However, due to the coronavirus spread, Nepal’s tourism industry has suffered immensely. Travel restrictions, vaccines diplomacy and with widespread confusion, tourism operators were dealt a cruel blow by the pandemic.

Now, as the world is limping to normalcy, Nepal Tourism Board has jumped into the fray by coming up with an ambitious plan which would boost the recovery of the tourism across the nation. The board estimated that the landlocked country would witness 200,000 tourist footfalls by mid-July 2022.

To prop the sector, the board has announced a mammoth budget of NPR 920 million. This monetary infusion shall usher in new trends in Nepali tourism sector. In this post, let’s have a look at what changes await tourists and tourism operators of Nepal.

Also Read: 5 Cafés Which Reflect the Serene Nature of Kathmandu

1) Advertisements Blitzkrieg

The board is doubling down on the tourism advertisements by pumping in about NPR 140 million. This monetary boost will also pave for international travel marts participation across the globe. Additionally, a substantial portion of the budget which is NPR 40 million will be used for promotions through digital marketing.

The tourism board has also earmarked funds for emergency travel operations and pitched funding of NPR 20 million for proposed research of an online market system. A whooping NPR 15 million has been allotted for the development of information centers in various provinces.

The NTB is aiming ramp up Nepal’s international diplomatic missions and increase its presence in Indian and China by promoting the Himalayan nation as destination for tourists. It shall also partner with private sector players to push packages to Indians and Chinese.

2) Focus on Heritage

NTB will spending NPR 73 million to promote and implement heritage conservation. The board will also hold fairs and festivals in specific regions to improve the heritage in those regions. The fairs will attract tourists and that would bring in more revenue which will better the heritage value in long term.

Also Read: Trek or vacation? Do Both at these Nepali Basecamps

3) Pokhara-centric events

Pokhara NTB office will be recipient of NPR 45 million to boost promotion of heritage areas in the region. The office responded positively by stating that they will also use the funds to train the personnel using those funds.

4) Betterment of Human Resources

NTB has announced an overhaul of human resources in the tourism sector. They are planning to shoulder NPR 180 million of expenses which shall improve the working standard of personnel. The funds will be utilized for tourism operations.

Also Read: Nepali Restaurants which Cook Sekuwa to Perfection

5) Rejuvenating Rural Tourism

The NTB has decided to propel rural tourism across the nation. They have decided to give some of tourist areas a facelift and endow them some brand value. The region which will be focused upon is Tokha in Kathmandu.

Other places which will be bettered are Myagdi, Parbat, Baglung, Gulmi, Syangja, Tanahun, Kaski, Gorkha, Dhading, Arghakanchi, Nuwakot and Kavre. These areas will be promoted as agro tourism destinations. Chure is also being considered for the facelift and the Indo-Nepal border region is being considered for religious tourism centric promotions.

There will also be travel marts across all provinces and Province 1 will be projected as health tourism hub. Lastly, Sundarpaschim province will be promoted as a farm-stay destination.

6) Giving Credit Where it is Due

There are always those who slog more than the others and shoulder more responsibilities. NTB has decided to appreciate their efforts by announcing that it shall honor the tourism operators and personnel who are in mountain tourism.  These people will be appreciated by giving them cash prizes and medals for their work. Special laurels await the people who bring in the most tourists to Nepal.

Also Read: Hidden Gems of Nepal that Every Tourist Should Explore

7) Going the Extra Mile

Kathmandu was devoid of a tourist bus station and its absence was an inconvenience for ages. The roadways in Jamal doubled up as a bus station until now and the tourists’ busses were to be found in Sorhakhutte.

NTB is planning to an end to these woes by installing a bus station in the capital city. They have gone ahead and allocated the funds for this construction.

Stay Tuned to NepaliSansar for More Nepal Special Stories!

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As the new COVID-19 infection cases have declined steadily in the last two months, the Nepali tourism sector has started gaining traction lately.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the number of foreign visitors to the country dropped by more than 80% in 2020, the lowest in 34 years.

A total of 230,085 international tourists visited Nepal in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic restricted global travel.

“The arrival figure is far worse than the downturn during the Maoist insurgency (1996-2006) and the 2015 earthquakes combined,” said Dhananjaya Regmi, NEB CEO.

“But we hope to rebound by mid-2021,” he added.

Though April, May, and June witnessed the lowest footfall, the number of visitors has increased gradually to around 10,000 in December, giving the much-needed hope for the Nepali tourism sector.

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During a press meet on January 30, 2020, Pokhara Rhinos has signed Gayle as the iconic player of their team.

The ‘Universal Boss’ has twitted that he will be heading to Nepal to play for Pokhara Rhinos in the Everest Premier League. He requested his fans to support his team.

