Yeti Airlines on September 22 celebrated its 22nd Anniversary where various tourism promotion programs had been launched. On behalf of NATTA, President Mr. Achyut Guragain participated in the Anniversary Celebration. Mr. Guragain on the event advocated the tour package commission to be given to the travel agents as per the standards of International Travel & Tour. An agreement was been made between NATTA, TAAN and Yeti Airlines on joining hands together in Promotion of Domestic tourism end encouraging Nepalese to travel more often and create awareness of destination tourism amongst Nepalese market.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has formed a task force aiming to revive the tourism industry. Under the coordination of Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of NTB, Tourism Revival Taskforce (TRTF) was formed on September 08 which includes representatives from tourism associations, government bodies and other stakeholders. The taskforce comprises presidents of six different tourism associations including NATTA President Mr. Achyut Guragain, former CEO of NTB Deepak Raj Joshi, and Mr. Rajan Pokhrel, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). Similarly, as tourism experts, the task force has included NATTA Past President and Chairperson of Hotel Dwarika Mrs. Ambica Shrestha, President of Temple Tiger Group Mr. Basanta Mishra, Managing Director of Buddha Air Mr. Birendra Bahadur Basnet, Former CEO of NTB Mr. Prachanda Man Shrestha and Executive Director of Yeti Airlines Mr. Sonam Sherpa. The task force has to prepare separate strategic plans for travel, hotel and civil aviation sectors Read More
Nepal Government has formed a high-level Buddhist Tourism Promotion Committee for exclusive promotion of Lumbini. Representatives from the Government including from Nepal Tourism Board, Lumbini Development Trust, and the private sectors from the tourism industry, are part of the committee. All the Committee members met online on September 8 2020, to discuss and share ideas on the promotion of Lumbini and other Buddhist heritage sites in the region. The region is expected to receive an influx of tourists once the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa starts gull operation. The committee is going to plan for the promotion, branding, and beautification of Tilaurakot, Ramgram, Devdaha, Kudan, Gotihawa, Niglihawa, and Sagarhawa. The committee has also been given the responsibility of making Lumbini a modality of publicity in international markets. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the action plan has been formulated based on the findings of the committee, and a policy Read More
There had been relentless communication between NATTA and IATA Officials since the begin of the COVID situation for the assistance of the IATA Agents. As no agents would willingly delay any of the payments or any other submission, the charges charged by IATA to the Nepalese agents had added financial burden. Therefore, regarding the late payment interest and reinstatement fee (M15) charged by IATA, NATTA requested IATA to review on this matter. Likewise, the 2nd lockdown in Nepal as well affected in the regular payment of IATA agents, NATTA requested in the defer of the payment.
NATTA held a meeting with International Airlines operating in Nepal on 13th July 2020 at Marriott Hotel for the Refund request as it had been for a longer period. Most of the airlines responded to NATTA on their Waiver policy and also informed that their Refund process has already been processed. In the case of Refund of Airlines, on July 28, NATTA Senior VP Mr. Binay Basnet, Secretary General Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay visited MoCTCA office with Legal Advisor Mr. Ishwari Bhattarai and apprised of the Refunds to the Secretary of Tourism Department Mr. Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, that hadn’t still been received of the unutilized Air tickets from the Airlines to the passengers or travel agency. The situation had led travel agencies to be in difficult situations. On July 22, NATTA circulated its members to send the Format with Details of Refund to be received from Airlines. Collecting those details, Read More
On 12th August 2020, pressurizing the government in the opening of flights, yet again NATTA and Domestic Airlines operating in Nepal had a meeting on reopening of domestic flights can be operated. The meeting had agreed to pressurize over again to the government in reopening Domestic Airlines from 17th September.
On 6th August 2020, via Teams, a meeting was held with the presence of the GIZ and NATTA representatives regarding mutual collaboration with NATTA and GIZ as NATTA being the implementing partner of one of the GIZ project. The meeting had the presence of Technical Advisor Mr. Deepak Adhikari, Senior Finance Manager Mr. Sebhanand Sangat, NATTA Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet, Joint Treasurer Ms. Yubika Bhandari and Officiating CEO Ms. Shradha Chhetri. A project, Local and Provincial Economic Environment (LPED) supported by GIZ is currently working on exploring the possibility of additional funds to address the negative consequence on the local economy caused by the COVID - 19 in the LPED project areas. The idea is to support the stakeholders as well as workforce on business continuity especially in the tourism sector by motivating existing as well as laid-off workforce to continue the same business by providing the capacity Read More
The Chinese Tour Operators Alliance of Nepal (CTOAN) had been announced on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China on 1st August 2020. The Alliance had been inaugurated by CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, Dr. Dhananjaya Regmi. The objective of forming CTOAN is to move forward by improving any of the flaws of Chinese business operations occurred earlier and making the services more effectively to Chinese tourists coming to Nepal. On the inaugural ceremony, NATTA President Mr. Achyut Guragain congratulating the CTOAN team members suggested on uniting the team and having the teamwork among the alliance.
On 31st July 2020, Tourism Associations united together and had a meeting regarding the resume of national and international flights along with tourism services.
Nepal Airlines Corporation conducted an interaction program with key stakeholders in the tourism sector of Nepal on 31st July 2020 at Nepal Airlines Corporation Office. The interaction program was organized to evaluate the prospect of market expansion and current market scenario for further destination identification as well as to find out possible market potential. President Mr. Achyut Guragain, Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet and Secretary General Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay participated in the interaction program.
