Nepal promotes tourism diversity, wellness at PATA Travel Mart

Kathmandu, Aug. 20

Nepal has promoted its tourism destinations and products at the PATA Travel Mart 2026, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading international business-to-business travel trade events, held from August 18 to 20 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter participated in the event in collaboration with Nepal Airlines and nine private-sector travel trade companies, showcasing Nepal’s tourism attractions and services to international buyers and travel industry stakeholders.

According to a press statement of PATA Nepal Chapter, the mart brought together more than 1,100 tourism delegates from 48 countries and destinations, including 221 buyers representing 215 companies from 29 source markets.

It also featured more than 365 sellers representing over 200 tourism organisations and destinations, providing opportunities to connect with international markets and establish new business partnerships.

The Nepali exhibitors at PTM 2026 included Himalayan Holidays Nepal, ExpeditionHimalaya.com, Destinago Tours & Travels, Royal Mountain Travel, Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, Off the Wall Trekking, Mountain Delight Treks & Expeditions, Mountain Tiger Nepal, and Mission Nepal Holidays.

The "Nepal Pavilion" highlighted Nepal's diverse offerings, including mountaineering, trekking, expeditions, spirituality, wellness, luxury travel, community-based tourism, and immersive, transformative experiences.

"PTM 2026 was very fruitful for Nepali exhibitors, and it gave us a proud moment to celebrate once again, as the PATA Nepal Chapter received the 'Award of Excellence' among global PATA Chapters," said Bibhuti Chand Thakur, Immediate Past Chairman of the PATA Nepal Chapter.

Following the successful conclusion of PTM 2026, the next PATA Travel Mart will be held in Macao from September 20–22, 2027, it said.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 21 August 2026.   

Pandey elected NATTA President

Kathmandu, Aug. 15

Bharat Jang Pandey has been elected president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA). He defeated Yubika Bhandari and Jiswa Tuladhar Shrestha in the association’s 59th Annual General Meeting and executive committee election held in Kathmandu on Friday.

Pandey secured 188 votes, while Bhandari received 158 votes and Shrestha 106 votes – from the total of 453 votes cast.

The panel led by Pandey won all seven office-bearer positions. Five of the eight remaining executive committee positions were also won by candidates from his panel, while three went to candidates from Bhandari’s panel.

Sunil Sharma was elected senior vice-president, Sabita K.C. Bhattarai vice-president, Raj Kumar Devkota secretary general and Ramesh Parajuli was elected secretary.

Likewise, Diki Sherpa was elected treasurer, while Jiban Koirala secured the joint-treasurer position.

The eight elected executive committee members are Smarika Thapa, Prakash Lohani, Nabin Gurung, Dinesh Mainali, Suman Lal Shrestha, Swastika Pradhan, Sanket Dahal and Bibhash Poudel.

During the inaugural session held on Friday, outgoing NATTA president Kumar Mani Thapaliya called for cooperation between the government and private sector on issues affecting the tourism and travel industry.

Hotel Association Nepal President Binayak Shah, Confederation of Nepalese Industries President Birendra Raj Pandey and FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha spoke about private-sector participation and government support for tourism businesses. They emphasised on bringing the international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara in operation and prioritising tourism as a sector to achieve prosperity.

Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Khadak Raj Poudel ‘Ganesh’ said tourism was important to economic growth and referred to proposed amendments to the Tourism Act. He also outlined measures being taken towards Nepal’s removal from the European Union’s aviation safety list, including restructuring the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, strengthening the national flag carrier and bringing two international airports into operation with private-sector participation.

  Published in The Rising Nepal on 16 August 2026.  

Speaker Aryal asks business organisations to stay away from politics

Kathmandu, Aug. 14

Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) DP Aryal has urged business and professional organisations not to engage in political activities.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 59th general assembly of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), he said that since NATTA is a business organisation, it should be kept away from political disputes and vested interests.

"The most important issue for tourists is security. An environment should be created in every sector of tourism services, including airplanes, taxis, and hotels, where tourists feel safe. We should be discussing these issues," said Speaker Aryal.

Stating that human behaviour, services and facilities attract tourists, he stressed that businessmen, the government, and all concerned parties should work together to implement the necessary reforms in the tourism sector and urged them to rise above internal conflicts and personal interests.

He said that sufficient debate and discussion are required in the proposed bill related to tourism. Laws should be formulated with a long-term perspective, keeping in mind the next 50 years, he added.

Likewise, Speaker Aryal emphasised that structural reforms are necessary to make Nepal Airlines Corporation effective and competitive. “Nepal Airlines will be established, but it will not be established with the current structure,” he said.

He urged not to make any discrimination between Nepali and foreign tourists in the course of services. “The practice of encouraging Nepali tourists to stay in hotels and spend generously, while discriminating against them, must come to an end,” he said.

Speaker Aryal also added the Nepal Tourism and Hotel Management Institute (NATHM) should be made stronger, more organised and equipped with facilities. According to him, serious debate is also needed on the effective operation and utilisation of Bhairahawa, Pokhara and Nijgadh airports.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Khadk Raj Paudel expressed the government's commitment to the development of the tourism sector.

