The airline has added three more flights per week from Jan 23. The airline will now fly on Guangzhou-Kathmandu-Guangzhou route every day except on Tuesdays.

The increase in flight frequency is expected to bring more tourists to the country as a wide range of domestic network and also international network in countries like South Korea, Japan, Australia and various European nations.

Airline sources said rising demand for air tickets and Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign encouraged them to raise flight frequency.

Another Chinese carrier – China Eastern – resumed its Nepal flights a couple of weeks ago. The airline links Kathmandu with Chinese city of Kunming.

Source: TAAN

Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) reviews airfare every two years taking into consideration components like fuel cost and maintenance cost among others.

“Airline operators are facing financial burden as the airfare hasn´t been review for the last five years,” the statement added.

MoTCA had formed a taskforce to review airfare in the first week of November. It was asked to submit report within two months.

“The taskforce formed about 3 months ago has yet to submit its report to the government,” AOAN source said, adding, “Except for the fuel surcharge, there has been no increment in airfare in the last five years.” He further informed that fuel cost, cost of maintenance, insurance, landing and parking fees and lease tax have gone up remarkably during the period.

The government allows airlines to increase surcharge only if the price of aviation fuel increases by at least Rs 4 per liter.

Source: TAAN

Speaking at an interaction on ´Importance of Bhotekoshi River in the Development of Tourism´ organized recently in Sindhupalchowk district, they expressed concerns over construction of dams, haphazard sand excavations and pollution, and demanded that the government declare Bhotekoshi River a protected area.

Mahendra Singh Thapa, vice-president of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), said the river was fast getting polluted due to open sewage and uncontrolled sand mining at different places along the river. “Rafting and kayaking activities in the river will be affected if the river is polluted and distorted,” he added.

Nanikaji Thapa, president of the Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA), Bhotekoshi River holds immense prospects for rafting and kayaking activities.”"We have to develop Bhotekoshi as a hub for water adventure with joint efforts from the government and private sector during the Nepal Tourism Year 2011,” Thapa added.

Similarly, Megh Ale, president of Bhotekoshi Protection Campaign and a water tourism entrepreneur, stressed on the need to develop Bhotekoshi as a tourist destination as it can attract a lot of visitors, creating income opportunities for locals.

Source: TAAN

Rescuers recovered the bodies of all the passengers and crew members scattered in the jungle of Sirchaur VDC on the morning of December 15.

The ill-fated aircraft had lost contact with control tower a few minutes after taking off from Lamidanda airstrip in Khotang district at 3:08 pm on December 15. The aircraft was carrying pilgrims returning from the famous Halesi Mahadev temple.

According to officials, the wreckage was scattered over an area of 300 meter radius on the sides of a mountain. The causes behind the accident are not clear year.

According to sources, 18 of the passengers are Bhutanese, while one is of Tibetan origin with US passport.

Source: TAAN

The major attraction in the three-day festival is the elephant race.

Twenty domesticated elephants — sponsored by different organizations and corporate houses — will take part in the one of its kind race in the country. Apart from the elephant race, football of elephant calves, donkey race, boat race and cultural programs, are other major attractions of the annual event. The organizers expect about 100,000 tourists – both domestic and international – to participate in the event.

The event will be organized at the grounds of Baghmara Community Forest, according to the organizers.

Source: TAAN

Speaking on the occasion, Sushil Chandra Amatya, ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka, shed light on various aspects of food habits and food items as well as culture, music and crafts of Nepal, NTB said in a statement. He also expressed the confidence that the event would help bring Sri Lankan people closer to Nepal and fuel their interest to visit Nepal in the future.

Participants of the programs were entertained with various Nepali cultural performances. Nepali artists had also attracted the guests with their distinct Nepali tone throughout the event.

The festival was attended by a significant number of guests, including nearly 300 special guests of the Embassy drawn from among the leaders of business community, tourism professionals, social and political personalities and senior government officials of Sri Lanka as well as ambassadors, high commissioners and other senior diplomats based in Colombo, the statement added.
Source: www.taan.org.np

Source: TAAN

The widening gap between the ruling political parties and the opposition Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist shows that the current transition is likely to be lengthened further. This has created a sense of insecurity among all the investors, especially tourism entrepreneurs.

Perturbed by frequent strikes and blockades, tourism entrepreneurs have urged the key political forces to reach and understanding and move the peace process ahead.

“We need a tourism-friendly environment. Even after the peace process, we have failed to change the negative perception of foreign tour operators and potential tourists towards Nepal as a destination due to extortion and other forms of hassles,” said Hari Dharel, managing Director of Highlander Trekking & Expeditions (P) Ltd.

The ailing Nepalese tourism industry saw a more favorable situation during the last some months when few strikes and blockades decreased. “Tourists will feel secured when politics of confrontation and extortions come to an end in the country,” said Dharel, former general secretary of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN).

Recalling the relatively peaceful and tourist-friendly atmosphere during the last few months, Dharel said that the tourism industry would not grow without peace and stability. “As a sensitive sector, tourism can be disturbed easily even by minor incidents such as extortions,” he added.

