leaders of
all the eight parties and made public on Tuesday night
(Nov 8, after 1 am).
As per the agreement, an interim legislature and interim
government including the Maoists will be formed by
November 26 and December 1, 2006, respectively.
The total number of lawmakers in the interim legislature
will be 330 with the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML,
Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D), Rastriya Prajatantra
Party (RPP), People's Front Nepal (PFN), Nepal Majdoor
and Kisan Party (NMKP) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP)
retaining the number of seats they have in the existing
parliament in the interim legislature also.
Including Upper House, the NC, UML, NC-D, RPP, PFN, NMKP
and NSP (both) have 75, 73, 42, 8, 5, 1 and 5 seats
respectively in the existing parliament.
The Maoists will have 73 berths in the interim
legislature. The remaining 48 seats will be divided
among the SPA, Maoists, other fringe parties and the
civil society.
The two sides have also agreed to promulgate the interim
constitution on November 21. The king will have no
constitutional right in the interim constitution. The
reinstated House of Representatives (HoR) will announce
the interim constitution which will be endorsed by the
interim legislature on the same day. The HoR will be
dissolved after issuing the interim constitution.
An interim government including the Maoists will be in
place by December 1 after the two sides sign a
comprehensive peace agreement by November 16. Prime
Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will lead the interim
government.
The task of separating the Maoist combatants from their
arms will be completed by November 24. The Maoist
combatants will be kept in "seven divisions and 21
brigades" and their arms will be locked up in storages.
Electronic devices will be installed in the storages so
that any attempt to tamper with the locks and movement
in the storages will trigger a siren. The monitoring and
supervision of the Maoist arms will be done by the UN.
The cantonments will be located in Kailali, Surkhet,
Rolpa, Palpa, Kavre, Sindhuli and Ilam. Possession of
any illegal weapons by anybody after the Maoist
combatants are kept in cantonments with their arms
locked up will be a punishable act.
An equal amount of weapons of the Nepal Army, too, will
be locked up in a storage under the same system. The
Nepali Army, apart from the soldiers guarding wildlife
reserves, national parks, electricity and
telecommunications towers/installations etc, will be
confined within their barracks until the CA elections
are held.
The two sides also agreed to decide the fate of the
monarchy through the first sitting of the constituent
assembly (CA). The UML, which has been insisting on
deciding the issue of monarchy through a referendum,
however, registered a "note of dissent" on the agreement
on monarchy. Besides, the property of late king Birendra
and his family will be converted into a trust mobilised
by the government, and the property of King Gyanendra
that he had inherited as the king will be nationalised.
There will be a 425-member constituent assembly. 205
members of the CA will be elected from the existing 205
electoral constituencies. The parties will nominate 204
members based on the number of votes they will get in
the elections for the 205 members. The Prime Minister
will nominate the remaining 16 members.
The two sides have also agreed on a mixed electoral
system (proportional and geographical) for the
constituent assembly elections, with the UML again
tabling a note of dissent on this issue as well. The UML
had been pressing for a proportional system for the CA
elections.
An agreement has also been reached to form a
Constitutional Court to resolve disputes pertaining to
the CA elections.
All Nepalis above 18 years of age will be eligible to
cast their votes in the CA elections which will be held
by mid-June 2007
CPN (Maoist) extends
cease-fire by three more months
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has extended
cease-fire by three more months effective from October
29, 2006.
"We have extended the duration of the cease-fire for
three months keeping in view the positive development in
the peace talks between CPN (Maoist) and the Seven Party
Alliance (SPA) government," said the Maoist Chairman
Prachan (Pushpa Kamal Dahal), in a press statement
issued in Kathmandu on October 28.
The extension of the cease-fire shows that the CPN
(Maoist) is committed to the peace process.
More trekkers receiving TRC
More and more trekkers have been receiving the Trekking
Registration Certificate (TRC documents.
As of October 29, 2006, the Thamel TRC counter alone has
issued TRC documents to more than 1,900 trekkers during
the last nine days.
Being the implementing agency, the Trekking Agencies'
Association of Nepal (TAAN) started issuing TRC from
October 21, 2006.
The foreign trekkers, who are interested to visit
various general trekking areas of Nepal, are required to
receive TRC documents through any of the registered
trekking agencies prior to their departure for the
trekking areas.
As per the Nepal Government's decision, trekkers need to
get TRC before visiting the Rara National Park, Khaptad
National Park, Dhaulagiri Region, Annapurna Region,
Langtang National Park, Makalu Barun National Park,
Sagarmatha National Park and Rolwaling Area.
A trekker or a group of trekkers has to hire at least
one field staff (trekking guide or porter) from the
concerned trekking agency.
TRC to be launched on Oct. 21
As per the mandate of the
Government of Nepal, the Trekking Agents Assocviation of
Nepal (TAAN) is planning to launch the Trekking
Registration Certificate (TRC) distribution process on
October 21, 2006.
