Since the COVID -19, there has been a financial crisis and the tourism sector, as we all know has been hit very hard. Many travel agencies have been in difficulty failing from their renewing of tourism license. In this regard, a letter had been sent to Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Forest and Environment including Tourism Department, Kathmandu and Lalitpur requesting to extend the renew date of Tourism until the end of Ashad for the year 2078. The letters have already been received by concerned authorities and are positive on this matter. A small Survey regarding the Evaluation of Member's Tourism License was held via Google for the persuasion in the Department of Tourism, Bagmati Province.
NATTA President Mr. Achyut Guragain has been nominated for the Co-Chairperson of FNCCI Tourism & Air Transport Committee for the term 2020-23. Mr. Guragain will have the responsibility of leading Tourism Development in Province Subcommittee and will be involved in support of taking the FNCCI to a newer height in the sector of tourism.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in coordination with Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) organized a welcome and felicitation program on 26th January 2021 in honor of the 10 members Nepali Team who successfully created history by summiting Mt. K2, the World’s second tallest mountain, the first time ever in winter season. The ascent was also historical as Mr. Nirmal Purja MBE, the team leader summited without using bottled Oxygen. The Team arrived Nepal on 26 January 2021. The team was impressively welcomed at the TIA by officials from Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board and members from Nepal Mountaineering Society. Rt. Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal K.P Sharma Oli felicitated the Team Members with Letter of Appreciation at a separate program organized by NTB at the PM’s residence, Baluwatar. The Team presented Prime Minister with the Nepali flag which they hoisted atop K2 Peak. Nirmal Purja, the team Read More
In coordination with NTB and entrepreneurs of Province 1, NATTA Kakdvitta organized a tour program started from January 23, Janakpur with the slogan "Ghumau Purwa Pradesh Number 1". Gandaki Province in coordination with NATHM organized a Tourist Guide Training with theoretical and practical courses starting from 22nd December. Also, NATTA Gandaki had the agreement with Nepal Cancer Relief Society, Pokhara. NATTA Gandaki has agreed to help the cancer patients by providing free bus tickets to and fro Pokhara-Kathmandu service. Likewise, several programs had been organized marking the occasions. NATTA Province 5, Lumbini in coordination with Lumbini Development Trust is organizing several programs. Banke Chapter under Lumbini Province is organizing a rally program Tour De Thakurdwar in the first week of February. NATTA Province 7, Sudurpaschim organized FAM Trip on December 21 for a week in various destinations of Sudurpaschim including Kailali, Darchula, Dadeldhura and others. Besides several other interaction programs Read More
On January 25th, 2021, Tourist Guide Association Nepal (TURGAN) organized its 27th Annual General Meeting. NATTA President Mr. Achyut Guragain was invited as Chief Guest for the program. President Mr. Achyut Gurgain speaking at the event congratulated and wished for their better upcoming future to the newly appointed TURGAN President Mr. Badri Nepal and the whole association on behalf of NATTA. Mr. Guragain also shared the existing problems being tackled by the industrialists due to the impact caused by COVID-19 on tourism. The program was held at Swastik Party Palace, Kathmandu, in the celebration of their 32nd year and also for the discussion on the betterment of the tourism industry.
