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| RECENT NEWS |
Direct Kathmandu-Amsterdam flights from October
Arke Fly of the Netherlands is planning to launch direct flight from Holland to
Nepal from October 2009. This was announced in a reception held at Amsterdam on 18 June 2009 in honour of a selected group of travel trade representatives, senior government officials, and friends and well-wishers of Nepal.
Earlier, Transavia and Martin Air used to fly from the Dutch capital to Kathmandu.
Nepali Ambassador to the Netherlands Pramesh Kumar Hamal said that increased air connectivity to Nepal from market hubs of Europe such as Holland would bring
positive effect on the resurgence of tourism in Nepal. Stating that Nepal has
adopted a liberal and open sky policy in view of the landlocked status of the
nation, he said that Arke Fly would be able to tap the already existing market
demand for direct air connection to Nepal and that their venture would lead to
success.
Chief Executive Officer of Arke Fly Steven Vander Heijden spoke of Holland’s past
experience in direct flight operation to Nepal and said that the decision taken by
his company to launch flight to Nepal from October 2009 draws a lot from those
experiences. He underlined the magnetic charms of Nepal as a tourist destination and showed his commitment to launch the flight at the stipulated time.
He informed that there would one flight per week in the beginning, which could be
increased as per the market demand in the future.
Bungee experience for Minister Yami
In a bid to promote bungee jumping, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami on April 15 jumped from the 160-meter high bridge over the Bhotekoshi River. The daring lady jumped from the bridge over the mighty Bhotekoshi River amid roaring applause from a small crowd of spectators who had arrived to watch the Minister’s jump. Prior to this, Yami has already enjoyed paragliding, rafting, and ultra light aircraft among other adventure sports. She is the first minister to enjoy bungee jumping.
“It was exciting and thrilling experience for me. But I was not scared as I have jumped many times in different forests during the insurgency,” Yami said after the jump.
Yami was accompanied by over a dozen women, including some of the members of the First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition.
Established in 1998, Nepal’s only bungee jumping site is located near the Nepal-Tibet border over the Bhotekoshi River. It is operated by The Last Resort.
KMC increases entry fee for Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has increased the entry free for foreign visitors to visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to the new fee structure that came into effect from February 26, visitors from the SAAR countries are required to pay Rs 100 per person to enter the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Earlier, the entry fee was only Rs 25 per person. Similarly, the KMC has increased entry fee for internal visitors (except SAARC countries) from Rs 200 to Rs 300 per person.
The decision on the new entry fee structure was taken by the City Council meeting of the KMC held on January 31.
Bahrain Air to launch Nepal flights from March 3
Bahrain Air, a private carrier of Bahrain, will launch its Nepal flights from March 3. The airline will fly to Nepal three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Bahrain Air is the fifth international airlines - after Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and Ettihad - from the Middle East to launch its Nepal flights. The airline will operate Airbus A319, with 12 premium class and 150 economy class seats, for the Nepal sector.
Nepal Tourism Year 2011 Campaign Launched
January 26th: The first NTY 2011 promotional programme was held in Kathmandu on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for
Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), Hisila Yami said that the government is focusing on improving tourism infrastructure like
hotels and airports. The government has decided to grant free visa to those tourists who visit Nepal for the second time in order
to make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) a grand success. The campaign's target is to bring in at least one million international
tourists to Nepal by the year 2011.
Tourism in Tibet shows positive growth
February 17th: Figures released by the Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region show a marked rise in tourist arrivals to
Tibet. Tibet saw a 2.2 percent growth in the number of tourists arrivals during this Chinese Lunar New Year holiday over last year.
Tourism officials and entrepreneurs expect more tourists in Tibet to celebrate the week-long festivities to mark the Tibetan New
Year on Feb 25.
3 Nepalese Brothers plan 24 hours atop Everest
February 17th: According to BBC South Asia, three Nepalese brothers are planning to break a world record by staying on top
of Mount Everest for 24 hours. Pemba Dorje Sherpa, and his two younger brothers Nima Gyalzen and Phurba Tenzing, who are from
Rolwaling, intend to use their stay on the summit to pray for peace in Nepal and the world. Pemba, Nima and Phurba have made 16
ascents between them and Pemba is already in the record books having made the summit from base camp in a still-unbeaten eight hours,
10 minutes in May 2004.
