Nepal pavilion awarded 'Best Stall Decoration Award at TTF Chennai

Nepal pavilion awarded 'Best Stall Decoration Award at TTF Chennai

Press Release 12 January 2009 Nepal Tourism Board along with 6 travel trade companies participated in Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) from 9th-11th January 2009 in Southern city of India, Chennai. As a part of annual marketing activities in Indian market NTB has showcased Nepalese tourism attraction amidst the travel trade and visitors. During the fair, Nepal was highlighted as the land of Gods and gateway to Mt. Kailash, abode of lord Shiva. Likewise, Nepal showcased the various other tourism attractions and activities of Nepal. Nepal's initiative to attract more tourists to Nepal, 'Nepal Tourism Year 2011' was also highlighted in the fair. Mr. Mani Raj Lamichhane, Manager Nepal Tourism Board had also briefed the media and tour operators about the tourism scenario and major tourism attractions during the inauguration ceremony. Nepal pavilion was main attraction during the fair due to unique decorations used depicting cultural and natural attractions. Nepal pavilion was awarded by best decoration award and private trekking company 'Eco Trek Nepal' had won best print material award. The daily newspaper 'The Hindu' had given special coverage on Nepal pavilion. Though there are several flights in Delhi-Kathmandu sector, the issue of direct connectivity between South Indian city and Kathmandu was raised by tour operators and media. They have opined that have there been direct flights from South Indian city, the number of visitors would have been increased. As the adjoining other cities are well linked by roadways and railways, more people can travel to Nepal if there is good air connectivity. Similarly, visitors have suggested to reduce the amount of special permit fee to go to Damodar Kunda.

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Visitor Arrivals in December 2008 (by air only) January 1, 2009

Visitor Arrivals in December 2008 (by air only) January 1, 2009
News Release

The total number of visitors in 2008 has reached to 374,661, representing an increase of 4% in comparison to the year 2007. The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that arrival figures in the month of December 2008, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 0.6% to 30,062.

The entire South Asian region has gained overall positive growth except for arrivals from Sri Lanka. Bangladesh and Pakistan have registered robust growth of 37 % and 23.4% respectively. India, the largest market for Nepal, witnessed positive growth of 1.9% in December.

As compare to 2007, the total visitor arrivals from South Asian countries registered positive growth except India.

European countries such as UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden have also maintained the increasing trend in the arrival figures in the month of December 2008, compared to the same month last year. Also UK, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, France and Denmark have registered positive growth in total comparison to the year 2007. Arrivals from the United States of America, Australia and Canada have also increased in December in comparison to the same month last year. Similarly total arrivals in 2008 from the United States of America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have also increased in comparison to 2007. However France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland have registered negative growth in the current month.

Other Asian countries do not show healthy trend. Malaysia has maintained the upward trend with 21.9% of growth. Arrivals from China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, witnessed negative growth in the arrival figures by 25.9%, 3.6%, 2.8% and 9.5% respectively in the month of December. Arrival figures for year 2008 show upward trend.

A total of 33,554 foreign tourists departed from TIA in December 2008 while the total number of international visitor departure till December 2008 reached 405,223, representing an increase of 11.24% over 2007. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 41,333 while 48,982 Nepalese departed from TIA in December 2008.

Since August as global economy faced meltdown following the hike in oil prices and the consequent cuts in airline capacity and increasing transport cost travelers trim down their length of stay and their consumption in terms of type of accommodation and other activities. Against continuing downward revisions in macro-economic expectations overall 4% growth in international tourist arrivals in 2008 as compared for the full of 2007 can be considered as healthy increment.

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Commission on Yeti Airlines crash at Lukla submits report Press Release

Commission on Yeti Airlines crash at Lukla submits report Press Release
January 1, 2009

The Commission constituted by Government of Nepal for the Aircraft Accident Investigation of Yeti Airlines Flight YT-101 which crashed in Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla on October 8, 2008 submitted its report to Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami on December 31, 2008. The Twin-otter aircraft belonged to Yeti Airlines was crashed at the perimeter of Lukla runway while attempting to land in deteriorating weather condition which killed 18-people including 14 Germans and 2 Australians tourists.

