International airlines flying to and from Nepal will have to issue air tickets in Nepali currency as per the new provision introduced recently by the Nepal Rastra Bank. The new provision will come into effect from July 1.
As of today, airlines, except the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation, have been issuing air tickets only in dollars. Nepali travel agents and public were bearing huge loss because of the strengthening dollars and weakening Nepali currency.
According to sources at the central bank, the new provision could be introduced in close coordination with Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Nepal Oil Corporation, Nepal Airlines Corporation and Board of Airlines Representatives Nepal, the apex body of international airlines operating in the country.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Air tickets in Nepali currency
Thursday, June 25, 2009
NMA organises climbers' meet
Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) on June 21 organised a special meeting of climbers to address the woes and difficulties that they are facing professionally.
For the last many months, NMA has been trying to counter the causes that lead to dissatisfaction and discontentment among hundreds of mountain climbers. The main issues discussed were of social security from the government's side to the climbers and their families on retirement and in the unfortunate event of a climbing accident leading to death or injury.
World’s first sports tourism expo unveiled
World Sport Destination Expo will provide an unrivalled market place for sports tourism – at least 250,000 visitors are expected, including the leading decision-makers from sport and tourism as they congregate in Johannesburg ahead of the final match of FIFA 2010.
“We have been overwhelmed with the uptake for World Sport Destination Expo,” says Chris Frost, Event Director, World Sport Destination Expo. “Sport and tourism are becoming ever-increasingly linked, so hosting the event in Johannesburg during FIFA 2010 has elicited an overwhelming response. The timing also coincides with the FIFA World Congress, which also takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre, so the attendees are guaranteed be a who’s who of the sporting world.”
The event will feature an exhibition area of 10,000 square metres. Over 400 exhibiting companies representing international sports federations, host cities of top sporting events, tourist boards, global hotel chains and resorts will meet to conduct business with the top buyers from the sport tourism industry.
Running concurrently with the exhibition will also be a sports tourism conference, featuring a line-up of leading speakers and delegates drawn from sports, tourism and sports tourism industries.
Chris Frost adds: “If you work in sports and tourism, or if you want to learn how to tap into a market now worth $600 billion a year and rising, this will be the ultimate forum to show your product to the world and conduct lucrative business deals.”
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Entry fee to Pashupatinath Area Raised
Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has decided to double the entry fee for foreigners to the Pashupatinath area from June 15. Paramananda Shakya, member secretary at PADT, said that the entry fee had been increased to Rs 500 from existing Rs 250.
Visitors from India, however, are not required to pay any fee. Shakya, however, revealed that the PADT had been studying the possibilities of introducing entry fee for Indian visitors to generate more funds. Shakya also said the PADT already informed tour operators about the change in entry fee structure to the area listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
More than 300 foreigners visit the Pashupatinath area every day.
“After increasing the entry fee, we will also focus on infrastructure development in the area. We will build more eateries and restrooms of international standard. We are also planning to present an attractive souvenir to every foreign visitors visiting the area,” Shakya said.
Meanwhile, the PADT has deployed additional tourist police personnel and security guards for the wellbeing of foreign visitors.
Direct Kathmandu-Amsterdam flights from October 2009
Earlier, Transavia and Martin Air used to fly from the Dutch capital to Kathmandu.
Nepali Ambassador to the Netherlands Pramesh Kumar Hamal said that increased air connectivity to Nepal from market hubs of Europe such as Holland would bring positive effect on the resurgence of tourism in Nepal. Stating that Nepal has adopted a liberal and open sky policy in view of the landlocked status of the nation, he said that Arke Fly would be able to tap the already existing market demand for direct air connection to Nepal and that their venture would lead to success.
Chief Executive Officer of Arke Fly Steven Vander Heijden spoke of Holland’s past experience in direct flight operation to Nepal and said that the decision taken by his company to launch flight to Nepal from October 2009 draws a lot from those experiences. He underlined the magnetic charms of Nepal as a tourist destination and showed his commitment to launch the flight at the stipulated time.