“I will be visiting Nepal for the biggest sporting event, the Everest Premier League. Come and support my team Pokhara Rhinos and be part of a magnificent cricket fiesta. Nepal, get ready for the Gayle storm.”, he tweeted.

Christopher Henry Gayle aka Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) to Grace TU Stadium in the upcoming season of @eplt20official. Get ready for #GayleStorm, #UNIVERSEBOSS for a reason ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4hvy0V2JeV

— Nepal Cricket (@Nepal_Cricket) January 30, 2020

Likewise, the EPL organizers also confirmed the participation of Gayle in the league in a post on their official twitter page.

Other big names in the league include:

• Hashim Amla (South Africa)
• Dwayne Smith (West Indies)
• Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan‎)

The upcoming event is expected to promote Nepal Cricket into the global stage. Moreover, it is considered to support Nepali tourism during the ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign.

Related EPL Stories:

• Lalitpur Patriots Win #EPL2018 Title!

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The Nepali government is under high pressure to implement sophisticated measures to prevent possible spread of the virus in the country as the neighbouring country is battling to prevent the virus.

So far, Nepal has confirmed only one coronavirus case. A 32-year-old youth who had returned from China was infected with the coronavirus.

But, the epidemic outbreak of coronavirus in China has started alarming the Nepali tourism sector while the country has just inaugurated the ‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ campaign.

As a response to the outbreak, the Chinese Government has implemented travel restrictions across the country and moreover, the China Tourism Association has halted all outbound tourist groups since January 26, 2020.

These travel restrictions have led to the significant fall in the number of Chinese visitors to Nepal and started impacting the Nepali tourism sector that is expecting 2 million foreign tourists in 2020.

Even the third-country tourists are becoming cautious of visiting Nepal as the country has no proper healthcare infrastructure and shares most of its border with China.

Moreover, the outbreak has also affected the movement of Nepal-bound visitors who have been using China as the transit for their travel.

Apart from tourism, the outbreak has started affecting the Nepali bilateral trade with China as both countries have imposed trade movement restrictions at Nepal-China borders including the international crossing point Rasuwagadhi-Kerung.

Apart from alarming the Nepali health industry, the coronavirus has also started affecting the country’s trade with China. China is one of the prominent trading partners of Nepal. During the FY 2018-19, Nepal exported goods worth NPR 2.58 billion to China, while imports from China stood at NPR 214.80 billion.

Other Coronavirus Latest Updates:

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• Homeopathy for Prevention of Corona Virus Infections

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Dignitaries at the Program:

• Yogesh Bhattarai – Nepali Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
• Mahesh Raj Dahal – Nepali Ambassador to Australia
• Shesh Ghale – NRNA’s former President and Chief Patron
• Graladis – Member of Australian Federal Parliament
• Keshab Kandel – President of NRNA Australia

During the program, Minister Bhattarai has persuaded the Nepali tourism authorities to attract 100,000 Australian tourists during Visit Nepal Year 2020.

Minister Bhattarai said that the Nepali Government is trying to implement direct flight services between Nepal and Australia to provide hassle-free transportation facilities for the Australian tourists.

He further requested the Nepalese to support the Australians in the devastating bushfire incident.

Earlier, Minister Yogesh Bhattarai has organized the inauguration ceremony of ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign in Sydney on January 7, 2020.

The Nepali government has inaugurated the ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign on January 1, 2020 with an aim to attract 2 million foreign tourists.

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Offering a picturesque view of few of the world’s highest mountains Dhaulagiri (8,167), Annapurna (8, 091), Macchapucchare (6,997m), Manasalu (8,163m) and 25 other mountains, Sarangkot gently onlooks the city of Pokhara and Phewa lake that further enhance the beauty of the scenic view.

A walk back in time

Earlier, Sarangkot was a Village Development Committee located west of the Pokhara and has a population of about 5,060 and 1,010 households as per the 1991 census. The region later became part of Pokhara 26 in 2015.

What Makes Sarangkot Special?

Sarangkot is one of the popular Nepali tourism destinations home to paragliders from across the world.

Though these sport enthusiasts thoroughly enjoy what they do, it may become almost impossible for an onlooker to look through the clouds and haze.

They say that the most beautiful view comes after the hardest climb and this is especially true about Sangarkot!

A climb to Sarangkot presents a spell-binding view of the sunrise and sunset over the mammoth, snow-capped mountains. This is where you can experience the breath-taking scene of mountains dazzling in gold, orange and red.

Sarangkot offers an awesome riding experience in the form of the Tandem flight. The bird-eye view from the flight treats nature and adventure-lovers’ with a scintillating picture of the entire mountain range surrounding the Phewa Lake.

