The country’s biggest tourism event titled ‘Himalayan Travel Mart 2018’ was held on a grand scale under the theme ‘Nepal, Gateway to the Himalaya’ to promote the tourism potential of Nepal.

Nepal Tourism Board, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal chapter and other travel and tourism organizations organised the event.

Event Highlights

The three-day event was held in three different phases:

• June 1, 2018: Himalayan Travel Mart Conference
• June 2, 2018: International Travel Bloggers & Media Conference (ITBMC)
• June 3, 2018: Buyers & Sellers Meet (Business Sessions)

Overall, the Himalayan Travel Mart 2018 saw over 250 representatives from 37 countries including Nepal.

Some of the highlights include:

• Various delegates from 53 countries
• 225 foreign delegates and more than 350 local participants
• 107 International Travel Bloggers, Influencers and Media
• More than 15+ high-profile speakers
• 74 international buyers and more than 50 sellers from local and international markets
• More than 1500 pre-matched business appointments

Key dignitaries to the event include:

• Tashi Tenzing Sherpa, the youngest son of Pem Pem (eldest daughter of the renowned Tenzing Norgay)
• Madhur Bhandarkar, an Indian Film Director and Screenwriter
• Matt Gibson, an award-winning travel blogger and widely-published photographer
• Adrain Hayes, a British-based record-breaking adventurer, among others

Tourism on Priority

The three-phase #HimalayanTravelMart2018 began with the theme ‘Sustainable Road to Five Million Visitors’.

Various speakers and eminent local personalities who participated in the conference expressed hope that the mart will boost tourism activity in the country and pitched for implementation of innovative ways to promote Nepal tourism.

In his inaugural address, Nepali Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali said, “Nepal has prioritized tourism for development and economic growth. As we have entered the new phase of stability and development, we are committed to bringing in two million tourists in two years.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Raj Joshi expressed hope that the mart will boost the country’s tourism activity further.

Various other speakers urged on the need for viral marketing, efficient digital marketing strategies, enhancement of tourism infrastructure and related services to meet the set tourist arrivals target.

They also stressed on the need for special focus on tourist arrivals from the neighboring nations as a means to promote Nepal tourism.

Besides conference, Himalayan Travel Mart also saw an International Travel Bloggers & Media Conference in the second phase and Buyers & Sellers Meet in the third phase.

Two Million Target

Riding on the recent success of nearly one million tourist arrival mark at the end of 2017, Nepal Government is now aiming at a new target of two million tourist arrivals by 2020.

The Oli-led government is planning the country’s third national-level initiative ‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ in the series after the Visit Nepal Year in 1998 and the Nepal Tourism Year in 2011.

It is noteworthy that the Nepali tourism sector received a due push even in the Federal Budget for FY 2018-19.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation received a total budget of Rs 5.20 billion, which accounted to 0.4 percent of the total 1.31 trillion budget for the next fiscal.

As part of the budget announcement, the government also announced the development of 100 new tourist spots and diversification of tourism infrastructure & services across the country towards strengthening the country’s tourism potential, especially the domestic tourism.

Let’s hope the new moves will add to Nepal’s tourism potential on a global scale!

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Undoubtedly, every tourist falls in love with Nepal tourism because of these exciting characteristics among which, trekking is one that the world travelers always keeping exploring for.

There are many enthusing trekking spots in Nepal such as Annapurna Circuit, Mount Everest Base Camp, among others. And, there is one more that contributes to the buzz word ‘Trekking Nepal‘.

Less heard of, but trek-worthy. It’s Indigenous Peoples (IP) Trail!

Touching Indigenous Communities

IP Trail gives you a different experience introducing to you the indigenous communities in the remote areas of Ramechhap District, Nepal and their unique culture.

A 7-8-day trek through this culturally-diverse tourism spot takes you through tiny villages, traditional local communities, amazing foods cooked on fire and a mind-blowing scenery.

The Trail gives you an unseen experience about the culture and lifestyle of around 21 different indigenous ethnic communities of Nepal such as Sherpa, Newar, Yolmo, Thami, Majhi and Tamang, among others, and ages-old religious structures belonging to the country’s predominant religions Hinduism and Buddhism.

