Fifth meeting of Transportation Committee of this year was held at NATTA Secretariat on 24th September 2017 to review the new transport rates. The meeting was held in the presence of tourism associations, travel members and Transportation Committee Members.Chartered Accountant & CEO of Eastern Agencies Mr. Prakash Paudel presented the prospective rates of all types of vehicles based on his research-based information from various organizations. President Mr. Madhusudan Acharya appreciated Mr. Paudel for collecting all the details voluntarily. All the participants in the meeting unanimously agreed that the rates and policy should be systematic and in the favor of travel trade.Mr. Ghanshyam Ghimire, Chairman of NATTA Transport & Hotel Coordination Committee coordinated the meeting.
As in the past, all tourism associations of Nepal are celebrating World Tourism Day together on 25th and 27th September 2017. UNWTO has set this year's slogan as: “Sustainable Tourism – A Tool for Development”. Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA) is organizing various programs all over Nepal in coordination with Department of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board and all the tourism associations. Different committees comprising Government and Private sector have been formed for the celebration of the event. A Rally will be organized in the morning of 25th September, whereas the evening and night of 27th September will experience Deepawali in all tourism related offices. Similarly, there is also a program of felicitating the tourists arriving in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) by the first flight. NATTA Secretary Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay is coordinating on behalf of NATTA for the celebration of World Tourism Day.
A meeting between NATTA President Mr. Madhu Sudan Acharya and UNDP Sector Coordinator Tourism and Hospitality, Mr. Han van t'Hooft was held at NATTA Secretariat on 11th September 2017. Also present in the meeting were NATTA Second Vice President Mr. DK Sharma, Secretary Mr. Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay, Treasurer Mr. Chitra Bahadur Gurung, Executive Members Mr. Binay Basnet, Mr. Laxman Lamsal, Mr. Ghanashym Ghimire and Mr. Hari Bhakta Shrestha and Executive Director Mr. Laxman Gautam. The meeting dealt with possible areas of mutual cooperation between both the organizations for the joint effort of developing and promoting tourism of Nepal. NATTA President Acharya proposed issues like developing remote areas of the country into tourism sites, providing tourism and hospitality trainings to the people of those areas and setting up basic hotels in those places. He outlined private sector would be reluctant to invest in hospitality sector in the less-travelled areas due to Read More
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) organized a Cycle Rally and Futsal on 9th and Blood Donation program on 11th September 2017 in partnership with Qatar Airways in Kathmandu, on the occasion of the World Tourism Day 2017. There was an active participation from NATTA Members, Airlines and GDS at all the events. Cycle Rally started from NATTA Secretariat, meandered through Chakrapath Maharajgunj and reached Budhanilakantha where all cyclists gathered for clean-up campaign at the temple premise. Returning from Budhanilakantha, the rally participants assembled at Dhanwantari futsal, Dhumbarahi where the Futsal tournament took place. A total of 12 Teams including two exclusively Lady Teams participated in the Futsal. Liberty Holidays secured the Winner Trophy and Travel United stood First Runner Up. In Lady's Team, Sabre Travel Network won the medal while Oman Air stood second. On 11th September, Blood Donation program was organized at the premises of NATTA Read More
Yet another relief material has been sent to the victims in the flood and landslides affected areas. NATTA Executive Members sent the collected relief materials to Bardiya on 8th September with the support from Buddha Air. Previously, relief materials collected from NATTA Executive Committee and Members were distributed to the victims of flood and landslides in Biratnagar. NATTA had requested its members to support by cash or kind. Interested members can donate relief materials or contribute money at Sunrise Bank; Account No. 00210250772011 (NEPAL ASSOC. TOUR & T.A. (RELIEF F)) of NATTA.
Everest Bank Limited (EBL) organised an interaction program with Travel & Tour Operators for smooth remittance facility from India to Nepal on 7th September 2017. In program, they apprised that the bank has been receiving remittance from India through its joint venture partner Punjab National Bank’s product INDO Nepal Remittance. Under this facility customer can instantly remit money from Punjab National Bank (PNB) India to EBL through any branch of PNB or Mobile/Internet Banking Facility of PNB and through Business Correspondent locations of PNB. The main agenda of the Interaction Program was to facilitate to the people who wish to remit their fund from India to Nepal easily and safely. Earlier, they were facing trouble to remit the fund. NATTA President Mr. Madhusudan Acharya expressed his views regarding the better functioning of this system. Mr. CN Pandey, NATTA 1st Vice President, Mr. Ghanshyam Ghimire, Executive Member and most of the Read More
New Members were welcomed at NATTA Secretariat at its 41st Board Meeting on 1st September 2017. Members received Certification along with Khada and publication materials of NATTA. New Members include: 1. Unleashed Nepal International Pvt. Ltd. 2. Beachyoda Destinations Pvt. Ltd.