The current record for staying on top is 20 hours and this was set by the late Babu Chiri Sherpa.
New Dates for 10th National Open Paragliding Championship
February 16th: New dates has been announced for holding the 10th National Open Paragliding Championship in Pokhara. The
championship which was scheduled for January has been postponed and will be held from February 19th to 21st in Pokhara. According
to the organisers, the event has been postponed owing to some technical problems.
Nepal participates at TTF & OTM New Delhi
February 16th: Nepal Tourism Board along with Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and three travel trade companies participated
in 70th Travel and Tourism Fair & Outbound Travel Mart (TTF & OTM) at Ashok Hotel in New Delhi from 12th-14th February 2009. Major
queries during the Fair were regarding having Nepal Tourism Board's (NTB) own office in New Delhi.Visitors also inquired about soft
adventure and religious tours in Nepal.
Air Kasthamandap Pvt. Ltd to launch Air Taxis
February 15th: Air Kasthamandap Pvt. Ltd is preparing to launch a fleet of Pilatus Porter for air taxi and charter flights
within two months. According to a press statement issued by the company, it planned to bring air taxies and Pilatus Porter as such
single-engine aircraft are the most suitable for Nepalese terrain. Air Kasthamandap's target is o provide an affordable service.
Since the operating cost of the aircraft is much lower than those of twin otters and Dornier,the airline stated that the fares will
also be much lower. The airline will have Nepalgunj as its base.
Narayanhiti Museum to be opened for public from 26th Feb 2009
February 13th: Narayanhiti Palace, the royal seat of the ousted Shah monarch, now renamed Narayanhiti Museum will be opened
for public observation from February 26, 2009.The residential area of the royal family, public meeting place and Tribhuvan Sadan is
expetced to be the main areas of attraction. Hitler's gift to Tribhuvan, a Daimler Benz car will also be kept for observation.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is expected to inaugurate the museum.
Nepal at TTF & OTM, Mumbai
February 12th: Nepal Tourism Board along with national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and four travel trade
companies participated in the 69th Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) & Outbound Travel Mart (TTF & OTM) from 7th-9th February 2009 at
MMRDA Grounds, Bandra- Kurla Complex in Mumbai. TTF & OTM Mumbai had over 500 participants from 26 countries and from all over India.
During the fair Nepal particularly highlighted the upcoming soft adventure options such as paragliding and ultralite flights, rafting
and alsopilgrimage packages like the Mt. Kailash Mansaorovar packages along with Muktinath and Damodar Kund yatra.
Chinese envoy asks Nepal to upgrade tourism infrastructure
February 11th: Speaking at an interaction programme on 10th February, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Qui Guohang remarked that
Nepal needs to upgrade its tourism infrastructure in order to substantially increase the number of Chinese tourists to the country.
The interaction programme was organized by Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the capital on Possibilities for Tourism
promotion between Nepal and China. Minister(MoTCA) Hisila Yami, who was chief guest of the programme, said that the government is
serious towards exploiting the tourism potential between Nepal and China.
Etihad’s ‘Inspired Service’ campaign
February 10th: Starting February 9, 2009 Etihad Airways is offering special deals for its customers under its new Inspired
Service campaign. Under Etihad's Inspired Service, the guest will enjoy the service of Diamond First Class for the price of Pearl
Business Class and the service of Pearl Business Class for the price of the Coral Economy Class, a press release issued by the
airlines stated. To avail the special services customers need to book their tickets within 9 to 28 February 2009 but the outbound
travel period is extended till 31 March 2009 while the travel can be completed by 31 May 2009.
NTB’s ‘SEND HOME A FRIEND’ campaign to continue
February 9th: In order to make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 a success NTB has decided to continue with the ‘Send Home a Friend –
Nepal for all seasons’ campaign for two more years. ‘Send Home a Friend’ campaign was internationally launched in London, UK, on
Nov. 17, 2007, by the Government of Nepal to forge partnership with the NRNs in different parts of the world and to get their
support in promoting Nepal's tourism. The campaign was actively promoted in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board and the Non Resident
Nepalis' Association.
TAAN & NATHM Organize Trekking Guide Training
February 3rd: A month-long trekking guide training organized by Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN)
and Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) began today at NATHM. A total of 512 participants, including
six women, are taking part in the training. The training is being conducted to produce skilled manpower in the trekking
sector.