According to Commission report, "The probable primary cause was flight crew's misjudgment, based on the weather information from all the proceeding aircraft and Lukla Information, to enter into cloud patch on final wherein the aircraft encountered the rapidly uplifting fog on short final resulting on Control Flight Into Terrain(CFIT)." The formal investigation commenced on 10th October, 2008 following a meeting of the Commission. Experts were nominated by Germany and Australia(States of Victims).

On November 7, 2008, a record breaking 100 flights were made from Kathmandu to Lukla Tenzing Hillary Airport, according to Tribhuwan International Airport Authority. This new record is the for the first time in the aviation history and also marks the great flow of tourists in the Everest region this year compared to any other years by air.

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Minister Yami takes part in CAAN's Walk-A-Thon Press Release

Minister Yami takes part in CAAN's Walk-A-Thon Press Release
December 29, 2008

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami took part in 'Walk-A-Thon' programme organized by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal(CAAN) from its headquarters Babar Mahal to Civil Aviation Academy, Sinamangal on December 29, 2008 as a part of celebrating its 10th anniversary. Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Other senior officials of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal including Mr. Keshav Khanal, Director General, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal also took part in 3-km long walk displaying the placard related to safety and security of civil Aviation.

Walk-A-Thon is a part of creating awareness of safety and comfort of air travelers. On Dec 28, it also organized blood donation programme. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) was established as an autonomous regulatory body on 31 December 1998 under Civil Aviation Act, 1996. CAAN has been set up with the objective of making aviation safe, regular, standard and efficient. Its prime goal is to ensure flight safety and sustainability of civil aviation.

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Interaction of tourism development and promotion in Pokhara

Interaction of tourism development and promotion in Pokhara Press Release December 23, 2008 An interaction programme was organised at Nepal Tourism Board Office in Pokhara on December 22 & 23, 2008 to discuss various issues related with on development and promotion of tourism and civil aviation in Pokhara and its surrounding. Organised by Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the programme was attended prominent tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara and its surrounding areas, tourism and civil aviation experts, high government officials and other stakeholders. Addressing the programme, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami said she was here to do feasible study of regional airport in Pokhara which would connect Pokhara with other Indian cities. "As a commitment of government for the development of tourism, the government has already allocated Rs. 280 million for the tourism infrastructure. Homework has already been started to address the issues raised in this interaction," she said. She further elaborated about Nepal Visit Year 2011 and asked all stakeholders to join hand together to make it successful. She also informed about the New Tourism Policy which being in the final stage. Responding the various issues raised during the interaction, tourism experts, government officials suggested following way out to mitigate the problems and suggestion for successful planning and implementation of Nepal Tourism Year 2011: 1. To make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 successful, it has been requested to Pokhara Tourism Council to take lead in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board Office Pokhara and various stakeholders to form different sub committee for tourism product development, tourism publicity and marketing, human resource and others. Within three years, Pokhara will be developed and promoted as adventure, holiday, pilgrimage and aviation sports hub. 2. To run shuttle bus during the bandh or chakkajam in Pokhra, Nepal Tourism Board is agreed to run the bus in coordination with Tourism Police on basis of 50% cost share with concerned party. 3. Request has been made to local community to take initiative to declare Pokhara 'Bandha Free Zone'. 4. In regard to allow Nepalese tourists to travel in tourist plated vehicles (green plate), Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation will coordinate with other lining ministry to make necessary change in the Transport Act. 5. Request has been made to REBAN Pokhara Chapter to make promotional announcement about Nepal Tourism Year 2011 at the mid-night of December 31, 2008 during Pokhara Street Festival. 6. Adhering the principle of decentralisation, Nepal Tourism Board Pokhara Office has upgraded as Regional Office for the tourism development and promotion of Pokhara and its surrounding areas. 7. Pokhara will be considered as domestic air hub linking with other small airports in Western and Far Western Region. 8. Nepal Tourism Board will support events and festivals as promoter. 9. Initiative will be taken for the improvement of trekking trails and finding out alternative trekking trails in coordination with local stakeholder. 10. For conservation and promotion of lake as a tourist attraction, Lake Conservation Board has already been institutionalised. 11. Initiation will be taken to build new airport in new place as an International Regional Airport in partnership with private sector under the Build Operate Own Transfer (BOOT) model.