"The government is committed to moving ahead, collaborating with the private sector for the development of the country's tourism sector," he said.

"We are actively working to resolve policy and structural issues for the development of the country's tourism sector. Without the private sector's involvement, we can't achieve the desired economic prosperity," stated Minister Paudel.

He also informed that the NATHM is planning to introduce courses on health tourism at the bachelor's and master's levels.

Likewise, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Anjan Shrestha, said the government must end the tendency to rush the formulation of new policies, acts and laws. He urged the government to hold adequate discussions and consultations with relevant stakeholders and the private sector before formulating policies.

He said the tendency to seek suggestions from the private sector without creating an environment in which those suggestions can be effectively incorporated creates problems in policy implementation.

“Before introducing any policy or act, adequate discussion and dialogue are necessary. The situation in which suggestions are sought in haste, and the private sector is then disappointed when its recommendations are not incorporated, must end,” he said.

According to him, the private sector should not merely be present as a witness in the policy-making process but should be involved as a genuine partner.

Emphasising that the relationship between the government and the private sector should be based on trust and partnership rather than control, Shrestha said that if the business environment is made easier and more investment-friendly, the private sector will become stronger, which in turn will automatically boost the overall economy as well as government revenue.

Likewise, he said the direct and indirect contribution of tourism to gross domestic product (GDP), employment, foreign exchange earnings and other economic activities should be properly assessed. “The actual contribution of tourism to the economy must be clearly reflected in the data. If tourism is to be given priority, its contribution, potential and impact must also be properly assessed,” said Shrestha.

He said the country’s economy could be further strengthened by making tourism, exports, information technology and other service sectors more competitive.

Similarly, NATTA President Kumar Thapaliya said that although tourism has potential to bring prosperity to the country, administrative hurdles in the tourism sector have made it difficult to operate.

He stressed the need for the government to coordinate with relevant stakeholders and take the private sector into confidence in order to address the challenges faced by the sector.

The AGM of NATTA is electing a new leadership for the next two years.

NATTA’s incumbent Senior Vice-President Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha, incumbent General Secretary Yubika Bhandari and tourism entrepreneur Bharat Jung Pandey are contesting for the presidency. They have also formed separate panels to campaign and contest the election. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal on 15 August 2026. 

BusSewa announces New Year offer

 Kathmandu, Apr. 6

The online bus ticketing platform, BusSewa, has announced a special offer to mark the Nepali New Year 2082. The New Year offer will be valid from Saturday, April 6 to April 19 (24 Chait 2081 to 6 Baisakh 2082). During this period, passengers purchasing bus tickets through BusSewa will be eligible to participate in this offer.

One lucky winner will receive a cash prize of Rs. 82,000 as part of the bumper prize. Likewise, four winners will receive Rs. 8,200 in cash, the company informed in a statement on Saturday.  Moreover, 82 passengers will receive free tickets throughout the offer period, and there will be a cashback offer of up to Rs. 500 on every ticket booking. This means that for every ticket purchased, a maximum of Rs. 500 will be instantly refunded to the passenger's wallet in cash.

The cash prizes and free ticket schemes will apply to only one ticket booked per account. To participate in the offer, tickets must be booked via BusSewa’s mobile app or website.

Once the payment is made online, the ticket will be confirmed, and BusSewa will notify the passengers via SMS as well.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 April 2025.    

Tourism entrepreneurs demand removal of VAT on air tickets

 Lalitpur, Mar. 19

Tourism entrepreneurs have suggested the government bring down tax rates and introduce waivers in various products and enterprises in order to revive the industry to pre-COVID-19 status.

Speaking at a pre-budget discussion for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025/26 organised by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) in Lalitpur on Tuesday, they demanded a proactive approach in supporting tourism businesses and promoting destinations in the international markets.

CNI's President, Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, said that the government should remove the Value Added Tax (VAT) on air tickets.

Suggesting to make the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) more competitive, he said, "Due to its weakness, foreign airlines have been taking advantage, making Nepal an expensive destination for tourists. To strengthen the national carrier, it is crucial to implement reforms, expand operations, and bring in a strategic partner to enhance its competitiveness in the international market."

Agrawal said that since the European Union included Nepal in its air safety list in 2013, direct air connectivity with European countries has been severed which has been negatively impacting Nepal’s tourism industry for more than a decade.

The CNI said the Visit Nepal Year campaign should only be launched after the development of appropriate infrastructure.

"Nepal should focus on regional markets, particularly India and China, where Buddhist travellers are predominant, and carry out tourism promotion and marketing campaigns accordingly," said Agrawal.

According to him, to promote domestic tourism, a provision should be introduced allowing a family to deduct up to Rs. 100,000 spent on annual domestic travel from their taxable income. Likewise, tourism leave should be institutionalised.