Stays during this trip are something special! Bringing you close to nature, the stay homes here reflect simple, traditional village atmosphere, in contrast to those in regular commercial tourism centers.

Hospitality is one interesting thing as a positive note on this trail. Host families at the stay homes provide you fully- hygienic food and give you a homely feeling.

Enjoyment has no limits here! Dressed in colorful traditional attire, the locales take you through the interesting traditional folk music and dance performances by both men and women.

IP Trail Circuit: Kathmandu>Mudhe> Deurali > Dhunge> Kholakharka> Rahjbir Monastery> Surkey> Deurali> Doramba> Galpa> Khandadevi> Galpa> Dongme> Lubughat> Nepalthok> Kathmandu

In short, though the trek journey of IP Trail actually begins at Dhunge, one has start it from Mudhe as there is no direct transport to Dhunge. One needs to cover an approximate 91-km trek and 200-km journey to entirely complete the IP Trail Circuit.

Authentic and enriched culture is the unique feature of this amazing trip!

Iconic Geography

Indigenous Peoples Trail in Nepal is a trekking spot that exists as low as 3000 metres and lies in the Mahabharata range, 100 km east of Kathmandu.

Surrounded by Thulo Sailung in the North, the golden Sun Koshi River in the South and the Tama Koshi peak in the East, the trail presents to you a breath-taking Himalayan view from Dhaulagiri and Annapurna in the West to Numbur Chuli and the world’s third highest peak Kangchenjunga in the East.

Though possible through-out the year, one can have a pleasant experience with a travel in October-December season.

The trail was actually created in 2011 and was developed jointly by the Nepal Tourism Board and the United Nations as part of efforts to promote domestic tourism in Ramechhap District.

It is also the result of the efforts by Ramechhap Local Economic Development (LED) Forum and UN’s International Labor Organization (ILO) to promote untouched non-commercial trekking spots outside the well-established regions and enhance access to them while also supporting the deprived communities living in such regions.

However, the trek witnessed a major blow through the April 2015 earthquake which created a devastating impact on the District’s local stay homes and community halls which once served as major tourist destinations, thus finally impacting the potential of IP Trail.

Now that Nepal is fast growing in terms of development with with a major focus on tourism, the IP Trail will hopefully see its full potential in the years ahead.

All the best the Indigenous Peoples Trail, a trekking journey that’s a combination of culture and diversity.

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Through this special program in the New Year 2018, the organization (Sneha Travel Media) is focused on promoting Nepali culture and tourism in around 70 countries.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) are supporting this tourism promotion program.

“We are launching this campaign in Itahari, Sauraha, Janakpur, Pokhara, and Nepalgunj within the country and in 70 different countries of the world including Turkey, Australia, United States and United Kingdom,” says Suresh Chandra Basnet, Program Coordinator.

Basnet further informed that this special program will promote Nepali food and culture, covering various communities ranging from mountainous regions to Tarai and east to west, on a global scale.

This tourism and culture promotional program is expected to boost inflow of tourists to Nepal and is coming at a time when the country has registered a record tourist arrivals of 9 lakh in 2017.

It’s definitely an exciting update for the global Nepali community!

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Here are some key highlights of culture and tourism related updates of Nepal in 2017:

Culture

Culture is one important area that describes Nepal as a whole.

In a move promoting its culture, Nepal, in 2017, discussed and signed key agreements to strengthen cultural ties with its ally countries.

Very recently, Sri Lanka and Nepal entered into an agreement to boost cultural tourism between the two countries.

Taking ahead the Indo-Nepal cultural ties, a group of pilgrims recently began their 2-week long pilgrimage to India.

Apart from the above, Nepal celebrated its famous annual festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, Kanya Puja, Gaijatra, Indra Jatra, Janai Purnima, Krishna Janmashtami, among others.

Tourism

Tourism is one important area of focus for Nepal owing to the country’s dependence on tourism revenue.

Despite major natural calamities such as 2015 earthquake, floods in August 2017, among others, Nepali tourism regained its strength in 2017 aiming at a million tourists’ arrival target by the end of 2017.

October 2017 alone witnessed the all-time high of 112,492 tourist arrivals and November was estimated to have more than 130,000 tourists breaking all the past records.

