The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) reduced the price of international aviation turbine fuel beginning from 7th June 2021 midnight Sunday. Fuel is the largest operating expense for airlines, accounting for as much as one-third of total costs. A 20 percent drop in fuel price, according to airlines, may see a roughly 10 percent drop in ticket prices. The aviation turbine fuel price by a steep 20 percent in a move that could come as a much-needed respite for international airlines. The decision comes amid complaints that the airlines were facing financial pain because of lost revenue in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the price reduction, airfares have likely come down that have been a big respite for Nepalese, particularly migrant workers, who were forced to pay a hefty amount for tickets to the airlines operating to and from Nepal. NATTA had also been lobbying and requesting the government to Read More
A Press Release was issued by NATTA on June 4, 2021, demanding Government that there should be ease of standards for the travelers who are willing to travel to country Nepal with only negative RT-PCR Report within 72 hours and no compulsion of quarantine for the fully vaccinated travelers (Nepalese/Foreigner). The new standard then issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) stipulated that photo identification should be mandatory in the PCR Report. As in foreign countries, there is no provision of providing the PCR Report with photo identification and such rules may complicate the travelers and increase the probabilities of being restricted in visiting Nepal. The Press Release also requested Nepal Government to permit international airlines for additional regular flights following the situation. Within 24 hours of the press release, a new circular was issued by CAAN removing the provision of photo identification in the PCR Report.
As the Nepal Government has announced the Budget for the Fiscal Year 2078/79, this year 27.47 billion has been allocated for the programs to be implemented by the Ministry of Tourism. On this year's budget, many demands requested to Government for the budget has been addressed such as concessional loans, reduction in tax, extension date of certain fee payments and so on.
Although the Government of Nepal had allowed regular flights from June 1, 2021, due to the non-cooperation of airlines, NATTA members had faced difficulties in issuing new tickets and rescheduled tickets. A joint letter from NATTA IATA members was received stating about these issues distinctly for Qatar and Turkish Airlines. As per the request handed over to NATTA, NATTA drew attention to this issue along with the same letter to the CEO's of the international airlines Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines requesting them to provide a fair and reasonable price to the agents and facilitate the tickets without any difficulty and resolve this issue in an amicable way to the soonest. The airlines had responded to NATTA with the explanations of limited permission of flights and clarification of the cost of chartered flights are normally costly. Also previously, NATTA had collected the details of complaints through a Survey from IATA Read More
At the time of the ban on international flights by the Nepal Government during the second lockdown situation, NATTA requested the Government and every concerned organization to schedule the flights according to the collected details of stranded tourists of their respective destinations. NATTA requested to at least allow three international flights to each airline in a week to operate during the situation at a fair cost. On May 18, 2021, NATTA issued a press release with a strong urge to arrange the scheduled flights than to emphasize the chartered flight as those flights had been controversial in the past, especially in the previous lockdown situation. NATTA also had collected the details from Members of their clients who were stranded in Nepal due to the sudden lockdown situation. The collected data and request letter to open the scheduled flights was also send to the Secretary of Tourism. Nepal Government had extended Read More
With the received permission for the operation of special flights, the Embassy of India had requested special coordination with NATTA to evacuate the Indians Nationals who were stranded in Nepal to travel to Gulf Country (Saudi Arab). On the request, on 7 May 2021, NATTA sent the first three team names with five agents each to the Embassy of India that was collected on First Come First Serve Basis via a circular, sent to members. A total of fourteen flights; seven flights from Nepal Airlines and seven flights from Himalaya Airlines was conducted for the evacuation.