Likewise, General Secretary of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Yubika Bhandari, said that as per international standards, the government cannot impose the Value Added Tax (VAT) on air-ticketing. "We are a landlocked country and many areas are still inaccessible by road. In such a situation, imposing VAT on air service can be counterproductive," she said.

The government aims to raise about Rs. 8 billion from the VAT on air ticketing.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives are witnessing a surge in tourist inflow but we are still struggling to meet the pre-COVID-19 targets.

Reform the NAC

Operation and management of the NAC should be made more competitive and at par with international standards by issuing the Initial Public Offering and involving private sector or international expertise in its management, suggested Bhandari.

According to the entrepreneurs, Nepal should begin accepting the local currency of its South Asian neighbours. It will enhance their confidence about making trips to Nepal's tourist destinations.

Radha Krishna Thapa, Executive Director of Airlines Operators' Association of Nepal, demanded a discount on the VAT on aircraft leasing, and VAT waiver on the earnings of foreign currencies by the aviation companies.

Khem Lakai, CEO of the Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education, criticised government's decision to cut down the budget of Himalayan Travel Mart, an effective platform for the promotion of Nepal's tourism destinations and products.

Shiva Adhikari, President of Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), said that some rivers need to be preserved and developed for adventure sports like rafting and canoeing. Haphazard development works, hydroelectricity projects and exploitation of river-based resources have posed a serious challenge to the rafting business affecting thousands of workers.

He said that the Tourist Police should be provided with basic facilities like housing and offices.

 

Revoke VAT on air tickets

Lawmaker Sunita Baral said that the parliament will discuss the issues of tourism entrepreneurs and nudge the government to find solutions to their challenges.

Lawmaker Udaya Shumsher Rana stressed the need to revoke the decision to impose VAT on air ticketing as it has made travel to Nepal more expensive. He also said that structural reforms are required at the NAC.

Bhim Prasad Acharya, Chief of CPN-UML's Tourism and Civil Aviation Committee, said that while hospitality and tourism services in Nepal are comparatively economic, travel to Nepal from various parts of the world is very expensive and cumbersome.

"Therefore, we must have a strong national flag carrier. It can be created as a subsidiary company under the NAC," he said, while expressing his commitment to supporting the industry by pushing their valid demands.

Chairman of the International Relations and Tourism Committee at the House of Representatives, Raj Kishor Yadav, suggested coming up with pragmatic and plausible demands and plans for tourism sector development.

"As the chair of the concerned House Committee, I would like to assure you that if there are any policy-related issues, we will expedite them with utmost priority," he said.

Binod Prakash Singh, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, expressed his commitment to take up the agenda put forth by the private sector during the budget-making process.

"Some of the challenges are created due to the implementation of age-old policies and laws. We are in the process of updating them. The Ministry will organise an interaction with the entrepreneurs in this regard," he said.

Singh expressed frustration over the mismanagement of Nepal Airlines Corporation and its failure to procure aircraft and expand the market. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 March 2025.    

Ouro Travels launches worldwide transaction office

Kathmandu, Feb. 13

Ouro Travels and Tours inaugurated a worldwide transaction office in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The company also appointed Narayan Subedi as its new Executive Chairman. He has more than two decades of experience in banking and has been working as a visiting faculty in various universities.

"Ouro Travel has upscaled its services to inbound and outbound tourism, air ticketing services, global hotel reservation services, visa and documentation services, travel insurance services, worldwide vehicle rental services, and specialised desk for corporate clientele," the company said in a statement.

Director and Co-Founder of the company, Mahesh Chandra Ghimire said that with highly skilled professionals with experience in tourism, banking and information technology, it offers world-class services to domestic and international customers.

The company aims to promote various destinations from Nepal to international tourists and collaborate with international companies to attract more tourists to Nepal.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 February 2025.  

Breakfast Amidst Wilderness

 We were savouring the sundowner on the banks of the Rapti River across the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in Meghauli when the Barahi Jungle Lodge's relationship manager informed us that the breakfast of the next day would be inside the park itself. While many tourists had this on their itinerary, none of us truly grasped the thrill until we reached the riverbank. A breakfast inside CNP, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the famed one-horned rhinos, promised an unforgettable experience. 

The sundowner is an absolutely new concept to entertain the tourists as they reach Meghauli, a newfound tourist area where luxury resorts and hotels are sprouting quite recently and gaining popularity among the high-end tourists from Nepal and abroad. It is also popularly known as Sauraha (a tourist town in Chitwan, which happens to be one of the top tourist destinations in Nepal) in the west. It is one of the few entry points to the CNP and has an additional attraction in the form of the confluence of the two rivers—Narayani and Rapti. Barahi served drinks and snacks, including some local cuisine of the area and the Tharu community, which offered a new gastronomic experience to the tourists, including the Nepali ones. The tourists are taken to the venue at a distance of more than three kilometres in wooden boats, each of which are accompanied by a naturalist.