Visas for Tourist from Pokhara - Tourism Entrepreneurs' Demand
February 1st: Tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara have asked the government to issue visas for tourists from Pokhara. The tourism
entrepreneurs put forth their demand to MoTCA minister Hisila Yami on Saturday, 31st January 2009.
South-African Tourist saved by NTB Officials
January 30th: Shaun Swilling, a South African tourist, was rescued by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) staff and Tourist
Police after he collapsed due to sudden diabetic attack in Belhiya, near Bhairahawa, while on his way to India on January
15. Swilling was rushed to Universal College of Medical Sciences Hospital for necessary medical treatment. During hospitalization,
he was looked after by Tourist Police and NTB staff . NTB officials, in coordination with South African Embassy in Sri Lanka,
traced his friend in Rishikesh, India and was called to take him back.
After Skydiving, it's a game of Cricket in Everest
January 28th: Everest is fast gaining ground as a favorite playground for sports, so it seems. Just a few months back Everest
was in the news for the skydiving event. Now the region is again set to witness the world’s highest-ever cricket match, when two
teams (Team Tenzing & Team Hillary) will battle it out in the high altitude grounds of Gorak Shep
England captain Andrew Strauss is the honourary skipper of Team Tenzing, while England vice-captain Alastair Cook is doing likewise
for Team Hillary. The teams, which include a handful of Australians and New Zealanders, hope to raise £250,000 for The Lord’s Taverners
and The Himalayan Trust UK. The two teams are to make a nine-day expedition in April to Gorak Shep, a plateau 5,165 metres above sea
level near the Everest base camp, for the record-breaking Twenty20 charity game. The Gorak Shep
Nagarkot Hoteliers to Grant 15-25% Discount
January 25th: On the occasion of Nagarkot Naldum Lhoshar Festival to be celebrated from January 26 - 28, hotels in Nagarkot
have decided to give 15-25 percent discount to domestic and international tourists on food and lodging. The festival is being organised
by the Nagarkot Naldum Tourism Development Committee and will feature Lhosar worship, cultural tableau, handicraft workshop, lok dohari,
food stall and exhibition of antique pieces.
Etihad Airways Celebrates its 1st anniversary in Nepal
January 24th: Etihad Airways, the national airline of United Arab Emirates, celebrated the completion of the first year of
the commencement of its Kathmandu - Abu Dubai service on 23rd January '09. According to a press release issued Etihad Airways the
Kathmandu service has proven to be a valuable link for business and leisure travelers. The flights also serve the 90,000 Nepalese
nationals living in the UAE and across the Middle East. Etihad's Kathmandu operations have been popular with travelers flying to
key destinations such as London, New York, Frankfurt, Doha, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
Year 2008 Ends on a Promising Note for the Nepalese Tourism Industry
January 2nd: The year 2008 saw a total of 8,13,561 tourists arrival in Nepal, an increase of 64.74 per cent, as compared to
2007.
The highest tourist generating markets are India, UK and US. The recorded number of visitors to Nepal in 2008 are: 11,998 from Australia,
11,679 from Bangladesh, 14,076 from China, 19,616 from France, 16,228 from Germany, 19,694 from Japan, 2,328 from Norway, 1,461 from
Sri Lanka, 12,115 from Spain, 12,556 from Spain, 26,762 from the USA, 29,694 from the UK, 91,177 from India and 39,201 from other
locations.
Recent data from TIA reveals that the highest number of tourists arrival, 90,923, was recorded in the month of October 2008.