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Interaction of tourism development and promotion in Pokhara

Interaction of tourism development and promotion in Pokhara

Press ReleaseDecember 23, 2008An interaction programme was organised at Nepal Tourism Board Office in Pokhara on December 22 & 23, 2008 to discuss various issues related with on development and promotion of tourism and civil aviation in Pokhara and its surrounding. Organised by Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the programme was attended prominent tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara and its surrounding areas, tourism and civil aviation experts, high government officials and other stakeholders.Addressing the programme, Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami said she was here to do feasible study of regional airport in Pokhara which would connect Pokhara with other Indian cities. "As a commitment of government for the development of tourism, the government has already allocated Rs. 280 million for the tourism infrastructure. Homework has already been started to address the issues raised in this interaction," she said. She further elaborated about Nepal Visit Year 2011 and asked all stakeholders to join hand together to make it successful. She also informed about the New Tourism Policy which being in the final stage.Responding the various issues raised during the interaction, tourism experts, government officials suggested following way out to mitigate the problems and suggestion for successful planning and implementation of Nepal Tourism Year 2011:1. To make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 successful, it has been requested to Pokhara Tourism Council to take lead in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board Office Pokhara and various stakeholders to form different sub committee for tourism product development, tourism publicity and marketing, human resource and others. Within three years, Pokhara will be developed and promoted as adventure, holiday, pilgrimage and aviation sports hub.2. To run shuttle bus during the bandh or chakkajam in Pokhra, Nepal Tourism Board is agreed to run the bus in coordination with Tourism Police on basis of 50% cost share with concerned party.3. Request has been made to local community to take initiative to declare Pokhara 'Bandha Free Zone'. 4. In regard to allow Nepalese tourists to travel in tourist plated vehicles (green plate), Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation will coordinate with other lining ministry to make necessary change in the Transport Act.5. Request has been made to REBAN Pokhara Chapter to make promotional announcement about Nepal Tourism Year 2011 at the mid-night of December 31, 2008 during Pokhara Street Festival.6. Adhering the principle of decentralisation, Nepal Tourism Board Pokhara Office has upgraded as Regional Office for the tourism development and promotion of Pokhara and its surrounding areas.7. Pokhara will be considered as domestic air hub linking with other small airports in Western and Far Western Region.8. Nepal Tourism Board will support events and festivals as promoter.9. Initiative will be taken for the improvement of trekking trails and finding out alternative trekking trails in coordination with local stakeholder.10. For conservation and promotion of lake as a tourist attraction, Lake Conservation Board has already been institutionalised.11. Initiation will be taken to build new airport in new place as an International Regional Airport in partnership with private sector under the Build Operate Own Transfer (BOOT) model.

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Interaction on lake conservation organized

