According to United Nations figures, international tourist arrivals fell by four per cent in 2009 and the earnings from international tourism dropped by six per cent as the world economy went into a tailspin.

However, speaking to reporters as the ITB opened, the secretary-general of the UN’s World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Taleb Rifai, said that the worst was over.

“We do think that we are leaving the bad year behind, clearly. The last part of 2009 and the first part of 2010 indicate a bottoming out,” he said. “People are going to continue to want to travel. It’s unstoppable. It’s become engrained in the culture and psyche of people. It has become a human right,” he said.

“Even when incomes went down, people continued to travel. They travelled differently, they travelled cheaper, they travelled closer, they spent less money, but they did not stop travelling.” At the Berlin fair, described by Rifai as “the mother of all tourism fairs”, 11,127 companies from 187 countries have booked stands, organisers said, a very slight rise from last year.

However, in the German market, Europe’s biggest, the recovery was likely to be delayed until 2011, the country’s tourism board head said.Klaus Laepple said that 2010 “will be a challenging year but also a year of consolidation and stability. We are cautiously optimistic but we are not euphoric. 2011 could once again be a normal year.”

The ITB was due to open for trade visitors and media on Wednesday and throw its doors open to the public on March 13, wrapping up a day later. Meanwhile, corporate travel is likely to grow by 10-15 per cent in Asia this year as business activities improve from last year’s sharp falls, a major air ticketing and reservations firm said. Singapore-based Abacus International said that the recovery will be gradual because most of the austerity measures and travel policies implemented during the global economic downturn are likely to remain.

“As businesses resume to the ‘new normal’, we should also see an upward adjustment in travel budgets when business activities improve in a more thriving economic climate,” said Abacus’ vice-president for marketing Brett Henry. “We are expecting to see a gradual 10-15 per cent growth in corporate travel in 2010, especially in traditional corporate travel markets like Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong,” he said in a statement.

Business travel declined by 15-20 per cent last year and the amount spent during these trips dropped between 25 and 40 per cent, Henry said. Despite the downturn, the overall bookings for Abacus shrank a narrower-than-expected one per cent in 2009 from the year before, thanks to a pickup starting from the second half.

Emerging markets in Central Asia as well as Nepal, Bangladesh and South Korea are seen as key growth areas.In Nepal also, tourist arrivals has started looking up. The arrivals via air have been encouraging in the last couple of months — South Asian and Chinese arrivals especially posted robust growth.

Visitor arrivals figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, for the month of February — compared to the same month last year — increased by 33 per cent to 33,492. The entire South Asian region posted overall positive growth of 12.1 per cent, with arrivals from India growing by 1.8 per cent, Bangladesh by 110.2 per cent, Pakistan by one per cent and Sri Lanka by 11.6 per cent.

China, one of the largest source markets for Nepal, bounced back with a remarkable growth of 242.5 per cent.

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Tourism+eyes+sunnier+days+as+worlds+top+fair+opens&NewsID=232375

Air Zermatt designed the week-long training to Nepali team with the objective of extending expertise in alpine rescue operations in the Himalayas.

Other participants of the training are Captain Sabin Basnyat, Chief Pilot Pradip Gautam and Senior Technician Purna Awale, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday. Binod Giri, chief of Aviation Safety Department under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, is also in the team.

“Air Zermatt´s rescue operations have saved millions of lives. The company is known worldwide for conducting human sling operations (a difficult aerial rescue maneuver involving dropping an expert mountain guide at an inaccessible point to lift stranded people using ropes),” the statement added.

The transfer of skills from Swiss Alps to the Nepal Himalayas will not only help in saving lives on the high mountains, but will also enhance level of safety and instill confidence in adventure enthusiasts, Pandey said in the statement.

Source: http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=16123

“The first launch outside the valley will start either from Pokhara or Nepalgunj,” said Dhruba Narayan Shrestha, coordinator of Tourism section at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and a member of NTY 2011 working committee.