NATTA had a meeting with Mr. Neelesh Man Singh Pradhan, CEO and Mr. Vivek Giri, Business & Product Development Officer of Nepal Clearing House Ltd. on September 1st at NATTA Secretariat. In the meet, Mr. Pradhan shared an insight about Electronic Cheque Clearing (NCHL-ECC) and Interbank Payment System (NCHL-IPS), the national payment systems that are currently in operation. Nepal Clearing House Ltd (NCHL) has been established with an objective of automating the process of cheque clearing which was earlier being done manually through Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). NCHL informed that this facility would reduce Goods for Payment cost for IATA Members in payment of Bill Settlement Plan (BSP). Mr. Madhusudan Acharya, President of NATTA thanked NCHL for the professional service and hoped this would also be an effective tool for IATA Members in their business transaction procedure. Similarly, Mr. D.K Sharma, 2nd VP, Mr. Chitra B. Gurung, Treasurer and Mr. Read More
A meeting between Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) was held on 27th August 2017 in Kathmandu. The representatives from NATTA led by President Mr. Madhu Sudan Acharya included NATTA Past Presidents, Executive Committee and the Officials at the Secretariat while Mr. Sugat Ratna Kansakar, Managing Director, led NAC delegation which consisted of Directors and Deputy Directors from different Departments. The meeting was a get-together for mutual relation-building and idea-sharing and had been organized alternatively by both the institutions on a periodic basis. NATTA President Acharya highlighted the importance of strong national flag carrier to promote Nepal as a tourism destination. He suggested NAC to operate services to other tourist generating cities in India and China and to long haul traditional markets like Europe, Japan and Australia. Increasing the number of aircrafts was the major issue in the meeting. Mr. Acharya suggested NAC Read More
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) organized a Farewell Program in honor of Prof. Dr. Hari Sarmah on 27th August 2017 in Kathmandu. Prof. Sarmah served NATTA as Chief Executive Officer for Eighteen years and Two months and completed his tenure on 15th July 2017. President of NATTA Mr. Madhu Sudan Acharya conferred upon Prof. Sarmah a Letter of Appreciation and a Cheque. In his remarks, Mr. Acharya expressed his gratitude and thankfulness to Prof. Sarmah for his long continued service with utmost professionalism, perseverance and prudence. He acknowledged that he himself and the organization (NATTA) learnt, from Prof. Sarmah's erudition, knowledge and skill for the robust functioning of the office. Prof. Sarmah was appreciated for his patience, calmness and readiness to take up responsibility whatsoever and whensoever. Speaking on the occasion, former Presidents of NATTA: Mr. RR Pandey, Mr. RM Singh, Mr. Rabi Poudel, Mr. Bhola Thapa, Read More
NATTA Executive Committee and Members supported the victims of flood and landslides that terribly hit Nepal this monsoon. Members have been donating relief packages like foods, clothes and cash. On 22nd August 2017, NATTA Executive Members sent the collected relief materials to Biratnagar with the support of Saurya Airlines. To support victims of floods and landslide, NATTA had requested its members to support by cash or kind. Interested members can donate relief materials or contribute money at Sunrise Bank; Account No. 00210250772011 (NEPAL ASSOC. TOUR & T.A. (RELIEF F)) of NATTA.
A meeting between NATTA Media & Publicity Committee and NATTA Executive Members was held on 21st August 2017 at NATTA Secretariat. The meeting chaired by Secretary General and Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee Mr. Bhim Prasad Panta, briefed about NATTA's upcoming mega events taking place from the 1st week of September. Executive Member and Chairman of Sports & Entertainment Committee Mr. Yubaraj Subedi informed about the Cycle Rally, Futsal and Blood donation being held on September 9 and 11, 2017 respectively, in celebration of concluding ceremony of Golden Jubilee and World Tourism Day. Likewise, Media Committee members were also apprised about Closing of Golden Jubilee Celebration and Special Program to be held on September 2017 at Hotel Yak & Yeti.
