Buddha Air opened direct flights for three days (Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday) a week starting from September 1, 2021. The direct airfares from Pokhara to Simara are expected to increase the activity at religious and tourism sites in and around Simara and Birgunj, helping businesses as Simara is close to the Birgunj-Simara industrial corridor. Previously, there were no regular flights on the route as traveling between the cities of Gandaki and Province 2.
An interactive discussion was held for the possible steps to be taken in the development and expansion of the tourism sector at the pandemic situation at the Nepalgunj region. Organized by Banke National Park on 28th August 2021 in collaboration with Banke Tourism Forum, NATTA Banke Chapter and other associates, it had the participation of local government officials, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, President of NATTA Central, officials of local administration, representatives of political parties and tourism stakeholders. NATTA President Mr. Achyut Guragain suggested that attention should be given to the 'branding' of the National park and tourist facilities along with the need to connect the famous religious sites and rafting in the area, adding that the government should facilitate private sector for the investment in the development of tourism. During the interaction, mostly the invited guests urged that the environment should be favorable for Indian tourists to enter Nepal Read More
As per the latest update from Valley Tourism Office, Hattiban Lalitpur tourism companies who have failed to renew their tourism license due to pandemic situations can now renew their license within the end of Falgun 2078. Together with tourism associations, NATTA had submitted a letter to the Chief Minister and Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest & Environment of Bagmati Province, Mr. Dormani Poudel at Hetauda requesting to extend the deadline for renewing the license to operate their agencies with no penalty for the late renewal.
Leading organizations in the tourism sector have demanded the government to provide vaccination against COVID-19. Tourism Associations, including the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN),), Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) met Minister of State for Health and Population Mr. Umesh Shrestha in his office. The delegation handed over a three-point joint letter to the Minister of State Shrestha and demanded that the vaccine against COVID should be made available to the leading tourism service providers and workers, employees and stakeholders in the concerned tourist destinations across the country within 30 days. It has been requested that the foreign tourists who come after completing the vaccination against COVID should not be imposed with the provision to stay in the quarantine and only the 'positive' case should be kept in the quarantine by arranging PCR testing at the entry points of Read More
The tourism sector had supported more than 1 million jobs directly and indirectly, and the numbers would have been increased, had not been the COVID pandemic situation, as currently, many hotels, resorts, airlines and travel and trekking companies have been forced to shut down. Several workers in this sector work based on You earn, you eat. Most people may be able to cope with the current difficulties but for some, it has been a harsh moment. As such, to assist in the rehabilitation of the tourism sector, Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP) has been established, which is a joint collaborative project by the Nepal Tourism Board and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). NATTA has signed an MOU with NTB and STRLP on 18th August 2021 to involve around 600 tourism workers associated with travel and tours for short term employment opportunities by involving them in construction and Read More
NATTA organized a Hiking Program in and around Tarkeshwar with the presence of NATTA Executives and tourism associates from tourism associations on Saturday, 14th August 2021. In the program organized in coordination with Tarkeshwar Municipality, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr. Dhananjay Regmi had been invited as Chief Guest. Also, the Chief Officer of Valley Tourism Office Mr. Tanka Prasad Bhattarai, NATTA Executives, official representatives of various tourism associations and Tarkeshwar Press Forum and representatives of various invited tourism associations were present. During the official Welcome program, the CEO of NTB Dr. Dhananjay Regmi assured that NTB would assist in promoting the potential tourist destinations in the national and international markets in cooperation with the municipality. Likewise, NATTA President Mr. Achyut Guragain believed that Tarkeshwar would be a suitable domestic tourist destination near Kathmandu with the promotion of diverse nature, historical heritage and local products of the destination. Similarly, the Read More
Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Mr. Maha Prasad Adhikari unveiled the Monetary Policy for fiscal 2021-22 on 13th August with its primary focus on revival of the COVID affected enterprises. The Monetary Policy has given continuity to the refinancing policies put in place last fiscal to help reduce the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic on industries. Moreover, the banks and financial institutions are now required to maintain the credit-deposit ratio at a maximum of 90 per cent, against the 85 per cent requirement in the Monetary Policy of 2020-21. The Monetary Policy also addresses the concerns of hospitality, entertainment, and aviation sectors that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. It also pays special attention to the sectors facing liquidity crunch due to the pandemic. The policy has a provision of loans up to Rs 2 lakh for the repair and maintenance of public transport, another sector badly hit by Read More