He said that it was illegal for anybody or organization to force tourists to pay money. “Apart from extortions, strikes and blockades have tarnished our destination image at international arena. So, the government, political parties and the private sector need to join hands to restore the country’s image,” he said.

Emphasizing the need to develop professionalism in the travel trade sector of Nepal, he said, “The state must take action against all sorts of illegal activities to take the country’s tourism to a newer height.”

Regarding the upcoming tourism event- Nepal Tourism Year 2011, he said that the program is very relevant at a time when the country’s tourism industry has been jinxed with problems for several years.

“But no significant preparations for the event have been made so far. The government and the private sector need to do extensive homework for making the event a success.” He said.

Bringing the haphazard condition of Thamel to lime light, he said that the Ministry of Tourism and Civil aviation must work in close coordination with the other concerned government bodies to enhance the glory this tourist hub. “Thamel is losing its charm among tourists because of illegal activities. Tourists have stopped feeling safe and secured in Thamel because of growing unprofessional and criminal activities,” he said.

He suggested that the government should pay urgent heed to Thamel, the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and Pokhara Bus Park. “The expatriate communities as well as visiting tourists have been showing their concern over the negligence on the part of the agencies concerned,” he said.
“There is no light in the evening at the domestic terminal of the Kathmandu airport. Even Shakuntala Thilsted, spouse of the Danish Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Finn Thilsted has shared how she had to suffer when she arrived there from Nepalgunj” he said.

He complained that the Ministry of Tourism and civil Aviation did not take the issue seriously. “It is sad to note that even genuine issues raised by such personalities are not heard,” he said.

He stressed the need to develop a strong monitoring mechanism at the ministry to handle grievances.

He also called for making available toilet facilities at airport. “The TIA and all other airports need to be given a face-lift,” he said

Welcoming the decision of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) management to purchase two aircraft he said that it would help give a boost to the country’s tourism industry.

He, however, suggested that the internal management of the corporation needed to be reformed. “The airline should start the process of online booking of tickets so that it can make profits,” he said.

He added that tourism needed regular attention of the concerned ministry and agencies. “The government must stop giving lip services to the sensitive sector like tourism.” he said.

A) Trekking Permit
A trekking permit is a must to visit restricted areas mentioned below. To visit normal trekking areas, no permission is required.

B) Restricted areas which have been opened for Group Trekking
The following restricted areas are open only for group trekkers. And a trekking permit will not be issued to individual trekkers for such areas. The areas and required fees are as follows:

Trekking Trekking Permit Fee
1 i) Dolpa district Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

For the first 10 days per person US $500 and After 10 days per day per person Us$50
a) Areas of lower Dolpa
b) Areas of Upper Dolpa
ii) Taplejung District Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
2 Kanchanjanga Region
(Areas of Olangchunggola,
Lelep, Papung and
Yamphudin Village
Development Committee)

3 i) Mustang district. (Upper Mustang) For the first 10 days per person US $500 and After 10 days per day per person Us$50.

4 iv) Gorkha District: From September to November per week per person US$ 70 and After 7 days per day per person US$ 10.and From December to August per week per person US$ 50 and After 7 days per day per person US$ 7 /Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
A. (Manaslu Area)
B. Chhekampar & Chumchet VDC(Sirdibas-Lokpa-Cumling-Chhekampar-Nile-Chhule Area) From September to November per person US$35 for first 8 days and from December to August per person US$25 for first 8 days or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

5 v) Dolakha District (Gauri Shankar &
Lamabagar) Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

vi)Humla District (Simikot and Yari):- For the first 7 days per person US$ 50 and After 7 days per day per person US$ 7 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
Areas of Limi and Muchu
village Development
Committee, and area way to
Tibet via Tangekhola of
Darma Village Development
committee.
Trekking fee of other restricted areas imposed by Nepal government
6 vii) Rasuwa District :- Thuman and Timure per week per person US$ 10, Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

7 viii) Sankhuwasabha District For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and After 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20, Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
(Makalu Region):-Areas of
Kimathanka, Chepuwa,Hatiya and
Pawakhola Village
Development Committee.

8 ix) Solukhumbu District For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and After 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20, Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
(Everest Region):-All north-
west area way from Thame
to Nangpala of Namche
Village Development
Committee

9 x) Manang District:- Areas of Nar, Phu, and Northern
area of Tilche Village of
Thochhe Village
Development Committee From September to November per week per person US$ 90 and December to August per week per person US$ 75 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

10 xi) Mugu District:- Areas of
Mugu, Dolpu, Pulu and
Bhangri. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..

11 xii) Baihang District:-Areas
of Kanda, Saipal, Dhuli. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..

12 xiii) Darchula District:- Areas
of Byas Village
Development Committee. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..

Note:

1. To get a group trekking permit an application form with other relevant documents should be submitted through any registered trekking agency of Nepal.

2. Trekking fee can be paid in Nepalese currency: Notwithstanding anything written in above, the Indian citizen can pay in Nepalese currency equivalent to US Dollars.
Source: TAAN