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42 skydive in Everest Region
Forty-two daring adventure seekers, including two Nepalis,
enjoyed skydiving over the world’s highest peak in the Everest
Region from October 3-11. The first ever skydiving in the
Everest Region was jointly organized by High and Wild, an
adventure outfitter from the United Kingdom, and Explore
Himalaya Travel and Adventure. Fourteen divers enjoyed solo
dives while 28 enjoyed crew team and tandem jumps, according
to the organizers. The skydivers boarded a Pilatus Porter
from Tenzing-Hillary airstrip in Lukla and launched themselves
from above the height of Mt. Everest and descended down to
Syangboche through parachutes following a free fall of a few
minutes. Nima Tamang and Maya Gurung became the first
Nepalis to enjoy skydiving. Several world-record holders
including Windy Smith from New Zealand also enjoyed the
thrilling adventure in the Everest Region. The divers used
specially-made parachutes with canopies three times the
regular size. They also wear neoprene suits and thermal gear
to keep out the freezing cold on the descent and have bottled
oxygen strapped to their waist. Meanwhile, participants at
a function organised on October 14 to discuss about the
prospects of skydiving in Nepal said the adventure sport held
great prospects for Nepal. "I ask the Nepal Tourism Board
(NTB) to realize the prospects of this adventure sport and
promote it in international arena accordingly," said Suman
Pandey of Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure. Pandey also
said that divers from 15 countries participated in the
skydiving. Many international media including BBC, CNN,
Al-Jazeera and Channel 5 covered the skydiving in the Everest
Region. Speaking at the programme, Prachanda Man Shrestha,
chief executive officer NTB, said the NTB would promote
skydiving would help Nepal in the upcoming Visit Nepal Year
2011 campaign. "We will promote this sport as a new adventure
sport in Nepal," Shrestha said.
Decision to acquire aircraft within three months:
Yami
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation has said that
government is committed to buying at least two aircraft for
the ailing national flag carrier-Nepal Airlines
Corporation. Speaking at an interaction in Kathmandu on
October 12, Yami said, "As an immediate solution we are
leasing two aircraft. The government will buy at least two
aircraft for NAC after the suggestion committee submits its
report on October 21." She also said that the government was
undecided over buying Airbus or Boeing aircraft. She also
said that the process of purchasing new aircraft would be
transparent and that there would be no controversy. "The
NAC needs at least four aircraft to cope with the increasing
demand of air seats," she said and added that the government
was planning to mark the year 2011 as Visit Nepal Year to
bring at least one million visitors to the country.
NEW VISA REGULATION :
As per the new provision, gratis visa that was being given
in Nepal for 3 days has been waived off. In fact 3 kind of
Tourist visa will be issued according to the number of days
applied for .Much controversies regarding gratis visa for 3
days were talked about before as many viewed that it was as
attractive factor while other opposed and said that it was
being misused and no gain was there as many just stayed here
for a day or two and used it as transit to go to China or
India. The new visa structure has been set as US $ 25 to
obtain Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 15 days. Like
wise, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 30 days at US $ 40
and Multiple Entry for 90 Days at US $ 100 has been confirmed.
Prior to this the fee was US $ 30 which granted tourist stay
for 60 days. Like wise, the government has also revised fee
required to extend days of stay and visa renewal. Tourist Visa
can now be extended by paying for the charge for 15 days at
first and then pay US $ 2 per day if extension is made for
more than 15 days and Tourist who over stay will have to pay a
total of US $ 5 per day.
Apart from this tourist on Business Visa will have to
follow new regulation. Foreigners who have invested more than
NRS 100 million will be granted gratis visa for as long as
they stay whereas those who have invested more than NRS 10
million will be charged US $ 100 per year and foreigners who
have invested less than NRs 10 million will have to pay US $
300 per year. Here the charges have been fixed as per the
amount of investment done. On the other hand, those who stay
here on student visa have been classified into 2 groups’ i.e.
Non Degree and Degree students. Previously the visa charges
for both the groups was same as US $ 40 per policy students
staying here and studying non degree courses like music ,art
languages etc. will be charged US $ 50 per month and those on
degree will be charged US $ 20 per month. Excluding the visa,
new regulation on royalty fees to controlled areas which have
been revised are set as US $ 500 for a trekker in Upper
Mustang or Upper Dolpo . This US $ 500 will entitle the
tourist a permit to the area for the tourists a permit to the
area for the first 10 days. After this if the trekker wants to
extend his stay he will have to pay US $ 50 each day. Equally,
Trekker in Manaslu and Humla Region will need to pay US $ 50
for a week. If he extends his stay after that he will have to
pay US $ 7 each day. Previously the trekkers were charged US $
70 for a week and after that US $ 10 for each extra day.
Correspondingly, permit fee for Kanchanjunga , Lower Dolpa and
Gaurishankar and Lamabagar has been fixed at US $ 10 per
person per week. However, permit fee for Chekampar and
Chunchet of Gorkha district has been fixed at US $ 35 per
person for eightdays during September to November and US $ 25
per person per eight days during December to August.
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.
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