Different umbrella organizations related to tourism have demanded vaccines against coronavirus to entrepreneurs, employees and staff deputed in the frontline at tourism destinations within 30 days. Issuing a joint press release on 10th August, the tourism-related organizations urged the government to open all tourism sectors by taking initiative for creating a trustworthy environment in the international tourism sector by providing vaccines against COVID-19 to all citizens at the earliest for the revival of tourism business hit hard due to COVID-19. They also demanded immediate implementation of policy and programs related to tourism announced in the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21 and making arrangements for tourists visiting Nepal and inoculated with a full dose of vaccine against coronavirus so that they need not stay in quarantine as well as arrangement of PCR test at the airport and other entry points. Similarly, implementation of free visa immediately to implement 'visa Read More
Nepal Chamber of Commerce has expanded the Tourism Promotion and Culture Committee of the organization. Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi, Mr. Hikmat Singh Ayer, Mr. Binay Basnet, Mr. Yuvraj Shrestha, Mr. Khum Bahadur Subedi, Mr. Janakraj Kalakheti, Mr. Bikram Pandey, Mr. Hari Prasad Dharel and Mr. Dev Chandra Lal Karna have been nominated under the chairmanship of working committee member Mr. Arjun Sharma. President of Chamber Mr. Rajendra Malla said that all the bodies associated with the tourism sector should be involved in the promotion of the tourism sector in Nepal as the epidemic of COVID-19 has affected the sector more.
A delegation of Presidents of Tourism Associations called on Hon'ble Prime Minister, Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba at his office at Singha Durbar. The joint memorandum themed 'One Voice for Tourism' consisting of industry's 'immediate actions' to 'mid-term issues and long-term plans' was handed over to the Hon'ble Prime Minister further clarifying him of the real scenario of the Covid-hit industry. The discussion was focused mainly on immediate actions for the survival of the tourism industry, establish Funds such as Relief Fund for Employees, Business Facilitation Fund for Employers and the Rehab-oriented Monetary Policy among others on the occasion. Likewise, the current need such as vaccines, financial support especially on loans, refinancing, restructuring, some waivers along with the need for special legal policy and privileges to tourism sector and one door system and one-way communication mode was demanded proper operation of the industry. The memorandum also requested the participation of the Read More
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) celebrated its 54th Annual General Meeting on July 13, 2021, in a Hybrid Style via Zoom Application. The inauguration of AGM had the physical presence of Chief Guest Mr. Yadab Prasad Koirala, Tourism Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOcTCA) and Special Guest Dr. Dhanajaya Regmi, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Mr. Yadab Prasad Koirala and Dr. Dhanajaya Regmi spoke a few words regarding the current situation of the tourism sector of Nepal, the impacts and consequences of Covid-19 and praised the contributions made by NATTA through the pandemic. Mr. Juergen Steinmetz, President of World Tourism Network and Guest Speaker at the AGM was virtually present where he shared his prolific insights about tourism worldwide and the steps to be taken post-COVID by the tourism industrialists. Special Guest Dr. Dhananjaya Regmi inaugurated NATTA's significant biennial publication, Membership Directory Read More
On the occasion of NATTA's 54th Annual General Meeting, July 13, 2021, Mr. Achyut Guragain, President of NATTA, and Mr. Paras Raj Kandel, Deputy CEO of JBBL, signed the MoU to collaborate on providing financial services to NATTA members. The MoU intends to engage both parties whilst providing Professional Loans and Subsidy Loans (Women Entrepreneurship Loan at Subsidy 6%, Educated Youth Self-employed Loan, and Loan to Youth Wanting to return from Foreign Employment) up to Rs.15 lakhs without collateral based on NATTA's recommendation with a quick loan execution process. The Professional Loan, which was previously only available to professionals such as doctors, engineers, and accountants, is now available to tourism professionals as well with the efforts of NATTA. The collaboration between NATTA and JBBL will look for ways to engage in providing financial literacy programs to various NATTA stakeholders, and JBBL will deploy its CSR funds for various NATTA-related CSR Read More
Dear All, We would like to request you to follow the below guidelines during the participation in Zoom: 1. The login to Zoom will be only with your registered email address. Requesting members to REGISTER only with your valid email address. 2. While filling the REGISTRATION FORM, mention your correct Company Name 3. UNMUTE your VIDEO: Please ensure that your Video is on UNMUTED MODE. Please keep it that way during the meeting. 4. MUTE your AUDIO: Ensure that your Audio is MUTED. Unmute Audio, only when you have to speak. 5. RENAME your NAME DISPLAY: Rename with your Name (Not Device name). PROGRAM SCHEDULE
As part of skill development training for tourism personnel, NATTA Sudurpaschim in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board and NATTA Central, organized four-day Digital Marketing Training in conjunction with a specialist to familiarize with tourism operations digitally. The training was organized virtually via Zoom with participants from Sudurpaschim Province. At the Closing Ceremony of the training program, with the presence of participants, NATTA Central Executives, NTB Executives, Hon'ble Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment gave his best wishes to the team.