The naturalist introduces the new plants, animals, birds, or insects to the visitors. Many of us were excited when Jitaram Chaudhary, 60, a naturalist who was with us in the boat and safari jeep the next day, showed us a flock of Ruddy Shelduck (commonly known as Chakhewa/Chakhewi in Nepal and portrayed in literature as the symbol of love and union) that travelled to Chitwan all the way from Russia during the winter. He also identified various plants and trees on the banks of the river, deer and monkeys in the CNP. The beautiful scenes, animals, plants, birds, and fun at the CNP wouldn't end there, as the fun was to be augmented with the breakfast in the wild.

For naturalists and every nature lover, the CNP is a sacred place as it maintains a unique diversity in flora and fauna, and one can see at least deer, rhinos, elephants, wild boar, wild buffalo, various types of monkeys, crocodiles, peacocks, chakhewa, and many other birds during their jungle safari into it. Lucky ones can get a chance to see a leopard, a tiger, or even a bear. Our team spotted a leopard on a tree, and many of us could picture it as well. When you realise that you are having your breakfast at the place where there is a chance of encountering various animals or birds, you might get a chill. It can be termed as a 'picnic among the wild animals.' Food tastes better there as you might feel a kind of sensation responding to the exclusive adventure. But you are not allowed to leave any trash or food crumbles inside the jungle, nor can you bring a twig out of the CNP. I envied the army personnel who would get a chance to stay inside the park for a certain period as per the part of their duty.

Until 2012, tourists could stay in the resorts inside the CNP, but the government shut down those seven luxury resorts, blaming them for 'being in conflict with nature.' That move by the government resulted in the opening of many resorts and hotels along the buffer zone areas outside the CNP. Only a few high-end tourists have shown interest in staying outside the park. However, the resorts in the buffer zones have been trying to offer 'exotic' food, culture, and logistics products to attract them. Meghauli has also witnessed the establishment and operation of Meghauli Serai, Chital Lodge, Himalayan Paulownia Resort, Sarang Wildlife Sanctuary, and a couple of other hotels and resorts in the area in the last one and a half decades. It has become one of the major tourist hubs in Chitwan.

Meanwhile, Barahi unfolded new packages of surprises in the evening with the music and dances of the Tharu and Bote communities along with a campfire (during the winter) and dozens of lanterns at the banks of the Rapati River. The dinner was inside a grove that was decorated with hundreds of kerosene lanterns, giving a feeling that you were entering into the world of fireflies. One Indian tourist said that she never wanted to leave this place and spend the whole night there among the firefly-like lanterns. This experience takes you much beyond the much-touted candlelight dinner in the city restaurants or hotels.

The resort is inside a forest especially designed on the concepts of its founder, Hari Prasad Poudel. He said when he reached Meghauli for the first time about one and a half decades ago, the area was just a grassland with a couple of trees. When Barahi Group started building this property in 2012, they planted over 5,000 trees of various species across the 12 hectares of land and continued to add new plants and flowers to their magnificent collections. Now tourists can have a feeling of walking or driving inside a forest while being there. Even the rooms of the hotels are designed in a village-like setting, and no two doors could be approached from the same trail. The balcony of each room opens facing the national park and the Rapti River.

On top of all this experience, large flocks of herons and alligators—both crocodiles and gharials—create mesmerising scenes along the banks of the Rapti River. Tourists can silently move upstream or downstream in the river in a wooden boat to observe the alligators basking in the sun or skies painted with the birds.

Poudel had begun his journey as a tourist entrepreneur with the launching of Paradise Guest House in Pokhara in 1979. Now Barahi Group runs five hotels of various levels and is in the process of launching three large hotels. Three decades ago, Paradise used to charge about Rs. 75 to Rs. 100 for a room, but now a room costs more than US$ 170 (about Rs. 22,700). Poudel's sons Biplab and Baibhav are controlling the reins of the businesses under the group. The group runs Barahi Kathmandu in Thamel and is constructing a five-star hotel in Pame, Pokhara, while new projects are in the offing in Bhairahawa and Kagbeni, Mustang.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily's Friday Supplement on 24 January 2025. 

Kathmandu second best ‘solo travel destination’

Kathmandu, Jan. 16

Tripadvisor has ranked Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu, as the second best ‘solo travel destination’ globally.

The world's largest travel guide platform last week announced various best destinations in different categories including food, trending, natural, solo travel and honeymoon apart from its regular ‘top destinations’.

Tripadvisor said in a statement that the ‘solo travel destinations’ category was included for the first time this year. “This list features many major global cities, with the South Korean capital, Seoul taking the top spot. These destinations are loved by solo travelers and perfect for anyone heading out on an adventure alone,” it said.

Likewise, Cusco of Peru, Bangkok of Thailand, Osaka of Japan, Dubai of the United Arab Emirates, Kyoto of Japan, Chiang Mai of Thailand, Reykjavik of Iceland and Melbourne of Australia are included in the top 10 best ‘solo travel destinations’.

According to Tripadvisor, it pores over millions of reviews shared by travelers to determine the most trusted recommendations to help future explorers.

With seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur durbar squares, Changunarayan Temple and Syambhunath Stupa, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple – and multitudes of cultures, Kathmandu has long been in the lists of favourite destinations of international tourists from around the globe.

The country welcomed more than 1.14 million tourists in 2024 , an increase of 13.1 per cent from 2023, and most of them had been to Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, the new ranking of Tripadvisor is likely to attract more solo travellers to this vibrant city. According to the recent statistics, about 9 per cent of the global population goes out for solo travel. This is more than 720 million people who would reach to the suitable and best destinations that can cater to their travel need.

Meanwhile, London has risen the top destination in the world taking the title from Dubai which was on the number one position since 2022.

Kathmandu is at 21^st position on this ‘best of the best’ destinations list. These rankings have further solidified the reputation of Kathmandu as well as Nepal as the best travel destination for various types of tourists. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 January 2025. 

Impunity In Transport Sector Leaves Passengers High & Dry

 Kathmandu, Mar. 12: 

Rohit Thapa of Pokhara boarded a microbus, Ba 4 Kha 2977, from Amarsingh Chok for Kathmandu last week. He was surprised to see 3+1 seats in the microbus but remained silent even though he was having problems in even taking his cell phone from his pants' pocket after three passengers were crammed in a seat that was actually meant for two.

His frustration crossed the red line when the helper sent another passenger to sit on a slab put between the two seats blocking the narrow aisle. He shouted and protested but all in vain. Thapa completed the journey in discomfort, he cursed the driver and helper multiple times. The micro that was made for 15 passengers was carrying 22 people, about a third higher than its actual capacity.

The microbus fearlessly moved ahead and without any restriction and checking reached Nagdhunga, the entry point to the Capital city Kathmandu. However, before reaching the last bend to get the view of the police checking, the driver and the helper asked four passengers to get off the bus and cross the inspection spot on foot. The helper accompanied the passengers. Post the checkpoint, the microbus waited for more than five minutes for them.

This bizarre incident is not an isolated event but an everyday phenomenon. Almost every microbus from Pokhara and surrounding areas coming to Kathmandu has modified the industry-set seats and accommodations to carry more passengers. It makes the journey of about six hours a disappointedly bad trip.

Nagdhunga, only check-point
Vehicles from Pokhara, one of the major tourist destinations in the country, cross three other districts to reach the Kathmandu Valley but there is hardly a thorough check of the fitness of the vehicle, quality of service, safety and comfort of the passengers and adherence to other transport regulations. 

The only check-point that they encounter is Nagdhunga which means their illegal and unethical activities go unnoticed up to this point and such practice is replicated in return from Kathmandu as well.

Police personnel at the checkpoint say that they take action against vehicles that modify the industry standards and carry more passengers than the allowed number.

Mohan Prasad Bhattarai, former mechanical engineer of the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), said that the maximum capacity of microbuses that run in the Kathmandu-Pokhara route is 16, including the driver and helper.

Every vehicle has industry specifications and standards for the number of seats, length and width and leg space. Microbuses have 14-15 seats, minibus 16-25 seats and buses above 26 seats.
"Passenger vehicles, except large buses, can reduce the number of seats to offer more luxury in their services but they can't put extra seats. Companies design the ambiance of the vehicle in a scientific way so disturbing it can be risky as well," said Bhattarai.

Stern actions required
Traffic police said that it was serious and vigilant about the activities that endanger the safety of the passengers. "We have intensified the checking and punishment in the recent days but regular inspection is not possible with insufficient manpower," said SP Sanjib Sharma Das, Spokesperson of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.

According to him, the traffic police confiscate more than 50 temporary seats and collect about Rs. 36,000 in fines in a day. But it has been insufficient to discourage the passenger vehicles, especially the microbuses from their misconduct.

Likewise, Gandaki Province Traffic Police Office in Pokhara said that they also lack the manpower to conduct regular inspections. According to it, the number of vehicles per traffic police in Gandaki province is 1,395.

However, an inspection of vehicles is not the duty of the traffic police but of DoTM which occasionally conducts surprise checks.
"We have only one team for inspection which cannot conduct regular activities so it acts on the basis of complaint registered at the DoTM," it said.

Nobody's job
But consumer rights activist Madhav Timalsina said that it was not the lack of manpower or technology but the lack of will and accountability that allowed errant vehicles to go unpunished. "It is the duty of the government to ensure quality service to and safety of the consumers. However, it has become the job of nobody," he said.

Most of the passengers do not complain about it, rather silently curse the driver and helper and complete the journey. "Many of the passengers do not know about their rights. Quality and comfortable journey is their fundamental right. Although there are legal instruments to punish such acts and people, their implementation is very poor," said Timalsina.

Article 44 of Nepal's Constitution has ensured the quality goods and services as the fundamental rights of the people. But they are humiliating themselves even after paying the price for the service.

What is in the law?
Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 1993 has a provision that no vehicle is allowed to keep passengers in other space besides the seats and board more passengers than the total seat capacity.
The law also contains punitive measures for such acts. It has a provision of 'transport inspectors' who can inspect if the vehicles have followed the rules. But there are no inspectors to conduct regular inspections.