As the government enforced a 15-day prohibitory in the national capital Kathmandu and other districts in Nepal till midnight of May 12 as the country grapples to contain the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The movement of vehicles is banned in the valley during the prohibitory period and only essential services will operate and most of the services will remain closed until the prohibitory order is lifted. Therefore for the relaxed movements of tourists and the entrepreneurs for their ease of workings, NATTA lobbied with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil aviation to have the easy Vehicle Pass for the members. NATTA had collected the number of requests from the Members to provide the Vehicle Pass. However, after several urges, NATTA had been provided with a limited number of pass for the Vehicles. The vehicles have been assigned from NATTA and are continuously available to our members operating 24/7 for emergency Read More
The 21st Agency Program Joint Council (APJC) meeting was held virtually on 28th April 2021 to discuss the issues on the latest BSP updates and the financial criteria. On behalf of NATTA, it was chaired by Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet. Likewise, the internal APJC Committee Meeting was held on 13th April at NATTA Secretariat to discuss the suggestion from our members regarding IATA/BSP issues and to prepare for the 21st APJC meeting chaired by APJC Chairman and Secretary General Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay and NATTA APJC Committee Members.
The government started vaccinating tourism workers in Kathmandu valley. NATTA and other tourism associations had requested the Government to start the vaccination as the priority to the tourism-related industries for safety and security purposes. Therefore, NATTA Members could as well get vaccinated as suggested by Nepal Government. The process of the vaccination started on April 7th, 2021 to April 11th, 2021, where people aged 18 to 59, went to the hospitals listed for the sole purpose of vaccinating the entrepreneurs. However, entrepreneurs who missed vaccinating on the previously allotted five days with their official identification can visit the listed hospitals as NATTA had again requested the Department of Health Services. Members only needed to have a recommendation letter from the association or the company or an office ID for getting the vaccination.
The latest consultation meeting of the Tourism Sector Working Group (SWG) formed in the coordination of FNCCI was held on 25th April 2021 to share the progress of SWG activities and collect inputs of the association. President Mr. Achyut Guragain, Treasurer Mr. Kumar Mani Thapliya had participated in the respective meetings
Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had selected some new sites across the country to develop the physical infrastructure of the destinations and to promote tourism. The Ministry of Tourism had allocated a certain budget for the development and promotion of these new destinations. As a part of this project and one of the destinations selected by the Government for the promotion of Mundum Trail in Eastern Nepal, a 10-day long FAM Trip was organized by Temkemaiyung Municipality, Province No.1 starting from 16th April 2021. The newly explored off-the-beaten trail in eastern Nepal comprises natural beauty, rich bio-diversity, Kirati-Rai civilization, culture, lifestyles, and wide-ranging landscape view of Himalayan, mid-hill and Terai regions. In Mundum Trail, tourists can enjoy the vistas of snow-capped mountain chains and eye-catching pastures and beautiful terrains on the sides. The route started from Kathmandu-PanchdhareTawabhanjyang-Temke Dada- ChakhewaBhanjyang- DalsingheMerung- Jaljale- Haanspokhari- Ghodetar- Tarakhaseko- Thampokhari- Hekule- Juke- Lairey- Read More
A Proposal Committee Meeting was held with Committee members from different sectors formed by FNCCI on 22nd April at the office of FNCCI, Teku. Representing the travel association, NATTA Senior VP Mr. Binay Basnet participated in the meeting. The objective of the meeting was to address those raised necessities from their respected sector in the upcoming budget for the FY 2078/79. The addressed demands shall be taken forward to the Government by FNCCI. The Proposal Committee was formed as per the decision of the 55th AGM of FNCCI held at the end of April 2021.