Interaction on lake conservation organized

Press ReleaseDecember 16, 2008An expert team of International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC)- Japan is in a visit to Nepal from December 14 to 20, 2008 to do a rapid assessment of lakes conservation in Nepal building rapport with government, non-governmental organizations and institutions related to sustainable lakes and wetlands management in Nepal. In this connection, an interaction programme was organized at Nepal Tourism Board on December 16, 2008 to share Integrated Lake Base Management (ILBM) approaches and strategies among the Nepalese scientists and experts and to share the experience of International and Nepalese Non Governmental Organisations which are involved in conservation in Nepal. In the programme, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami said that once Kathmandu valley was full of lakes but all had gone due to urbanization and lack of conservation. She further said, "Although nature has given us plenty of lakes, I wonder why we are lagged behind in conserving them." Since there is a direct relation between bio-diversity, eco-system, lake and Ramsar, it has become imperative to conserve all lakes to address climate change in Nepal, she further said.Prof. Masahisa Nakamura, Chairman, Scientific Committee, ILEC, Sigha University, Japan made a presentation on the activities of International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and its possible support in conserving lakes in Nepal. Prof. Udea Throu of Japan shared the initiatives of International Lake Environment Committee and Integrated Lake Base Management taken in Japan where as Prof. Kodarkar Mohan, a member of Scientific Committee, International Lake Environment Committee shared his experience about the initiative taken by ILEC in India. Representatives of The Mountain Institute, ICIMOD, WWF, IUCN, Nepal Tourism Board and other donor agencies also interacted with Japanese team and shared their experience. It is believed that the visit of ILEC team would be a comparative advantage in accessing technical inputs for the initial preparation of recommending the lake-cluster of the Kaski district into the Ramsar List. Apart from this, the visit of ILEC team would accelerate opportunities for HR development through training, workshop and conservation education with regards to the ILBM applicable to the Nepalese context.The International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) was formed in 1986 as an international non-governmental organization (NGO), and given legal status in 1987 by the Japanese Environment Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ILEC aims in promoting environmentally sound management of natural and man-made lakes and their environments consistent with sustainable development policies by promoting international research and investigation, and by facilitating the exchange of findings and knowledge among the experts throughout the world.

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Interactions on draft Tourism Policy 2065 organized Press Release

Interactions on draft Tourism Policy 2065 organized Press Release
December 4, 2008

Nepal Tourism Board in coordination with Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation organized a series of comprehensive interaction programs on draft Tourism Policy 2065 on November 25, December 1 and December 3, 2008 with diverse tourism stakeholders at Nepal Tourism Board. Chaired by Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ms. Hisila Yami and actively participated by travel trade entrepreneurs, foreign expatriates, tourism experts and academicians and trade unions, the programs aimed to incorporate issues, ideas, challenges and present status of tourism in the new tourism policy of Nepal.

During the interaction program, Hon'ble Minister focused on the need of people-centric new tourism policy and pointed at the government's greater concerns on real value of tourism and its contribution to economic growth, poverty alleviation, equity and overall tourism development in the country. "Co-operation and partnerships between public and private sector are important for the further development in tourism and civil aviation to make tourism vibrant and dynamic", she added.

The trade sector emphasized the urgent need to declare Tourism Industry as a "National Industry" and also requested for promulgation of Road Accident Act, provision of insurance and a separate labor policy for tourism sector. The foreign expatriates suggested that tourist friendly environment should be created and expressed their views that the unique sales proposition of Nepal was none other than its unique natural and cultural beauties. Everyone agreed that the main focus of new tourism policy should be on expanding the tourism to the interior parts of the country which helps generate employment, minimize leakages, and promote equitable development. The participants at the interaction programs unanimously articulated the fact that there is a tremendous scope of ecotourism in Nepal and thus upcoming tourism policy should highlight it. The tourism stakeholders and representatives of trade union stressed on urgent need for separate "Tourism Labor Policy". The trade unions equally emphasized the instrumental role they have played in ensuring safety and security of the human resources in the hospitality industry.

"The more pragmatic the policy, the more effective the implementation", underlined all the participants in the interactions.

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Nepal Tempts Indian Travelers Yet Again Press Release

Nepal Tempts Indian Travelers Yet Again Press Release
December 5, 2008

All geared up with exciting travel ideas for the upcoming holiday season, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organized roadshows all over Uttar Pradesh from November 24 to 28, 2008 to entice the Indian traveler and help them plan their next holiday.

With roadshows organized in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur, Nepal Tourism Board team showcased several exciting options under its promotion campaign Naturally Nepal – Once Is Not Enough and showcased Weekend Breaks, Adventure Holidays and Lifetime Experiences for UP holiday makers.