Enjoy the thrill of flying high in the company of mighty birds like eagles and vultures!

Life in Sarangkot

This beautiful hill has some traditional village houses, a school and a community radio station 104.6 MHz run by the inhabitants to promote the local culture. Besides, Sarangkot also houses some hotels and rooms that offer stunning views of the mountains. If not trekking, you can also enjoy the beautiful view of the mountains whilst relaxing in the rooms.

Home to National Flower!

Sarangkot is home to the Rhododendron forest. The red rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal. This flower is a genus of 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family and is found mainly in Asia. Trekkers will find these trees on pathways of their trek.

Other Places of Interest Around

Some of the tourist attractions in and around Sarangkot include the Australian Camp, Phewa lake, Devi falls, Gupteshwar Cave, Begnas Lake, Thani Mai temple, Siddha Gufa and Patale Dvar.

How to get there?

The Sarangkot hill can be reached via taxi, motorcycle, walk or tour, and should be booked a day in advance in case of taxi. A taxi drive will take 30-40 minutes and will have you left at a walking distance of 15-20 minutes from the climb.

Around Sarangkot, you can either hire a driver with a bike or choose to drive a bike alone. A walk to the climb can last for about 3-5 hours and begins from the Baglung bus park or a remote trail from the Phew Tal lake.

Another convenient option is the tour that is mostly arranged by the hotels people stay at, who arrange both your means of transport and provide a guide.

Schedule your long-awaited trip to Sarangkot, leave the baggage of the world behind and reconnect with your spiritual self with the surreal views of the place!

Also Read:

• Pokhara – Tourism Capital of Nepal
• Nepal, The Perfect Tourism Destination
• Sarangkot – The Adventure Lover’s Paradise
• Biratnagar – Industrial Capital of Nepal
• Nepal’s Lumbini Among ‘Best in Asia 2018’
• Kathmandu: Nepal’s City of Glory!

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Fighting back social challenges and natural calamities, Nepal, in 2017, made major strides in almost all areas including inclusive development, industry and commerce, economy, politics, human rights, among various others.

Here are some of the key highlights of major developments in Nepal in 2017:

Bilateral Ties and Key Pacts

2017 has been a prosperous year for Nepal in building its image in the global arena through diplomatic ties.

On December 19, 2017, Nepal completed 60 years of its diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.

US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B Teplitz (In Right)

The United States Embassy also celebrated 70 years of US-Nepal bilateral relationship on December 13, 2017.

Besides strengthening existing ties, Nepal also began its diplomatic relations with nations such as State of Eretria, Uganda and Kingdom of Bahamas.

Very recently, a new friendship association to boost Nepal-Myanmar diplomatic ties was also formed. The Myanmar-Nepal Friendship Association is the first such group formed since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1960.

Nepal also signed bilateral partnerships with various countries for cooperation across different sectors.

Nepali Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi and the Ambassador of Morocco to Nepal Mohamed Maliki signed a MoU for the formation of a bilateral consultation mechanism between Nepal and Morocco on August 3, 2017.

Nepal has also signed a Bilateral Labor Agreement with Jordan on October 18, 2017.

         Indian Businessmen Invited to Invest in Nepal

The Government of India also promised its investment in the Nepali industry.

In response, the Government of Nepal has very recently welcomed the Indian business community to invest in Nepal.

“It’s an opportune time to invest in Nepal with bilateral trade on the upswing,” says Embassy of Nepal Charge d’Affairs Bharat Kumar Regmi.

Japan and the United States also promised assistance and funding for the development of Nepali education sector.

In a move enhancing its diplomatic ties with Nepal, the Parliament of Brazil has also formed a six-member Brazil-Nepal Parliamentary Group.

This is the first such Group in the history of Nepal-Brazil ties and is formed as a result of the recently-approved statute to promote inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

In a recent meeting on December 25, 2017, Oman and Nepal discussed bilateral cooperation across various sectors, wherein, the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry of Oman Ahmed Hassan Al-Dheeb welcomed collaboration with the Nepali business community across various sectors.

Earlier, Nepal had also expressed willingness to send its labor to work in Oman thus enhancing the Oman-Nepal labor cooperation.

With an aim to boost the Nepal-Austria bilateral ties, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (AFEC) had also signed a MoU on October 31, 2017.

The new collaboration will focus on enhancing private sector collaboration for promoting trade, commerce and technology transfer between the two countries.

Here, it is noteworthy that the leftist alliance, which will form the next Nepali Government, has recently announced that the new Nepali Government will maintain Nepal’s diplomatic relations with neighboring nations based on independent foreign policy.

Politics

2017 has changed the political landscape of Nepal and has, in fact, emerged as the game-changer year for the country.