NATTA in coordination with Ncell is planning to collaborate with NATTA members by designing an exclusive product, especially on roaming offer. The product shall offer the members to have their roaming travel pack with certain voice calls, SMS and data according to the travelled country at a minimal price.
NATTA proposed tourism promotional programs and the estimated budget required for those programs to the Nepal Tourism Board for their budget for Fiscal Year 2078. NATTA involving all its provinces requested to address the estimated budget in their budget program for the promotion of tourism of Nepal.
The Annual General Meeting of UFTAA was held on 28 June 2021 virtually. AGA was updated on the resolution adopted at the EGA to endorse, confirm ratify and approve all decisions taken by the UFTAA Board since 1 April 2020 because of COVID. UFTAA President, on behalf of the UFTAA Board, presented the exhaustive report via the PowerPoint presentation on different aspects. Mr. Yossi Fatael, Vice President of UFTAA and Chairman of IATA & Air Matters through his presentation gave an overview of UFTAA role in IATA matters and the current challenges before the industry. The AGA also briefed about its upcoming projects and detailed the resolutions concerning Vaccine Equity and Rebuilding Restarting-Re-establishing Travel & Tourism leadership, post-pandemic. During the AGA, UFTAA Board was composed at which the following personnel was duly elected: President : Mr. Sunil Kumar Rumalla (TAAI) – India Vice President and Chairman Air & IATA Matters: Read More
Regarding the training to be provided to members of NATTA, several meetings had been held with different organizations. Via online, a meeting was held with the representative of PUM, Netherlands, Mrs. Lajali Bajracharya regarding exploring the several possibilities of training to the tourism professionals on 2nd June 2021. The training shall be organized on various Subjects; Motivational Coaching Sessions, Digital Marketing Training, Promotional Skills. Due to the pandemic, the plan has been currently set for virtual training sessions in several specific areas. While, once it is safe to travel, then physical training can be organized with the Senior Experts. Likewise, NATTA had a meeting with CTEVT Professional, Mr. Ishwar Ghimire at NATTA Secretariat on 25th June 2021. The meeting was held to discuss the curriculum draft prepared for the Travel Agent designed to prepare skilled and employable workforces equipped with necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to Travel Agency Read More
NATTA sent a letter to the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City addressing some reasonable demands in the allocation of budget for the fiscal year 2078/79 for the tourism sector. Some important demands included the tax collection from the municipality for the tourism sector to be only Rs. 5000, waiving off of the tax of home rent for at least 2 years, a committee to be formed with the involvement of NATTA for the restoration and restructuring the heritage sites, increase greenery in and around the city enhancing the touristic sites and implement the concept of Zero Waste. Kathmandu Metropolitan City had asked for suggestions with NATTA for their upcoming Budget for the fiscal year 2078/79.
Meeting with Past President was held via Zoom Application on 16th June 2021, with the presence of all the Past Presidents chaired by Convener of Council of NATTA Past Presidents (CNPP), Mr. RR Pandey. The meeting discussed the modality of the 54th Annual General Meeting and the current issues such as the members having difficulty in getting seats of flights, Chartered/Scheduled flights and IATA BSP Link Fee. Though in the pandemic situation, Past Presidents praised the active role of the NATTA Board and President during these times.