This is the second consecutive year of Border Town Sales Mission by Nepal Tourism Board in these four cities of North India, this tour is organized mainly to feel the presence of New Nepal as destination among tour operators as it solicits strong bond cooperation or some new venture from all the players to revive the tourism at least to foothold strongly for the upcoming years. In this team 8 private companies form Kathmandu, Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi, has been participated.

The 4 City Uttar Pradesh Sales Mission witnessed a keen interest of prominent tour operators such as Thomas Cook, Carlson Waganlit Cox & Kings, Le passage to India etc. who wished to further explore opportunities to tie up with Nepalese travel agents and hoteliers, visiting from cities like Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa , Pohkara etc.

The B2B Session was a great success as it gave the local tour operators a common platform to strengthen the ties between Indian and Nepalese travel trade and also discuss new tour packages for the Indian markets.

During the roadshow, Mr. Hikmat Singh Ayer, Senior Manger, Nepal Tourism Board informed that the Government of Nepal recently announced a major promotion to launch "Nepal Tourism Year 2011" and plans to promote Nepal as the most spectacular destination in tourism world.

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Interactions on draft Tourism Policy 2065 organised Press Release

Interactions on draft Tourism Policy 2065 organised Press Release
December 4, 2008

Nepal Tourism Board in coordination with Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation organized a series of comprehensive interaction programs on draft Tourism Policy 2065 on November 25, December 1 and December 3, 2008 with diverse tourism stakeholders at Nepal Tourism Board. Chaired by Hon'ble Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ms. Hisila Yami and actively participated by travel trade entrepreneurs, foreign expatriates, tourism experts and academicians and trade unions, the programs aimed to incorporate issues, ideas, challenges and present status of tourism in the new tourism policy of Nepal.

During the interaction program, Hon'ble Minister focused on the need of people-centric new tourism policy and pointed at the government's greater concerns on real value of tourism and its contribution to economic growth, poverty alleviation, equity and overall tourism development in the country. "Co-operation and partnerships between public and private sector are important for the further development in tourism and civil aviation to make tourism vibrant and dynamic", she added.

The trade sector emphasized the urgent need to declare Tourism Industry as a "National Industry" and also requested for promulgation of Road Accident Act, provision of insurance and a separate labor policy for tourism sector. The foreign expatriates suggested that tourist friendly environment should be created and expressed their views that the unique sales proposition of Nepal was none other than its unique natural and cultural beauties. Everyone agreed that the main focus of new tourism policy should be on expanding the tourism to the interior parts of the country which helps generate employment, minimize leakages, and promote equitable development. The participants at the interaction programs unanimously articulated the fact that there is a tremendous scope of ecotourism in Nepal and thus upcoming tourism policy should highlight it. The tourism stakeholders and representatives of trade union stressed on urgent need for separate "Tourism Labor Policy". The trade unions equally emphasized the instrumental role they have played in ensuring safety and security of the human resources in the hospitality industry.

"The more pragmatic the policy, the more effective the implementation", underlined all the participants in the interactions.

Read More

Nepal Tempts Indian Travelers Yet Again Press Release

Nepal Tempts Indian Travelers Yet Again Press Release
December 5, 2008

All geared up with exciting travel ideas for the upcoming holiday season, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organized roadshows all over Uttar Pradesh from November 24 to 28, 2008 to entice the Indian traveler and help them plan their next holiday.

With roadshows organized in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur, Nepal Tourism Board team showcased several exciting options under its promotion campaign Naturally Nepal – Once Is Not Enough and showcased Weekend Breaks, Adventure Holidays and Lifetime Experiences for UP holiday makers.

This is the second consecutive year of Border Town Sales Mission by Nepal Tourism Board in these four cities of North India, this tour is organized mainly to feel the presence of New Nepal as destination among tour operators as it solicits strong bond cooperation or some new venture from all the players to revive the tourism at least to foothold strongly for the upcoming years. In this team 8 private companies form Kathmandu, Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi, has been participated.