Local-level polls and legislative polls, the most-awaited elections for Nepal and its citizens, were successfully held in 2017. These elections were held in the country for the first time in the last 20 years.

The local polls were held in three phases with the first two phases on May 14 and June 28, and the third phase on September 18, 2017.

Another major milestone for Nepal is the two-phase country’s parliamentary and provincial polls held on November 26, 2017 and December 7, 2017, respectively. In this election, Nepali politics saw major political shifts with the Communist alliance winning the game finally to form the next government.

Interestingly, the red flag (left parties) registered grand victory in both the landmark polls of Nepal.

Next

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On the occasion, a talk program was organized in Kathmandu to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of Nepal-Lanka diplomatic ties.

“Apart from diplomatic relations, we also have cultural relations. And, we should take this relationship to a new height,” Nepali Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi said in the talk program.

Stating that relations between Nepal and Sri Lanka were not confined to bilateral ties, Bairagi informed that both the countries also closely collaborate in regional forums such as BIMSTEC and SAARC, and also across multilateral forums like the United Nations.

He also thanked the Government of Sri Lanka for its support to Government of Nepal in the reconstruction activity post the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

In response, the Sri Lankan Ambassador WS Pereira also spoke about cultural and religious ties between the two nations.

Heading Further

Stating that the friendship between the two countries has strengthened over the years, Pereira informed that every Sri Lankan wishes to visit Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha in Kathmandu, once in lifetime.

She further informed that the beginning of direct flight services from Kathmandu to Colombo would boost the Nepal-Lanka bilateral ties and tourism in both the nations.

She also raised concern that Nepal-Lanka bilateral trade remains almost negligible despite the existence of Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1979, between the two countries.

On the occasion, Lumbini Buddhist University Vice Chancellor Naresh Man Bajracharya highlighted the prospects of knowledge and information exchange between the two countries, making a special emphasis on educational institutions of both the countries focused on Buddhist education.

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The country hosts the world’s highest Mount Everest peak, a lifetime aim for mountaineers across the world, irrespective of the gender.

Interestingly, there is a rising trend of women mountaineers climbing the Mt Everest peak and statistics show a remarkable rise in such trend since the past decade, especially in case of Nepal.

According to the Nepali Department of Tourism, around 323 Nepali women have climbed Mt Everest till 2016 since the first Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei made it to the summit in 1975.

23 Nepali women have reached the Mt Everest summit till 2016, including 10 in 2008 alone with seven of them belonging to the Seven Summits Women Team.

Mountaineering as a Profession

Despite the rising trend of the involvement of Nepali women in adventurous activities, only a few are opting mountaineering as a profession, says Maya Sherpa, the second Vice-President of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).

“The increasing number of women mountaineers is good.  But only a few of them have taken mountaineering as a profession. Many go there just to fulfil their aim,” says Sherpa hoping that the number would increase in future.

According to Sherpa, Nepal currently has three women as mountain guides and a few more are under training.

Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, a female mountain guide, says, “I have seen many women climbing Everest just to fulfil their interest and use it as a tool to migrate to foreign countries,” expressing her satisfaction over the increasing interest for adventurous activities like trekking and mountaineering among Nepali women.

According to NMA, 91 Nepali women took basic and advanced training in mountaineering till 2008.

NMA expects the number to have doubled in recent years following its allocation of six training quotas for women in basic mountaineering training.

Besides, the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management has also offered trekking guide training to around 200 Nepali women.

A new team of five women journalists has also announced their plan to climb Mt Everest in the next spring.

Rise in Women Summiteers

While it was only 63 women in three decades before 2006, the number of women mountaineers who successfully summitted the Mt Everest grew to 260 during 2006-16, indicating a growing interest among women towards mountaineering activity.

2013 saw the highest number (55) of women mountaineer summits to Mt Everest, while it was 44 in 2016 despite a two-year break to the expedition post the 2015 earthquake.

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This festival is coming as the 16^th edition of the Himalayan White Water Challenge (HWCC), a river rafting festival.

NARA has been organizing this festival since 2002 in different rivers and now, the 16^th HWCC festival is being held in the Trishuli River from Dhading to Chitwan.

Through this festival, NARA aims at promoting domestic and international tourism in Nepal with regard to adventurous water rafting and establish the country’s image as the best global destination for adventurous water tourism.

NARA also intends to enhance the skills of river guides and athletes using this platform.

Apart from Nepal, the championship is being supported by river guides from different countries such as India, Japan, America, Dubai, Turkey, Italy, Britain and Iceland, and a total of 500 athletes are expected to participate.

The championship will be held in four categories and the winner of each category will be awarded with a cash prize of Rs 100,000, followed by Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 for the second and third positions, respectively.

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