The segment that has been hard-hit by COVID-19 pandemic is the financial segment which is not only in the native country but worldwide. The private stakeholders from Nepal have been demanding to the Government for the rehabilitation and revival of it since a long time as its impact has led to a tough time for the businesses due to financial crisis. All the private sectors have united and worked together to express the grievances to the Government as the request has not yet been heeded. The stakeholders have been requesting for the significant and swift measures to support the industries. Providing a Relief package in terms of an economic part to protect the stakeholders by waiving of VAT/Tax of the office that is closed currently, providing Soft Loan with easy provisions, assisting in NRB Monetary policy supporting employees are some of the demands requested to Government of Nepal. A meeting Read More
An interaction was held on January 17, 2021, by NTB with representatives from the private sector tourism industry of Nepal regarding recommendations to facilitate quick recovery of tourism and relief for the industry. As per the interaction, the existing protocol had quiet compacted Nepal’s image in the international market and urged the government to relax provisions. After the interaction with tourism stakeholders, NTB made this conclusion by proposing the following provisions in revising the protocol: On-arrival visa service should resume. The PCR test requirement should be waived for the children below five years of age whereas others should submit a report certifying they are coronavirus negative from a test done 16 hours before they began the journey. Tourists from other countries except India should undergo a PCR test after arriving in Nepal, and testing negative in it should allow them to travel freely without quarantine. Provisions for Indian nationals should Read More
The government had brought a concept of refinancing for the recovery of industries and businesses that were adversely affected by the COV- ID-19 pandemic. NATTA had been lobbying with Nepal Rastra Bank and concerned financial authorities regarding providing easy Refinancing to the small and medium enterprises, industries as per the guidelines for the long term. With the urging of NATTA and other associated associations, NRB has extended its refinancing timeline to the industries until 29th January 2021. A survey had been done by NATTA to its members querying on the refinancing details and any difficulties to process. Aiming at providing relief to COVID-19 affected industries and businesses, the NRB brought a policy of providing loan at five per cent interest rate. According to the Refinancing Guidelines, loans that businesses acquire from BFIs and NRB will have a maximum maturity period of one year and such loans will not be renewed. Read More
Since the adoption of the Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda, the G20 committed to aligning its policy actions with the universal 2030 Agenda to ensure that no one is left behind in the group’s efforts to achieve sustainable development, and build an inclusive future for all. This implies putting sustainable development front and centre on the G20 agenda, leveraging the group’s political weight to enhance policy coherence and foster a long-term and common vision. On 12th January 2021, Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet participated in the above-said program where the actions had been discussed to be implemented specially in the time of COVID-19.
NATTA in close coordination with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organized a webinar on Nepal's Buddhist sites with the motto of ‘Following the Footsteps of Buddha for Universal Peace and Prosperity' on 10th January 2021 at Kathmandu. Started with the Promo video covering the whole of the journey of our first edition of Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) 2019 and the special video of Goodwill Message shared by Venerable Metteya Sakyaputta, Vice Chairman, Lumbini Development Trust, the Webinar was officially inaugurated by lighting the lamp, by President of NATTA, Mr. Achyut Guragain at NATTA Secretariat. Mr. Guragain then continued with the Welcome Speech where he apprised about the Buddhist Circuits in Nepal and also assumed that the discussions shared on the Webinar shall help to reach a positive message to the number of people and aspire to visit Buddhist Sites of Nepal at least once in a lifetime. A special remark Read More
On January 10, 2021, Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) invited tourism related private stakeholders for the interactions at Singhadurbar. On the interaction, tourism stakeholders shared their concerns and difficulties as the tourism sector has been suffering and been closed for almost a year due to pandemic. They demanded the government to prepare standards to facilitate the tourism sector and urged to make provisions for the revival of the tourism sector. Also, entrepreneurs demanded to work on the promotion of domestic tourism. President of NATTA, Mr. Achyut Guragain, taking a moment requested for the coordination with Ministries; Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the foreign tourists who want to visit Nepal. Mr. Guragain also stressed on the non-requirement of quarantine to the tourists coming to Nepal following the health protocols. Read More
While Nepal had been under a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) had been in the process of renovation. Taking advantage of the lockdown, TIA management has improved the facilities of both domestic and international terminals to help maintain social distancing and hygiene at the airport. Along with that, the runway of an airport, construction of parking bay and construction of new departure/arrival boarding gates, lounge area have been renovated. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) invited all the stakeholders of travel associations on 9th January 2020 for excursion and briefing on the renovated airport. Mr. Binay Basnet, Senior Vice President, Sudhir Kr. Upadhyay Secretary General and Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya, Treasurer participated in the program representing NATTA.