NATTA President Mr. Madhusudan Acharya attended the International Mountain for Tourism Alliance (IMTA) Annual Forum as a Panelist under the theme: New Opportunities And New Platform For Sustainable Mountain Tourism Development — Approach, Pathway and Strategy For Innovative Development of International; Mountain Tourism Alliance. The conference was held in Xingyi, the capital of Qianxinan prefecture, China from 14th to 18th August 2017 where it had the discussions on The Plan for the establishment of the IMTA Secretariat, Three Year work Plan of IMTA. NATTA has been awarded with a Certificate, being one of the Members among the 25 Council Members of IMTA. The event was attended by over 1,200 government officials and business executives as well as influencers and experts of mountain travel and outdoor sports from 29 countries and regions worldwide. IMTA is a non-profit international organization voluntarily established from 2016 to 2018 by civil tourist agencies, communities, enterprises Read More
With NATTA's active initiative and coordination with leading tourism associations of Nepal: Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Society of Travel and Tour Operators (SOTTO), Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association (NTVA) and Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), a letter jointly signed by all the above mentioned associations was submitted to Department of Transportation requesting for continuation of the existing laws on transportation in opposition to the proposed law on new provision of route permit to tourist vehicles. It was unanimously agreed by all the associations that the proposed provision of issuing in-advance route permit and checks to tourist vehicles as in the case of other public vehicles not only contradicts the spirit of Transport Management Act 2049 and Regulation 2054 but also discourages the tourist vehicle service providers. This new provision downplays the Read More
In keeping with the past rotational tradition, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) convened the Joint Breakfast Meeting on 11th August 2017 at Airport Hotel. President of HAN, Mr. Amar Man Shakya going through the agenda firstly enlightened on the Draft of Joint suggestion on Indo-Nepal Tourism Development that is to be submitted to Hon'ble Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba before his official visit to India scheduled for August 23-28, 2017. Some of the suggestions included joint promotion by Nepalese and Indian Airlines with special schemes, strengthen Nepal-India Joint India Working Committee (JWC), connection of North India's major cities with Nepal to promote touristic destinations by tourist bus and other issues of mutual promotion of tourism between both the neighbors. Suggesting further to the draft, NATTA President Mr. Madhusudan Acharya added on the arrangement of separate tourist lane & establishment of tourist information center at the major entry points (border) to Read More
An interaction meeting was organized by Nepal Tourism Board as Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan Ms. Sewa Lamsal Adhikari wanted to have a discussion with Nepalese Trade on finding ways and means on how to promote Nepal in Pakistan. The fruitful meeting was held on 6th August 2017 at Nepal Tourism Board. Secretary General Mr. Bhim Prasad Panta represented NATTA in the meeting. Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Panta admired such kinds of meeting and potentialities in the field of tourism between two countries.
NATTA has joined hands together with Vayodha Hospitals by which the NATTA members can get support in any kind of healthcare issues assuring of providing quality medical services and facilities to the members of NATTA. A MOU has been signed between NATTA and Vayodha Hospitals and now will be acting as a Medical Partner of NATTA. The aim of this affiliation is to bring much needed health awareness in our members and at the same time provide them with attractive discounts on medical facilities that are available in this hospital. NATTA Members can soon avail of membership card valid for 2 years from Secretariat. For more information on Vayodha Hospitals, you can visit their site Click Here
A series of meetings are being held in consideration of various current transportation issues. NATTA Executives, Transportation Committee and TBAN President were at the meeting held at NATTA Secretariat on 3rd August 2017. After the discussion, a decision was made to visit at DOT DG & Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and apprise on the current issues faced by tourist transportation stakeholder by forming a delegation.
Nepal Rastra Bank had recently announced the monetary policy for the fiscal year 2074-75. In this regard, Nepal Chamber of Commerce organized an interaction program on Monetary Policy and concerning financial issues with private sector organizations to reflect and review the vision outlined by the policy at Hotel Radisson on 2nd August 2017. Chief Guest for the program, Finance Minister Mr. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki defended the monetary policy, which has been widely criticized for its likelihood to shrink investment, stating that the policy would in fact be a roadmap for economic development. Several economists, stakeholders shared their perspectives in regard to investment and policies in country. Their common goals were in creating a conducive business environment and sustaining the economy. NATTA was represented by Treasurer Mr. Chitra Bahadur Gurung at the interaction program.
Team of SAMARTH Mr. Sumit Baral and Mr. Pranil Upadhyay were at NATTA Secretariat on 21st July 2017 to apprise on the further development and plans of Great Himalaya Trails (GHT). GHT brand management has been handed over to Nepal Tourism Board and has been working closely together in developing it as a premium product and services for Nepal. To make GHT project more potential, Trek Operators Auditors Mobilizing Committee (AMC) has been formed comprising of major industry associations for developing Great Himalaya Trails (GHT) specialized operators. Representing NATTA, NATTA Executives Ms. Shital Sharma Paudel and Mr. Furi Geljen Sherpa were nominated in the committee. The first orientation workshop with the committee took place at NTB on 30th July 2017, to work out on strategies such as: add value on Nepal's mountain tourism offerings by ensuring the minimum parameters of safety, quality and standards etc.