He informed that there would one flight per week in the beginning, which could be increased as per the market demand in the future.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
No travel restrictions recommended despite move to Phase 6 pandemic status
Specifically, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, stressed in a statement to the press on 11 June 2009 that “WHO continues to recommend no restrictions on travel and no border closures”. On the same day UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that “we must guard against rash and discriminatory action, such as travel bans or trade restrictions”.
The move to phase 6 is based on the geographic spread of the influenza A(H1N1) virus and is not related to its severity. The current overall assessment of the severity of the virus remains moderate.
WHO points out that limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the disease, but would be highly disruptive to the global community.
In order to protect themselves and others under the current situation, individual travelers are cautioned to act in a responsible manner towards themselves, towards those around them and in the host communities of their destinations. They should familiarize themselves with the simple prevention practices that apply in daily life and while travelling such as hand-washing and normal cough etiquette. People who are ill should delay travel plans. Returning travellers who show influenza symptoms should contact their health care provider.
Travelers are encouraged to stay informed. They should check regularly with www.SOS.travel and other reliable resources for the latest updates and information issued by health and travel professionals to monitor any developments.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Bill Clinton to cities: Act on climate
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Tuesday urged urban leaders and policymakers they need to take the lead now in fighting climate change.
Bill Clinton to urban leaders in Seoul: What will you do about climate change?
"What are you going to do and how much are you going to spend?" Clinton asked leaders from the world's biggest cities at a climate summit being held in South Korea's capital, Seoul.
Officials from the world's 40 biggest cities plus 17 affiliate municipalities are attending the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, which ends on Thursday.
Waiting for nations to take the lead with a new climate protocol in Copenhagen in December is not an option, said David Miller, mayor of Toronto and chairman of the C40 Cities Leadership Group.
"If governments talk about reducing CO2 (carbon dioxide), cities are the ones that show how it's done," Miller said. "The point is that cities act, and working together we have a scale and a size that we dramatically increase people's ability to fight climate change.
"The challenge for national governments is that while they can sometimes reach agreement they don't know how to act collectively," Miller continued. "For cities, that's easier. We all have climate strategies, but can make our actions work better and make the partnerships to do that."
The Seoul summit is the third conference by cities held to discuss responses to climate chnage. The C40 group was established in London in 2005. A second summit was held in New York in 2007.
Much of the talk at this week's conference was how major urban centers could work toward adhering to the Kyoto Protocol, the existing environmental treaty that sets targets for nations to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations. Adopted in December 1997, the Kyoto Protocol entered into force in February 2005.
In countries that did not sign up to the Kyoto agreement, cities took it upon themselves to reduce their carbon footprint. While the United States did not sign Kyoto, 825 U.S. cities and towns signed up to a climate protection agreement that embraced that protocol's goals.
Some nations that signed Kyoto have set more ambitious environmental targets. Copenhagen, for example, aims to be the world's first carbon neutral capital by 2025.
Toronto, like other cities, will be sending a city delegation to Copenhagen for the U.N. summit in December. There to lobby governments and for a parallel cities summit, Miller hopes that the actions that cities are taking now, and the partnership that he expects to be made while in Seoul this week, will serve as examples that the carbon reduction goals can be reached.
"Copenhagen is very important for all countries to agree, because we are losing the battle. Cities will be there and we're going to be very active. We'll have credibility because we are actually doing things. We'll be able to say to governments that they need to engage, empower and resource cities so we can accomplish the goals."
How to actually reduce CO2 emissions is the purpose of the Seoul summit, Clinton reminded delegates. Representing around 600 million people worldwide, mayors and policymakers in Seoul have the ability to make a difference with climate change policies, the former U.S. president added.
If the methods of reducing a city's carbon footprint are known there is still the question of the means, which vary wildly between the first world urban areas such as Seoul, London and Toronto, and other attendees from cities in the developing world, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Lagos, Nigeria.
Miller believes that providing good examples of effective climate change policies and grasping the opportunity for cities to take the lead in planning for a low-carbon future should not be missed.