A Google form had been sent to all members to fill out the survey form in receiving the feedback from members regarding the training programs to be organized in the coming days. NATTA is planning to organize a Training Programs related to Skill Development, Trends of Marketing and others for its members very soon in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board and other associates.
Virtually, 20th APJC Meeting was held on 21st July 2020. Discussing from the previous minutes to the current issues, the meeting had the participation of IATA Officials, NATTA APJC Committee Members and some Airlines. Regarding the meeting the issue that has been bothering the members repeatedly on deferring of Payment date during Dashain holidays, IATA accepted the deferral by three working days from the last declared Dashain Festival holiday during the discussion in its agenda.
United Nations Country Team in Nepal is planning to prepare a country level socio-economic framework for the next 18 months and has developed A UN Framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19 led by UN Resident Coordinator. To make the formulation process more inclusive and participatory, UN organized consultations with the various stakeholders and beneficiary groups including tourism stakeholders. The consultations with the participants focused on the challenges such as Health, Economic Response, Social Cohesion etc. Organized as Zoom Meeting with the tourism stakeholders on 17 July 2020, NATTA Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet participated in the program.
In the initiation of NATTA, a joint Press Meet was held on 16th July 2020 with the coordination of tourism umbrella associations at Baluwatar Palace. In the Press Meet, Tourism associations together have demanded the government to allow the resumption of domestic flights from August 1 and international flights from August 15. Issuing a joint press statement tourism stakeholders sought the government permission to resume the aviation business, which is considered the pivot of the overall tourism businesses. Along with allowing the international flights, stakeholders have also demanded the government to open the border points from mid-August. Tourism sector is among the hardest-hit ones since the government enforced the lockdown on March 24. Although the government eased the lockdown from June 10, most of the tourism outlets such as hotels, resorts, homestays, flights and transport means are completely shut till date that risked the employment of millions of people and Read More
In discussion for the reopening of international flights, NATTA discussed with International Airlines operating in Nepal on 13th July 2020 at Kathmandu Marriott Hotel. NATTA had been lobbying with the Nepal government bodies and concerned authorities in the reopening of the tourism industry as there had been a widespread disruption in socioeconomic activities including the tourism industry. Airlines present in the meeting suggested starting scheduled commercial flight services following the social distancing norms and safety precautions in the Airport and flight as soon as possible with 2-3 weeks pre notice for operation. The government had decided to halt the operation of international flights as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19. However, amid all this, rescue flights have been carried out to fly out foreigners stranded in Nepal and to bring in medical supplies.
Sabre Travel Network in coordination with NATTA organized a Virtual GDS Basic and Advanced Training for NATTA Members starting from July 10th 2020. The basic and advanced training was categorized depending on the necessity of the participants. The training was organized with the purpose of members getting benefited by the training to learn GDS course without paying fees from home in this pandemic situation.
Sabre Travel Network in coordination with NATTA organized a Virtual GDS Basic and Advanced Training for NATTA Members starting from July 10th 2020. The basic and advanced training was categorized depending on the necessity of the participants. The training was organized with the purpose of members getting benefited by the training to learn GDS course without paying fees from home in this pandemic situation.
Nepal Rastra Bank organized a Webinar to have the views from the stakeholders regarding the upcoming Monetary Policy for the Fiscal Year 2077/78 on 9th July 2020. On the Webinar, the stakeholders have suggested that the policy for the upcoming fiscal year should prove to be a lifeline to sustain and revive the country’s economy and businesses that have been severely hit by the COVID-19. The program was chaired by Governor of NRB, Mr. Maha Prasad Adhikari. Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Adhikari assured stakeholders that the Monetary Policy will consider the given suggestions and recommendations and focus on helping the economy to revive from the current crisis. Representing NATTA, Senior Vice President Mr. Binay Basnet participated in the Webinar organized by NRB. In regard to the upcoming Monetary Policy, President Mr. Achyut Guragain, Secretary General Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay and Treasurer Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya had visited Nepal Rastra Read More
A meeting with Domestic Airlines Representatives and NATTA Executives were held on 7th July 2020 at Aranya Boutique Hotel, Kathmandu. The meeting discussed the reopening of the normal operation of domestic flights after being closed for several months to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection. The objective of the meeting was to have the opinions from the Domestic Airlines as NATTA has also been urging Nepal Government to make necessary preparations for the resumption of domestic and international flights. Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) Treasurer, Mr. Rupesh Joshi on behalf of Domestic Airlines of Nepal showed eagerness in reopening of the flights and also requested NATTA to urge the Government for the situation. Airlines have started following the Protocol and Guidelines issued by the Government of Nepal. Sharing at the meeting, Representatives of Domestic Airlines also have requested to start the normal operation in all the sectors and allowing Read More
Since the COVID-19 started to effect on the world and the aviation industry, NATTA had several discourses on the matter of considerations for the agents with IATA as the impact of COVID-19 has made one and all in a difficult situation. Even since the period of the pandemic, NATTA has been raising the voice of Agents for the ease of their Payment Procedures and Refund. In the economic and social slowdown, where IATA Agents remain difficult for the regular payment, NATTA has been alarmed by a fact that IATA Agents have been receiving several charges on their Payment Procedures. NATTA believes such additional financial burdens to the members is unethical in this situation and at this time to resolve this matter NATTA is having conversations with IATA Officials and concerned departments.