The NTY 2011 will be launched from five different cities – Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, and Janakpur — from east to west, the NTY commitee has till date decided Shrestha said. “People besides Kathmandu valley are now very much aware about the ambitious national campaign that aims to attract one million tourists,” he said adding that “within April we will organise promotional programmes in Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar and Janakpur.”

“Similarly, a study has been conducted at 10 different border points, Shrestha said, “to facilitate the visitors not only for the tourism year but all the year round.” Nepal Tourism Board along with private sector will develop a one window at the border area. “We are planning for a one window at the different border points that will have facility of Immigration, Custom, Transportation Office, Food court, Nepali Handicraft Exhibition Centre and other facilities required for tourists as soon as they reach Nepal border,” he added. Till date the study has been conducted at the border in Birgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Kakarbhitta, Dhangadi, Pashupati Nagar, Janakpur and Nepalgunj. With the slogan ‘together for tourism’, all the political parties including Nepali Congress, CPN UML, UCPN Maoist, RPP committed not to call for any strike and bandhs during the year 2011.

Tourism being the largest industry in Nepal is the largest source of foreign exchange and revenue. Possessing eight out of the 10 highest mountains in the world, Nepal is a hotspot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers and people seeking adventure.

With the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal, Kathmandu’s economy is tourism centric used to contribute 3.8 per cent to the GDP in 1995-96. However, it has declined since then.

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=NTY+2011+to+be+launched+outside+valley&NewsID=232111

This is possibly the first hoarding board of the campaign outside the country. The hoarding with information about NTY can be seen from busy streets of Los Angeles. The hoarding has been installed near the main city of LA 710 Highway where 160,000 vehicles ply every day.

According to Nepali Embassy at Washington DC, the hoarding board is sponsored by tourism entrepreneur Basudev Ghimire. “This is just a small initiative to promote Nepal´s tourism sector,” Ghimire told myrepublica.com. He further added such hoardings can be placed in other hotspots in the US if there is support and cooperation from Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and entrepreneurs from Nepal.

Dr Sharma appealed to Nepali community in the US to take the initiative in making the year-long tourism promotional campaign a grand success.

PM Madhav Kumar Nepal formally launched the campaign amid a colorful ceremony in Kathmandu on February 26. Through the campaign, the government targets to welcome one million visitors in 2011. Despite negative travel advisory, more than 30,000 US citizens visited Nepal in 2009.

Source: http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=16070

The Kathmandu Paragliding and Hang Gliding Co, which is bringing this popular sport in the capital, want people to enjoy the skies and see the valley “from a completely different view” by taking part in this extreme adventure sports.

“If you’ve been paragliding in Nepal or if you’ve wanted to try it out, everyone knows that Pokhara is the place to be. What people don’t know is that we now have paragliding in the Kathmandu Valley,” said the company in a statement, “Whether this is your first time in Nepal or you’ve grown up in Kathmandu, this is an exciting opportunity for everyone.”

Established in 2008, Kathmandu Paragliding & Hang Gliding Co. Pvt. Ltd. thrives with the objective of organizing and promoting paragliding in Nepal. It is affiliated with Nepal Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association (NEPHA) and certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

KTM paragliding has been flying their tandem operation with internationally licensed paragliding instructors and pilots for quite some time.

The company said that it also provides opportunities for solo and tandem flights and will soon train paragliding pilots.

Source: http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/4-sports/4565-paragliding-for-thrill-seekers-in-kathmandu.html

Yeti Airlines having more than 60 percent market share in domestic air connectivity, has been gradually expanding since its establishment in 1998 with two aircraft. It has been operating flights from three operational hubs in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj and Surkhet to more than 29 destinations across the country.

The airline operates scheduled flights, cargo and chartered flights as per the necessity of the customers. Yeti Airlines has been working as a means of transportation in mountain areas like Bajhang, Simikot, Rukum, Dolpa, Bajura, Jumla, Lukla and Rumjatar among others.