The 4 City Uttar Pradesh Sales Mission witnessed a keen interest of prominent tour operators such as Thomas Cook, Carlson Waganlit Cox & Kings, Le passage to India etc. who wished to further explore opportunities to tie up with Nepalese travel agents and hoteliers, visiting from cities like Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa , Pohkara etc.

The B2B Session was a great success as it gave the local tour operators a common platform to strengthen the ties between Indian and Nepalese travel trade and also discuss new tour packages for the Indian markets.

During the roadshow, Mr. Hikmat Singh Ayer, Senior Manger, Nepal Tourism Board informed that the Government of Nepal recently announced a major promotion to launch "Nepal Tourism Year 2011" and plans to promote Nepal as the most spectacular destination in tourism world.

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Visitor Arrivals in November 2008 (by air only)

Visitor Arrivals in November 2008 (by air only) The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that arrival figures in the month of November 2008, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 6.6% to 36,851. The total number of visitors till November 2008 has reached 344,599, representing an increase of 4.3% in comparison to the same period last year.

The entire South Asian region has gained overall positive growth except for arrivals from India. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have registered growth by 81.3%, 59.1% and 29.5% respectively. India witnessed negative growth of 9.5% in the current month.

Similarly, other Asian countries: Thailand and Malaysia have maintained the upward trend with 45.7% and 34.5% of growth respectively. However, arrivals from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China witnessed negative growth in the arrival figures by 2%, 15.5%, 14.3%, and 4.6% respectively.

UK, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden have also maintained the increasing trend in the arrival figures. Arrivals from the United States of America and Canada have also increased in November in comparison to the same month last year. However, Germany, Italy and Spain have registered negative growth.

The global recession in the advanced economies, which are also the major tourist generating markets, has not heavily affected the travel trade industry of Nepal.

A total of 51,498 foreign tourists departed from TIA in November 2008. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 38,288 while 48,462 Nepalese departed from TIA in November 2008.

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Minisiter Yami inaugurates Mithila Sanskritik Utsav Press Release

Minisiter Yami inaugurates Mithila Sanskritik Utsav Press Release
December 1, 2008

A two-day Mithila Cultural Festival( Mithila Sanskritik Utsav) began in Janakpur on December 1, 2008 with fanfare coinciding with the Bhivah Panchami- a festival of marriage of Ram with Sita. Inaugurating the festival, Chief Guest of the festival, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms. Hisila Yami outlined the historical relation of Mithila with Malla kingdom of Newar in Kathmandu saying that bhajans are still being sung in Maithali in Ason as a person from Mithila was an advisor of Malla King.

Minister Yami further said that Government has already announced Nepal Visit Year 2011 which will incorporate development of Terai region including Janakpur in this campaign. " Our Ministry is working with Indian counterpart to extend the regional air service from Bhairawa, Biratnagar, Nepaljung and Janakpur to different parts of India like Patna, Gaya, Vanarasi, Lucknow, Kolkatta. We believe that it would promote tourism in these areas," she added. She also informed the government has already allocated the budget for extension of Janakpur -Jainagar railway to Bardibas and feasible study of East West Railways road is being carried out. Investment in tourism development of Tarai has just started with the development of Gadhimai in Bara district and it will extend further to other parts of Tarai, she said.

The inaugural function attended by large number of people from Janakpur and bordering town of India like Madhubani, Sitamari was chaired Mr. Ram Chandra Mandal, Chairperson, Greater Janakpur Area Development Project. Mr. Shital Jha from UML, Mr. Dev Sagar Das from CPN( Maoist), Mr. Ram Gobinda Yadav from Nepal Sadbhawana Party, Mr. Parmeswore Shah from Terai Madhes Democratic Party also addressed the function. Folk dance and music, drama will be staged during the festival as a part of reviving Mithila culture.