NATTA along with tourism associations TAAN, HAN, NMA, NARA, NTVA and TBAN submitted an appeal to Hon'ble Minister for Finance, Mr. Bishnu Prasad Paudel on 15th April 2021 addressing the current financial complications faced by tourism entrepreneurs. In the letter, tourism associations requested to extend the tourism license renewal date to at least until the end of the fiscal year i.e. 2078 Ashad month and also consider the tourism companies who have failed to renew their license in the given period. Also, it is requested to waive off the fines and yearly tax to be paid by tourist operating vehicles as it hasn’t been in use since the time of the pandemic. The impact of the COVID situation has led to adverse effects in the tourism industry, therefore in such a situation NATTA along with tourism associations has been lobbying with every level of governments and concerned sectors since the Read More
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on 12th April 2021 organized an Interaction Session with tourism stakeholders on the steps to be taken for the revival and promotion of tourism and future policies. On the session, Hon'ble Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Bhanubhakta Dhakal informed stakeholders about his discussion with the Prime Minister to manage the budget for the revival of tourism despite many limitations in the budget formulation. During the interaction, a member of the National Planning Commission Dr. Rameshwor Phuyal urged the private sector to focus on human resource development along with infrastructure development. Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Yadav Prasad Koirala, assured that the ministry would make every effort for the necessary budget for the revival and promotion of tourism in the coming budget. CEO of NTB, Dr. Dhananjay Regmi said that inter-agency coordination and budget is needed from policy reforms to make tourism Read More
AGM of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry The 55th Annual General Meeting of Federal of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI) was held for 2 days at Soaltee Crowne Plaza on April 10th- 11th, 2021 inaugurated by Hon'ble Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Hon'ble Prime Minister also unveiled the vision paper named National Economic Transformation 2030 prepared by FNCCI. Also, the Member Associations contributing to the trade were awarded from different Provinces and Sectors on the occasion. Past Presidents and Executives of FNCCI, Government Officials, Members of the association, Media Personnel were present in the 2 day long event. A Panel discussion was organized after the inauguration with the presence of Government officials and FNCCI Executives discussing especially the Economic Transformation and the accessibilities on the Labor, Employment and Social Security. On the close session, representing NATTA and the tourism sector, President, Mr. Achyut Guragain speaking Read More
The first edition of ITB India started on the 7th of April 2021 being an all virtual three-day event due to COVID restrictions. It was a virtual business-to-business travel and tourism trade show platform for India and South Asia. Organized by Messe Berlin Singapore, it had been a platform to meet the influential organizations in the international from MICE, Corporate, Leisure and Travel Technologies sectors of the Indian and South Asian travel and tourism industry in building strong partnerships and strengthen existing bonds. Participating in the event, NATTA President Mr. Achyut Guragain shared his insight on the observations on what has changed in the travel landscape, what they expect from travel suppliers and how ultimately the industry can work together to bring travel back in of the Speaking sessions.
After the official formation of NATTA Province No. 2 in Bardibas, the first meeting together with newly formed executives of Province No.2 and Central Executives at NATTA Secretariat on 4th April 2021. Also present in the meeting were the CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, Dr. Dhananjay Regmi and delegates from the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneur Association. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of NATTA Central President Mr. Achyut Guragain and had the presence of IPP, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Secretary General, Treasurer and Joint Treasurer. President Mr. Guragain firstly welcomed all the delegations present in the meeting. Mr. Guragain then highlighted the infrastructure development and promotion of the different potential destinations of Province No. 2. The meeting focused on potential tourism aspects of Province 2 and how it can further be promoted with various programs. The Provincial President Mr. Mohan Sharma requested NTB and NATTA Central to Read More
As a historical step, NATTA has formed its offices in Province No. 6 as NATTA Karnali Province in the city of Surkhet, Karnali on 8th February 2021 and Province No. 2 in Bardibas on 1st April 2021 simultaneously. On the 1st of April, under the leadership of Mr. Mohan Sharma Lamichhane, NATTA Province no. 2 has been formed with a team of 9 Executive Members. The formation program had been organized with the presence of Bardibas Municipality Chief Mr. Bidur Karki, President of NATTA Central Mr. Achyut Guragain, Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet, Secretary Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay. Treasurer Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya, President of Gandaki Province Mr. Sanjaya Kanta Sigdel and many officials of Province No. 2. Likewise on 8th February, in the presence of Mr. Achyut Sharma Guragain, President of NATTA Central, NATTA Karnali Province was formed. The province had been formed in the support of the Read More
The 48th Anniversary of the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NATHM) was held on 26th March 2021 on the premises of the academy. NATTA Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet and Secretary General Mr. Sudhir Kr. Upadhyay participated in the function to congratulate the team on the successful years of excellence in the tourism sector.