The launching ceremony will be held at the TRC Office
Manang Plaza at Thamel. As the opening day falls on the
Laxmi Pooja, prayers for the Goddess Laxmi will be
performed on the occasion.
"The TRC check posts in the general trekking areas will
be activated only from October 27, 2006," said Mr.
Deepak Mahat, coordinator of the TAAN's TRC Special
Taskforce.
NEPAL GOVERNMENT ASSIGNS TAAN TO
IMPLEMENT
TREKKING REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE (TRC)
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR TREKKERS
With a view to checking illegal operations in the
trekking business and ensuring safety and security of
trekkers, the Nepal Government has introduced a new rule
that requires all trekkers to go on trekking in various
parts of the country only through registered trekking
agencies after having a Trekking Registered Certificate
(TRC) from Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN).
As an umbrella organisation of more than 550 registered
trekking companies of Nepal, TAAN has been authorized by
the Nepal Government to issue TRC and the new rule is
scheduled to come into force from October 1,2006.TAAN
will charge a minimum amount of money as administrative
and service fee for issuing TRC. As a record of trekkers,
TRC incorporates their persona; details, trekking
routes, duration, etc. The provision is introduced in
order to upgrade the service standard and for better
management of sustainable mountain tourism development
in Nepal. Trekking without TRC is illegal and subject to
charge fines and other punishments in accordance with
the laws of the Nepal Government.
IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY OF TRC
It is very important to have a kind of monitoring and
facilitating system in place for any sort of outdoor
activity that involves physical risk. Trekking is a
major outdoor activity in Nepal’s mountain tourism.
Given the rugged physical condition and remoteness of
almost all-trekking areas of Nepal’s Himalayan mountain
region, a record system is very essential that would be
helpful in monitoring the safety and security of
trekkers. The past experiences have shown that
difficulties have been faced while carrying out rescue
operations promptly during the times of natural
calamities. Because of lack of proper record system of
trekkers, their exact whereabouts and the information
about trekking routes, rescue and search missions used
to face difficulties in spotting the trekking missing.
The Nepal Government is very serious about implementing
TRC as a mechanism to control all sorts of anomaly,
including illegal operations and ensure safety and
security of trekkers. Therefore, TAAN, as a national
tourism organisation working in the field of sustainable
mountain tourism in Nepal, has been entrusted with the
responsibility of implementing TRC. As per TAAN’s
proposed hassle-free procedures, TRC is being issued to
each and every trekker traveling only through the
registered trekking agencies.
The decision regarding the introduction of TRC is a
welcome step taken in its policies and programs by the
Nepal Government. So, TAAN is in the process of
developing a well –managed and efficient system with
nominal service charge of Nepali rupees 250 (equivalent
US$3.5 only) to implement TRC in the open trekking areas
of Nepal. TRC is going to be issued from convenient
locations of Kathmandu and Pokhara.
TRC ISSUING SYSTEM
The following considerations are being taken into
account on the process:
• All important details of trekkers and trekking routes
will be maintained on a computerized record system that
may be useful for safety and security of trekkers and
field-staff.
• The data generated from the system will be useful for
all stakeholders-tourism organizations, government,
diplomatic missions, tour operators, research institutes
etc.
• Unauthorized trekking operations will be controlled
thus resulting to better management of trekking service
and in benefit of all concerned – trekkers, agencies,
field-staff, government etc and also occasional untoward
incidents will be better prevented.
• TAAN will be able to work more in its effort of
preservation of natural and cultural environment in
cooperation with local communities. This in turn will
enable to promote sustainable tourism.
• The issue of TRC will be so simplified that it would
be prompt and inexpensive .The convenient TRC counters
in Kathmandu and Pokhara will be opened 12 hours a day
7-days a week round the year. The TRC counters will be
located next to the counters of National Parks and
Conservation Areas.
• TAAN’s Media Centre will have updated information
about the conditions of trails and other relevant
insights into the trekking areas. The same information
also will be updated frequently in the TAAN’s web page.
Some of the check posts along the trekking routes will
be equipped with telephone services by TAAN.
APPEAL
All the concerned government agencies have been
requested to provide required cooperation to TAAN in
TRC implementation and monitoring process. While
developing the TRC issuance mechanism. TAAN has
made it sure that a well – managed and efficient system
is developed. Any inconvenience that may arise due
to implementation of this new rule is regretted.
TRC REGULATORY PROVISIONS
1. Trekkers must keep Trekking Registration Certificate
(TRC) along with them while trekking in the open
trekking areas.
2. TRC must be shown to TAAN authorities, National Park
check posts, Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)
check posts or police check posts on demand.
3. Deviation from the prescribed open trekking areas
shall be taken as a violation of law of the Nepal
Government.
4. Trekkers must keep their copies of passports along
with them during trekking for verification.
5. TRC shall be non-transferable, non-refundable and no
endorsable.
TAAN also asks all concerned stakeholders to help
disseminate the information to potential trekkers to
Nepal and other related offices and agencies.
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