Earlier, Minister Yami also attened the Matkor ceremony which takes place a day before the Bhivah Panchami at Janaki Mandir. The festival of Bhiwa Panchami will take place tomorrow at Janaki mandir.

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Himalaya - Changing Landscapes outdoor Photo Exhibition at Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu Durbar Square

Himalaya - Changing Landscapes outdoor Photo Exhibition at Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu Durbar Square

2-8 December 2008 The Himalaya - Changing Landscapes photo exhibition is taking place from 2 – 8 December 2008 at Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu Durbar Square as part of ICIMOD's 25th anniversary celebrations. The exhibition aims to raise awareness of the impact of global climate change in the fragile environment of the Himalayas. On display will be a collection of repeat panoramas of mountains and glaciers in the Khumbu region taken in the 1950s, and retaken in the exact same locations in 2007; photos of scientific teams conducting research in the 1950s; and portraits of Himalayan people. These photographs provide a striking visual impression of how climate change and glacial melting are affecting the region. The exhibition also emphasises the resilience of the mountain people in coping with these circumstances. The Himalaya – Changing Landscapes photo exhibition was exhibited in Stockholm, Sweden in August 2008 and in Barcelona, Spain in October 2008. Further European locations will follow in 2009. The Kathmandu exhibition is endorsed by the Nepal Tourism Board.

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Notice for Participation in Travel Trade Fairs 2009

Notice for Participation in Travel Trade Fairs 2009

S.N	Fair/Mart	Date	Participation Fee (Nrs)	Deadline for Application	No. of Companies	Contact
1	Vakantiebeurs, Utrecht, The Netherlands	14 – 18 January 2009	80,000/-	21 November,08	Four	gobinda@ntb.org.np
2	Nordic Travel Fair ( MATKA ), Helsinki, Finland	15-18 January 2009	65,000/-	21 November,08	Three	rkhanal@ntb.org.np
3	CMT- Stuttgart, Germany	17-25 January 2009		21 November,08	Five	Nepal German Chamber of Commerce & Industries admin@ngcci.org
4	FITUR, Madrid, Spain	Jan. 28- Feb. 1, 2009	75,000/-	21 November, 08	Seventeen	Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents natta@mail..com.np
5	BIT , Milan , Italy	19-22 February 2009	80,000/-	28 November, 08	Six	Trekking Agents Association of Nepal ( TAAN) taan@wlink.com.np, taan@mail.com.np
6	Adventure Travel & Backpackers Expo., Melbourne , Australia	Melbourne ( 21-22 Feb. '09 )	65,000/-	28 November, 08	Four	gobinda@ntb.org.np
7	Tour Operators' Meet & Press Conference in Melbourne & Sydney, Australia	Melbourne- 19 Feb. '09 Sydney- 24 Feb. '09	15, 000/-	28 November, 08	Four	gobinda@ntb.org.np
8	*ITB-Berlin, Germany	11-15 March 2009	160,000/-	28 November, 08	Fifteen	rkhanal@ntb.org.np
9	Europe Sales Mission, Prague, Vienna & Budapest	16-21 March 2009	60,000/-	28 November, 08	Six	rkhanal@ntb.org.np
10	MITT- Moscow, Russia	18-21 March 2009	85,000/-	28 November, 08	Four	rkhanal@ntb.org.np
11	Sales Mission in Beijing, Shanghai, Guanzhau, China	30 March-7 April '09	60,000/-	28 November, 08	Four	gobinda@ntb.org.np

All tourism companies registered with Government of Nepal are encouraged to apply and participate. Application form for participation is available with Nepal Tourism Board. (The forms can be received on e-mail or downloaded from our website)

Duly filled up forms should be submitted to Accounts Unit, Corporate Services Department, NTB, along with full participation fees before the deadline. Participation shall be allowed on first come - first served basis.

* Rs. 160,000.00 is for individual table. Cost for staying in common area will be Rs.70, 000.00 (max. four first time participating companies and other conditions apply)

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