The Chief District Officer chairs the traffic management committee in the respective district. The very provision makes it a weak mechanism as the CDO has so many responsibilities that this task doesn't receive his attention and priority.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 March 2022. 

Himalaya Airlines starts flight services to Chongqing

Kathmandu, Oct. 21:

Himalaya Airlines has entered into to the Chinese market with its maiden flight to Chongqing.

The new flight service is an every-Thursday charter service from Chongqing to Kathmandu.

Himalaya is the only airline operating direct flights between the two cities.

The inaugural flight departed from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Thursday evening, 18 October, and landed at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG).

The return flight from Chongqing was made at midnight on Thursday.

 “China is one of our target markets. We are confident that this route will boost passenger traffic as we expect a good demand from Chongqing, which has a sizeable population of affluent out-bound travelers,” said Vijay Shrestha, Vice President – Administration of the company.

“Himalaya will be instrumental in bringing more Chinese tourists to Nepal and helping the tourism economy of both countries,” he added.

Chongqing, one of the five centrally administered municipalities in China along with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin, offers remarkable attractions to visitors.

Chongqing known for its rich history and cultural heritage, serves as an economic and manufacturing center apart from being the transportation hub for Southwest China.

China has placed Nepal as a new leisure destination, which is one of the driving reasons for increased Chinese visitors into Nepal over the past two years, said the company.

China is the second largest tourist source market for Nepal with 109,497 visitors in 2018 (Jan to Sept), showing the growth of 48.8% over the same period of 2017.

According to Shrestha, Himalaya airline plans to extend its focus on China connectivity by adding up other cities like Beijing, Haikou and Nanchang in the next phase.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 October 2018. 

Varanasi: Confluence Of Religion, Education And Tourism

Several decades ago, for Nepali people Banaras was synonymous with education. It was the nearest and most popular education destination for every Nepali who wanted to pursue higher education, obviously in Sanskrit and Vedic Philosophy. It is now called Varanasi and has also earned fame as one of the major destinations of religious tourism in India.

The city got its name 'Varanasi' from the two rivers – Varuna and Assi - that created border to the old city which is located on the northern banks of the Ganges River. It is also known as 'Kashi' and is believed to be founded by Lord Shiva. 

The city had undergone a cultural revival during Mughal emperor Akbar's time. Though he was a Muslim ruler, he constructed two magnificent temples dedicated to gods Shiva and Bishnu. Maratha and Brahmin rulers who succeeded Akbar continued to develop the city. At present, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is elected from Varanasi. Modi has initiated a rapid development process to modernise the city with wider roads, underground sewerage system and cleaner Ganges. Locals said that even the narrow allays in the old city are being expanded. 

A priest at the Bishwa Nath Temple said that the narrow lane to the temple will be widened in the near future and the municipal authorities have already started compensation distribution to the houses that fall on the right side of the road.

From Varuna to Assi, there are about 84 Ghats spanning about 7 kilometres. Built by kings of various states of India in the middle ages, the Ghats are beautifully constructed and decorated. Unlike other holy rivers, the cremation of the dead is not allowed in all Ghats in Varanasi which has helped to keep the river bank and water both clean. 

Manikarnika and Harishchandra are the two Ghats where cremation is allowed. Manikarnika Ghat features an eternal fire which is never put off. At least a pyre is always burning here. More than 250 people are cremated here daily.

Things to do

In recent times, Aarati on the banks of Ganges has become the topmost attraction for the visitors along with the Bishwa Nath Temple. Tourist guide Dipak Kumar Sahani said that every tourist wanted to see these two things. Ganga Aarati is observed by more than 10,000 people every evening. There are dances and cultural exhibitions as well. Occasionally, a cultural team of Nepal also performs here. Though Aarati is performed at about seven locations, Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main attraction.

Banarasi Saree can be a perfect souvenir for the tourists to take back home. A handmade embroidered saree costs from INR 5,000 to 100,000. However, machine woven sarees come at cheaper rates. Don't forget to take a trip to a handloom and observe weavers preparing saree. Multiple cooperatives have been formed to preserve the small entrepreneurs. They run attractive showrooms in Varanasi and Sarnath where you can buy sarees and other silk materials at concessional rates. 

Mohammad Munir, an artisan, said that since Banarasi silk products have been their pride, they want to preserve it even though it is less attractive economically. Although Mughal rulers promoted the silk products as one of the major products of Varanasi, people of every caste are involved in this business, said Raj Dube, an owner of Handloom Company and member of a cooperative.

Also don't forget to taste Banarasi Paan and sweets. Banarasi Paan is glorified in many Bollywood cinemas such as 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala …' from Amitabh Bachchhan starred blockbuster 'Don'. Sankatmochan Temple, New Bishwa Nath Temple, Durga Temple, Parshvanath Jain Temple – dedicated to Jain's 23^rd Thirthankara born in Varanasi, Banaras Hindu University, Bharat Mata Mandir and Tulsi Manas Mandir are other major sites to visit.