He highlighted Toronto's own "tower renewal" project, retrofitting buildings in a run-down area of town that he hopes will be an example of a carbon-neutral urban renewal project that can be applicable elsewhere.
New building projects in two areas of London and the creation of a new city in central Florida -- Destiny -- were among 16 projects announced at the summit as climate-positive initiatives and supported by the Clinton Climate Initiative. Once built, these projects will absorb more CO2 than they use, supporters claimed.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon introduced the South Koren capital's ambitious environmental plans, including building a vast path of park land bisecting the capital.
Delegates cited practical challenges they are facing. The spread of the H1N1 virus had crippled Mexico City's economy by scaring off tourists, officials from that city said at the summit. Without money, they said, even the most promising environmental plans can struggle.
Luis Castaneda Lossio, the mayor of Lima, Peru, highlighted the initiatives his city is trying to pursue. Compared to Seoul's thousands of acres of parkland, he admitted they had struggled to plant 150 trees in the traffic-clogged city.
"Solidarity is essential!" Lossio said with verve as a final remark during his address on making Lima a low-carbon city.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Humla & Far Western Nepal
Along with visiting these beautiful Humla Himalaya we can continue into Tibet for excellent tour of Mt. Kailash, Manasarovar lake and ancient Kingdom Guge tour.
Few Photos of the region,
World Tourism Day 2009: ‘Tourism - Celebrating Diversity’ hosted by Ghana
UNWTO Secretary-General a.i., Taleb Rifai, underscores tourism’s potential as a reliable job creator and contributor to economic wealth. “There is increasing awareness of tourism’s role as a productive activity and its undisputed potential to generate employment, government income and other benefits whether directly or through induced effects in the economy. Tourism is a global industry and as such has a responsibility to make positive contributions world wide.”
This year’s host is Ghana, one of the Organization’s first member states and a key player in UNWTO’s Sustainable Tourism for Elimination of Poverty (ST-EP) programme.
The Ghanaian government has scheduled a series of forums and cultural events that will stretch through the week of the 21st of September and climax with UNWTO’s Think Tank and press conference on the 27 September.
UNWTO is expecting high involvement of international tourism stakeholders from the public and private sector to participate in this event.
World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on 27 September. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the UN Millennium Development Goals and to highlight the contributions the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Tourism fraternity observes World Environment Day
Tourism entrepreneurs, representatives of KMC, conservationists, students, mediapersons and local community actively participated in the ceremony. Over 500 saplings were planted in the 1.5 km stretch on the banks of Bishnumati River near Shovabhagwati temple. They also cleaned the Bishnumati River. Nepal Mountaineering Association will manage the area.
Speaking on the occasion, various speakers underlined the need to preserve our fragile environment from the threat of pollution and impacts of global warming, also requested all concerned to take immediate initiatives in protecting our environment.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tourist Visa Rules in Nepal ( Effective from 16 July 2008 )
Tourists who visit Nepal must hold valid passport and visa.
Entry
- Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
- Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
- Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
- Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
- Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
- Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
- Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
- Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)
Tourist Visa
| Visa Facility | Duration | Fee |
| Multiple entry | 15 days | US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency |
| Multiple entry | 30 days | US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency |
| Multiple entry | 90 days | US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency |
Tourist Visa Extension
- Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day
- Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January – December).
Gratis (Free) Visa
Transit Visa
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Everest Day marked with gusto
Nepal celebrated 2nd Everest Day amidst great fanfare on May 29. Various events were organised to make the first ascent of Mt Everest on this very day in 1953.
The celebrations began with a morning procession which started from Bhadrakali and passed through major thoroughfares before concluding at Jamal. Hundreds of people including mountaineers, government officials, travel trade people and general people participated in the rally. The participants displayed placards respecting Mt Everest and urging agencies concerned to minimize the risk of global warming in the Himalayas.
Various travel trade associations including Nepal Tourism Board, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Nepal Mountaineering Association and others participated in the rally.
Meanwhile, a clean-up campaign was also organized in Lukla Airport as a part of observing the Everest Day.
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