Nepal tourism had gone to a six-year low registering only 538,970 foreign visitors earlier. However, the latest figures over the rise of tourist arrivals appeared as an encouragement to the country’s tourism industry.

Meanwhile, a survey spotted a rise in women mountaineers to Mount Everest, once again proving Nepal’s status as the global destination for adventure sports.

With the rise in tourism activity, Nepal is undergoing a complete transformation in terms of infrastructure and is heading for the completion of key infrastructure projects.

Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and Lumbini’s Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) are among two infrastructure projects that were deferred until 2019.

Upgradation of Bhairahawa airport, the gateway to the pilgrimage destination of Lumbini in south central Nepal, expansion of the Narayanghat-Mugling road, Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project and the reconstruction of monuments & heritage sites (damaged in the 2015 earthquake) are among other key projects that are set to offer needed boost the country’s tourism sector.

Besides, Nepal is also witnessing a lot of hotel construction activity, which is expected to add 4,000 star category rooms to the country by 2020. A dozen hotels are investing more than Rs 40 billion in the Nepali hotel industry.

World Travel Market 2017 is one major event that proved what Nepal means to the world tourism, wherein, a large number of business leaders expressed interest to invest in and collaborate with the Nepali tourism industry.

To overcome the existing drawbacks and offer a better Nepal, the Government of Nepal has postponed its major tourism event Visit Nepal Year 2018 Campaign to 2020 that aims at attracting 1.5 million tourists.

“As we had little time to make preparations for the national campaign, we have decided to reschedule it. However, the ministry will launch a massive marketing campaign in 2019 before starting Visit Nepal Year 2020,” says Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Tourism Ministry Spokesperson.

In a major announcement to Nepal mountain tourism and dependent communities, the Government of Nepal has also established the Nepal Mountain Academy to ensure high-level education courses in mountaineering.

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The event, organized in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Travel and Tour Agents, and Nepal Airlines Corporation, saw the participation of various outbound tour operators and travel agents along with various other officials.

Addressing the gathering, Nepali Ambassador to Sri Lanka Prof. Bishwambher Pyakuryal pitched for Lanka-Nepal tourism cooperation highlighting the role of the tourism industry in the economies of both the nations.

He said that both nations should leverage the potential of their well-established tourism cooperation.

The Officiating Director of Nepal Tourism Board Rohini Prasad Khanal and Pratibha Sharma of Nepal Airlines Corporation were among others who addressed the gathering.

On the occasion, the Nepali Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Bikram Pandey made a presentation on the Buddhist Circuit in Nepal.

As part of the program, 12 Nepali travel and tour companies displayed their products and also held business meetings with Sri Lankan tour operators.

All the invitees were offered gifts and booklets on tourist destination information, handicraft and various other information about Nepal.

Besides media and other officials, the event also had diplomats and members of various industry bodies such as the Sri Lankan Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Lanka-Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Lanka-Nepal Business Council and also the Chairperson of SAARC Women Entrepreneurs’ Council.

Related Stories:

• Nepal Tourist Visa Requirements for Sri Lankans

The post Nepal Night Promotes Nepal Tourism in Sri Lanka appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

As part of the move, NATTA is conducting a week-long Nepal Sales Mission to Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Bangalore (India) from December 14-21, 2017.

“Like past years, we are organizing tourism promotional events in the international market this year as well. As India and Sri Lanka are the first and fourth largest tourist generating market for Nepal, respectively, we are hopeful that visitors from these countries will increase further after this event,” says Ram Barakoti, Program Coordinator of Nepal Sales Mission.

As part of the tour, Nepali tourism entrepreneurs will be engaged in day-long B2B sessions at both the cities, informed Barakoti.

Stating that Sri Lankan tourists to Nepal come for Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, Barakoti raised concern that they are opting India for Buddhism pilgrimage. “We will encourage them to start the pilgrimage from Kathmandu,” he added.

In this program, tourism service providers and tour operators will also promote Nepal’s tourism attractions among Sri Lankan tour operators.

“As NAC is operating direct flights to Bangalore, we are hopeful that the number of tourists coming from Bangalore will increase as participating delegates will promote Nepal’s tourism attractions among local tour operators,” Barakoti noted.

NATTA is keen on promoting Nepal among Sri Lankan and Indian tourists as a key destination for historical, religious and natural attractions, added Barakoti.

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