Bodh Gaya, where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment, lies about 250 kms away from Varanasi. If you plan to visit the world famous sacred site, you need to spend a day and a night there. It takes about 5-6 hours to travel to Bodh Gaya. The Bothi Tree under which enlightenment dawned on Buddha is still preserved where hundreds of devotees and monks pray. Bodh Gaya also features other attractions such as Thai Temple, Mahabodhi Temple, Giant Buddha Statue, Bhutanese Monastery and Nippon Japanese Temple.

Bodh Gaya

Similarly, Sarnath is about 15 kms away from Varanaasi. The place where Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment is a must visit place where you can enjoy different temples, Ashoka piller, giant stupa, museum and other temples.

Travel

Varanasi can be reached by using bus, train and air service. If you want to travel via road, you have to reach Birgunj and then Raxaul or Bhairahawa and then Gorakhpur or any other nearest Indian railway station to catch a train. It would be better to reserve the train early to get better accommodation, as you might be travelling to hotter places, booking seat in the A/C compartment of a train would be better. Never travel in the general compartment since there are chances that you might be squeezed among the daily local commuters. Comfortable bus service is also available from bordering Indian cities and towns to Varanasi.  

Recently Buddha Air has launched direct air service from Kathmandu to Varanasi. The twice a week to and fro flight is designed in a way that you can have enough time to visit Varanasi, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath. The flights are scheduled on Monday and Thursday evening. 

Sarnath

You can fly to Varanasi on Monday evening and return on Thursday or go there on Thursday and come back on Monday. Buddha Air said that the direct flight services were started to connect the two ancient cities in Nepal and India and famous pilgrimage sites such as the Ganges, Bishwo Nath in Varanasi to Pashupati and Swayambhu in Kathmandu.

Though you can visit Varanasi and Bodh Gaya anytime a year, since the mercury goes as high as 46 degrees in summer, Octobar-December and March-April will be the best time to visit. Santosh Nepal, a Nepali student studying Masters' in Varanasi said that the heritage city witnesses the largest number of domestic and foreign tourists the month of November.

Lumbini

Foreign tourists who come to Varanasi and visit Bodh Gaya and Sarnath should include Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in Nepal, in their itinerary. Lumbini is 326 kilometres from Varanasi and takes 8 to 9 hours ride to reach there. 

Apart from Indian nationals, other foreigners should obtain a visa to enter Nepal but there is on-arrival visa facility for people of many countries around the world. You should check with the Nepali mission in your country to ensure the availability of the facility. If you are coming to Nepal via India for multi-day visit, you can fly directly to Kathmandu and visit Lumbini afterwards.

Nepal connection

There is a mini Nepal in Varanasi which includes students, scholars, monks, traders and priests. Of the seven young priests performing Ganga Aarati at the Dashaswamegh Ghat, three are Nepali. This tradition is in practice since the Aarati was started about three decades ago.

Local tourist guide Dipak Kumar Sahani said that the priests or Brahmins are called from Nepal for the ritual performance. Many religious sites and temples in India have Nepali Brahmin priests while famous religious sites in Nepal such as Pashupatinath have Indian priests. This cultural and religious exchange has contributed to deeper people-to-people relationship between the two countries.

A weaver 

Santosh Nepal, a youth from Taplejung district of Nepal, performs Aarati at the Dashaswamegh Ghat every evening. He is accompanied by Pawan Sharma and Ramesh Poudel. "I am here for the last 12 years. Currently I am pursuing my Acharya (Masters' Degree) studies. It is an amazing experience to be a part of the famous religious ritual. We earn prestige and money both," said Nepal. 

Most of the Nepali young priests at the religious sites and performing religious activities are the students of Banaras Hindu University, Sampurnananda University or other education institutions studying Sanskrit or eastern philosophy or Vedas.

Similarly, Nepali priests are appointed at the Nepal-made Pashupatinath Temple and many other temples and shrines. Raj Kumar Pandey, a student from Syangja district and doing Diploma in Astrology, was found at the counter of Nepal Tourism Board maintained at the Pashupatinath Temple. 

He said that there were many traders who sold Nepali and Indian goods in the local markets. The Pashupatinath Temple is built nearby the famous Lalita Ghat, also known as Nepali Ghat. King Rana Bahadur Shah had started the construction of Lalita Ghat and Pashupatinath Temple while he took exile in Varanasi from 1800 to 1804 but his son Girwan Yuddha Bikram Shah completed the structures. Rana Bahadur Shah had given himself the title of 'Swami Nirgunanda' during his exile in the holy city.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily's Friday Supplement on 24 August 2018. 

Mansarovar pilgrims get 'Sattvic' food

Kathmandu, July 22: A tripartite collaboration has been created among Nepali, Indian and Chinese entrepreneurs to provide ‘sattvic’ food to the pilgrims visiting the Mansarovar Kailash.