“We want to focus on domestic sector. We won´t operate international flights until and unless we are fully prepared. There is no point flying in just one or two international routes,” Shrestha shared. He further added that the company believed in slow but steady progress and that it had been the policy of the company over the years. “The balance between our capacity and market needs determines whether or not to go for international skies,” he added.

Yeti has always been known for its diversified products in domestic air travel. It also operates chartered flights for sky diving from one of the highest elevations in the world. The airline has also fixed consumer-friendly airfare on its routes. Yeti´s airfare is comparatively cheaper than other domestic operators in the country.

“Observing the air supply and demand trend, I must say the demand for air seats is low. Nepal has a huge domestic air travel seats available. I don´t think there will be any problem for domestic air seats during Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011, which has the objective of welcoming one million tourists,” Shrestha shared.

Currently, Yeti alone is serving about half a million passengers in a year. The airline has a fleet of seven 30-seater turboprop Jetstream 41 aircraft designed and built by British Aerospace. Tara Air, another associated company of Yeti Airlines, has eight aircraft and a chopper in its fleet.

Analysis of Passenger on Board (POB) data of Yeti Airlines since 2006 to 2009 shows gradual increase in the number of passengers using Yeti for air travel.

In its bid to further facilitate air travel, Yeti recently started its online booking and payment through Global Bank´s network. Global Bank is the third bank to join hands with Yeti for e-ticketing. Yeti already has such ties with Everest Bank and Nepal Investment Bank.

Yeti Airlines has a prestigious corporate profile with around 800 employees. The airline is best known for its punctuality and reliable service.

Highlighting hindering issues in the airline industry, Shrestha suggested the government to implement passengers and industry friendly tax regime. “Differential tariffs on landing, parking, and navigation should be stopped and value added tax (VAT) on import of machineries and other essential equipments should be reduced,” Shrestha demanded.

He also suggested strengthening aviation regulator Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for making domestic aviation system strong.

Source: http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=16009

The feasibility study will start in April and last 10 months. “In the first phase, there will be a detailed feasibility study and design feasibility study,” said Binay B. Rawal, Landmark’s Nepal representative. According to him, for the detailed feasibility study and design feasibility study, the company would invest US$ 3.8 million.

With a total investment of US$ 600 million in the first phase and US$ 1 billion until the final stage, the project is to be operated under the “build, own, operate, transfer” (BOOT) model. The proposed new airport will have two parallel runways.

The project will encompass an area of 80 sq km out of which 40 sq km will be occupied by the airport and a town will be founded on the rest. As per the design feasibility, the airport will be constructed under the forecast growth of passenger traffic in the future. The airport will be constructed citing over two to three million passengers by the year 2015, so the existing capacity of the airport will be sufficient to accommodate the growing number of air passengers.

In July 1997, NEPECON-RID had carried out a pre-feasibility study on a second international airport. During that time, pre-feasibility studies of all the probable airport sites were carried out and Nijgadh was found to be economically viable.

In 2007, The Nepal government had requested the US government to do a feasibility study and prepare a detailed proposal.

During the time, the American Trade and Development Office had shown interest to develop the project. In 2007, the then Tourism Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung had approved the programme, however, government instability pushed the project into an indeterminate state.

Subsequently, the then Tourism Minister Hisila Yami continued the programme during the Maoist-led government, which pushed the programme to make clear the negotiation procedure with the interested company. “The project was stuck for more than eight months during that time,” Rawal said.

Source: http://www.kantipuronline.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/03/07/Business/Second-Intl-airport-to-take-off/5922/

It is available in 90 kilometers from Chatara of Sunsari to Sankhuwasabha, the eastern hilly district.

Prior to this, many attempts made to begin rafting trips in the river had become unsuccessful due to high flow of water and low surface of the river.

A modern jet stream boat has been brought from America for the service.

The stream boat on which 20 passengers can ride in a single time can easily travel below the three feet depth of water.

According to Sumnima Water Travel Pvt Ltd, the operator of the boat, it can travel up to 80 kilometers in an hour. The service was started by investing around Rs. 50 million.

Two American technicians have been hired to regularly operate the service.

Source: http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=15915