A meeting with Committee members of Outbound Committee of NATTA was held on 4th January 2020, chaired by Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha. The cascading effect of the coronavirus is crippling the tourism industry, especially in the outbound tourism sector that had been hit very hard. In a discussion of the current situation and to address the glitches that have been occurring during the Outbound tourism and planning for the coming days, the meeting was organized at NATTA Secretariat. Realizing that the present state could be consumed by lobbying with the concerned authorities to have the ease in the regulations set by the government to the travellers, several matters had been addressed during the discussion. As currently there is the provision of requiring the No Objection Letter (NOC) to travel via India to third countries who are travelling for the tourism purpose which has been realized as Read More
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) celebrated its 22nd Anniversary on 31st December 2020. NTB CEO Dr. Dhananjay Regmi warmly welcomed the guests and presented the promotional and development work conducted by NTB in 2020 and shared his vision for 2021 to promote Nepal as a safe and beautiful destination worldwide. On the occasion, NATTA also received Letter of Appreciation awarded for the contribution and support in rescue and evacuation of tourists during the Lockdown period. NTB also released domestic tourism song for “Deshdarshan” Campaign and launched: Friends of Nepal website www.friendsofnepal.travel to engage Nepal lovers all over the world; NTB official Wechat for communication with China market; NTB Tiktok Deshdarshan Campaign for promotion of domestic tourism. NTB annual publication “InFocus 2020” was officially unveiled as well at the program. The program was attended by Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) Bhanubhakta Dhakal, Secretary of MoCTCA Mr. Yadav Prasad Read More
Domestic Airlines of Nepal started flying from September 21 after the government announced that it would be allowed to resume services. Resuming the service of domestic operation had given sight of encouragement to the stakeholders in the tourism sector. To have the conversations on the current situation and also the guidelines, NATTA invited Domestic Airlines Representatives in the meeting on 29th December 2020 at NATTA Secretariat. The meeting also discussed the payment approach set by the airlines to the travel agents. NATTA strongly demanded that online portals or any applications should have the permission from the concern authority to sell the air ticket or packages. Buddha Air, Saurya Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Shree Airlines participated in the meeting. For the information, Domestic passenger traffic at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport in 2020 fell to its lowest level since 2009. But airline officials said that domestic carriers had recovered close to 90 percent of pre-Covid Read More
After the consecutive exercises on bringing the Financial Statute for the Secretariat, a Statute has been developed by Treasurer, Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya, Jt. Treasurer, Ms. Yubika Bhandari. A committee had been formed at NATTA Secretariat for designing the Statute. The prime objective of bringing this Statute is to manage the ongoing financial transactions of Secretariat . The Financial Statute of the Secretariat will be put up in the forthcoming AGM of the association for the approval of the general body of NATTA.
The Second Meeting of the BIMSTEC Network of Tour Operators was virtually held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 08-09 December 2020. Delegations from all the Member States attended the Meeting. The meeting was held on a virtual platform due to the COVID Pandemic where except for the Sri Lanka delegation, all other member states delegates joined online for the two-day session. NATTA was represented by Secretary Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha. Detailed discussions were carried out by respective Travel Industry representatives of Member States in establishing a BIMSTEC Tourism Information Centre and monitoring and utilizing the BIMSTEC Tourism fund which comes under the Ministry of Tourism in India. Several presentation and discussions were made by each countries highlighting the potential of Outbound Tourism to the Member States which could be promoted together by BIMSTEC Counties. After a lengthy discussion with member states, it was decided to form a working group for tourism Read More
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) held an interaction program to discuss survival and revival of the tourism industry with key tourism stakeholders including Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Yogesh Bhattarai, Secretary of MoCTCA Mr. Yadav Prasad Koirala, Association Heads, and Senior Tourism Professionals at NTB premises on Nov. 25, 2020. CEO Dr. Dhananjay Regmi presented to the audience the steps taken by NTB, currently and in the recent past, to overcome the crisis caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Representatives from the private sector including NATTA requested for the restart of tourism with clarity in communication and facilitation in entry protocol, for a speedy recovery of the industry in the program.
NATTA welcomed Mr. Puskar Shah at NATTA Secretariat on his courtesy meet on 19th October 2020. Mr. Shah who is a World Cyclist and Everesteer, apprised on his upcoming project about Nepal Cycle Festival. NATTA together with Mr. Shah on this initiation is planning for this program in aid of Domestic Tourism Promotion.
NATTA delegates headed by President Mr. Achyut Guragain met newly appointed Managing Director of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Mr. Dim Prasad Poudel on 14th of October to congratulate him for his successful tenure. The delegation also emphasized that the national flag carrier must refurbish itself and concentrate on capacity building by adding fleets and destinations as well as creating the environment to lift the ban from the blacklist of European Union regarding Aviation. NATTA also assured its commitment to extending its support and cooperation to consolidate the flag carrier for joint promotion and brighter future of tourism in the country. The NATTA delegation was comprised of Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet, Secretary General Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay and Executive Member Mr. Dendi Sherpa.