Madhuban Foods and Association of Kailash Tour Operators Nepal (AKTON) have joined hands to provide Hindu vegetarian foods.

AKTON president Prakash Shrestha and Managing Director of Madhuban Foods Sumit Pratap Gupta have come to an agreement to run the catering service for the entire Kailash Tour.

Shrestha said that a robust collaboration was formed among India, Nepal and China to conduct the pilgrimage season with a new experience of ‘sattvic’ or simple food to the thousands of Hindu pilgrims expected to visit the site this year onwards.

He is the Chief Coordinator of the project and is supported by all AKTON members to oversee the logistics for moving all goods and raw materials to China while Gupta is leading the operations on the ground.

“In the arduous terrain of the trip, when pilgrims are well fed, they shall be able to complete the pilgrimage with total satisfaction. Better food and a professionally curated and standardised service will create influx of pilgrims, thereby creating more job opportunities in Nepal,” said Shrestha.

He termed the collaboration as one of the strongest ties ever among the three neighbours.

Chief Executive Officer of China-India Pilgrims Service Centre stressed that this path breaking collaboration would address the focus and intent to serve fresh, nutritious and healthy food to all the pilgrims coming for the pilgrimage.

“This collaboration among India, China and Nepal evolves our service to the next level of excellence, ensuring vital meal to every pilgrim curated for their palate and health,” he said.

Until now, the pilgrims are preparing food in their mobile kitchens. The kitchens were temporarily set wherever the group used to take halt.

About 20,000 pilgrims visited the Kailash Mansarovar last year.

This year Madhuban Foods has served about 6700 pilgrims in the last 10 weeks.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 July 2018. 

HTM raised interest of buyers to sell Nepal

Kathmandu, June 3: The Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM), one of the largest travel shows that has ever happened in the country, has helped Nepal to position it as the best destination for meetings, incentives, conference and exhibition (MICE) tourism in South Asia, said the organiser Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

It has also helped in igniting the interest of buyers to sell Nepal and other Himalayan destinations as well.

According to the NTB, the participants were of the opinion that the HTM has aroused the interest of foreign travel and tour operators, and media in terms of Nepal’s tourist destinations, including cultural heritages, people and natural attractions such as Himalayas, lakes and rivers.

The second edition of the HTM witnessed the participation of about 59 buyers from 26 countries and 52 sellers from seven different countries, including Nepal, India, Bhutan, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The three-day event had begun on Friday with the theme ‘The sustainable road to five million visitors by 2030’.

International Travel Bloggers and Media Conference was also organised during the event where bloggers from across the world discussed various burning issues in the tourism industry. The conference hosted 43 international bloggers and media persons from 18 countries.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari said that Nepal needed international support to promote tourism and new destinations. He said that Nepal could be a destination for the peace lovers, trekkers, researchers and adventure seekers.

Chairman of China Investment Forum Dr. Marcus Lee suggested that Nepal should work on the country’s international positioning.

International speakers recommended developing tourism infrastructure as soon as possible, market the destinations and products in a unique way and improve the environment in the Kathmandu Valley.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 June 2018. 

Tourism contribution to GDP to rise by 4.9 pc this year

Kathmandu, Mar. 31: Nepal will see a boost in tourism contribution to the economy, employment, visitors export (arrivals) and investment, said the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report 2018. 

The WTTC report on Impact of Travel and Tourism said that the direct contribution of Travel and Tourism to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will rise by 4.9 per cent in 2018 against 4 per cent – Rs. 99.8 billion – in 2017. However, the total contribution will grow by 5.2 per cent this year. 

It also forecast that the travel and tourism sector will witness a steady growth of 3.9 per cent per annum from 2018-2028 which will ultimately rise the share of contribution to the GDP to 4.2 per cent. 

Similarly, according to the report, the total contribution of this sector to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry was 6.6 per cent of total 1.02 million jobs in 2017 which is expected to rise by 4.2 per cent in the current year with additional 1.07 million jobs. 

The travel and tourism sector employment will increase by 2.1 per cent annually to 1.32 million jobs in 2028. 

It has estimated that the visitor exports – money spent by foreign visitors to a country – will contribute about 32 per cent to the total exports after a decade which was 28 per cent in 2017. 

 “The visitor exports should rise by 7.6 per cent in 2018, and rise by 4.7 per cent per annum over the next ten years to Rs. 29.4 billion. The country is expected to attract 1.04 million international tourist arrivals this year,” read the report. 

It said that by 2028, international arrivals were forecast to total 1.67 million generating expenditure of Rs. 127.1 billion, an increase of 5.2 per cent every year. 

Likewise, the travel and tourism sector investment will rise by 7.6 per cent this year. Total investment in this sector last year was 17.3 billion, 2.3 per cent of the total investment. 

As per the reports’ global ranking, Nepal stands at 120 out of 185 countries in terms of travel and tourism’s total contribution to the GDP. It is at 49^th position in terms of travel and tourism sector growth and 102^nd in long-term growth.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 April 2018.