Presently in progress is a noteworthy Digital Capacity Building training in Gandaki Province, spanning from December 7th to 11th, 2023. This initiative, a joint effort by NATTA in partnership with UNDP and NTB, is geared towards equipping over 35 travel agents with crucial digital skills. Under the guidance of instructor Amod Niroula, the training seeks to enhance participants' proficiency in utilizing digital tools effectively within the travel industry. The curriculum covers diverse areas such as online marketing, social media strategies, and digital customer engagement. The collaboration between these three esteemed organizations underscores a shared commitment to advancing the digital capabilities of travel agents in Gandaki Province.
Customer care service is currently in the spotlight in Sudurpashchim Province with an ongoing training session at Hotel Soral Pvt. Ltd. from the 8th to the 12th of December, 2023. This training is a joint effort by NATTA in partnership with UNDP and NTB which aims to enhance the customer care skills of professionals in the region. The program focuses on various aspects of customer service including effective communication, problem-solving and building positive relationships. With this collaborative initiative Sudurpashchim Province seeks to elevate the standard of customer care ensuring a positive and satisfactory experience for all.
In a request for support in the upcoming Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) 2023, a joint meeting with international airlines and GDS operating in Nepal was held at Hotel Yak & Yeti on 27th February 2023 convened by NATTA. The meeting firstly apprised of the information about BITM with a Presentation and requested for suggestions and advice to make the event a grand success for the benefit of tourism in Nepal. Also, requested to suggest Bloggers, Media, and Buyers in the program and share the event among their associates. All the representatives in the meeting praised NATTA for the initiation of organizing the Buddhist International Mart with their valued suggestions to work and jointly agreed to collaborate in making the event a grand success.
A Debriefing meeting of the delegates who participated in the FITUR Exhibition 2023 was held at Hotel Kailashkutee, Thamel, Kathmandu in the afternoon, 20th February 2023 with the participants of FITUR 2023, NATTA Board and NTB. The participants shared their experiences and also provided suggestions such as increasing the space from the current year, having a Cultural Program or any attractions to attract the number of visitors to the Nepal Pavilion in the future. The suggestions and comments shared by the participants have been noted positively to implement for the greater success of the next participation. With more than 30 Nepalese tourism stakeholders NATTA organized the participation in the Fair from 19th – 22nd January 2023. At the conclusion of the FITUR Debriefing, NATTA thanked NTB, the Embassy of Nepal in Madrid, and everyone in the delegation for their effort to make this participation a very fruitful one.
NATTA Executive Board visited the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Singhadurbar on 7th February 2023 to congratulate the newly appointed Tourism Minister Hon'ble Mr. Sudan Kirati. On the occasion, the delegation felicitated Hon'ble Minister with Bouquet, Khada, and Congratulatory Message to the Minister. NATTA also handed over the suggestions and pressing issues being faced by the tourism sector to Hon'ble Minister.
More than 160 tourism workers benefitted from a Free Cardiovascular Diseases Screening Camp free health camp conducted in coordination with NATTA, Henry Ford Health, GTA, and Sahid Gangalal National Heart Centre (SGNHC) at NATTA on February 3rd, 2023. The camp was organized for high-altitude tourism workers (Mountaineers, Trekking Guides, Porters, etc.). Tourism Workers underwent tests, including ECHO, Pressure, and blood sugar. With the alarming rise in the number of people suffering from heart ailments, the camp intended to raise awareness about heart-related illnesses and the need for precautions and lifestyle modifications to improve heart health, especially for high-altitude workers.
Western Travel Mart, Fam Trip with Sales Mission concluded in Nepalgunj for promotion and promotion as an important tourist destination of Western Nepal. The program was held from January 29th to 31st under the joint project of the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents Banke Chapter together with HAN Banke and local provincial governments. Delegations from the Nepal Tourism Board, NATTA, Domestic Airlines, tourism association representatives, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) officials, Indian tour operators, national tourism entrepreneurs, Provincial Government representatives, and Indian, as well as Nepalese media persons, participated in the event. Inaugurating the event, Dr. Dhawal Shamsher JB Rana, a Member of the House of Representatives from Banke, advocated that Nepal is an excellent tourist destination for India and urged Indians to take benefit through their travel. And also declared at the event that soon there to be initiatives for direct flights Read More
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents with the Nepal Tourism Board successfully organized Nepal Tourism Promotion and B2B meeting in three cities of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Lucknow from 23 to 28 January 2023 in a bid to update the key Indian Outbound Tour Operators in border cities and promote Nepal's tourism products. The events focused on cross-border tourism promotion from Uttar Pradesh as it is the most populous state in India and in close proximity to Nepal. The first destination of the Sales Mission was reached via Buddha Air to Varanasi. Cross Border Sales Mission programs in the cities of Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Lucknow on January 24, 25, and 27, 2023, respectively were organized. The sales mission programs aimed at cashing in the tourism potentiality from the most populous state of India, Uttar Pradesh; having proximity to Nepal. The programs in each city primarily focused on showcasing Read More
FNCCI organized two days of residential training on "Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)" on the 25-26 January 2023 at Dhulikhel Resort. The objective of the training was to raise awareness about Business and Human Rights and build the capacity of the private sector to promote Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). Conducted in collaboration with UNDP Nepal to align with the Fifth National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) led by the government of Nepal, the program was participated by NATTA Executive Member, Ms. Shraddha Joshi. The training sessions were conducted by international and national professional mentors in aid to enable business corporations to comply with Human Rights.
A meeting held on 25th January 2023 between the executive body of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has formed an eight-member task force on behalf of both organizations to increase ticket sales as well as to attract foreign tourists into the country and also about Sales commission to the sales agents. Various issues related to gross fare, sales management, group fare, void ticket charge, and flight information were discussed at the meeting. Also, a task force has been formed to increase the corporation's ticket sales and attract more foreign tourists, a press statement reads. The eight-member task force consists of CA Janak Raj Kalakheti, Director of the Commerce Department of NAC, Mr. Umesh Paudel, Director of the finance department, Mr. Anil Ghimire, Director of General Services and asset management department, and Mr. Santosh Pandey, Deputy Director of the commercial department. Similarly, Read More
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) and NTB participated in the most coveted fair in Europe, FITUR in Madrid, Spain. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and along with twenty private travel trade companies from Nepal participated in the tourism fair from 18 to 22 January 2023. Her Excellency Ambassador of Nepal to Spain Dr. Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal inaugurated the Nepal pavilion and shared the tourism promotional activities being organized by the Embassy. All the Officials had interactions with the visitors at the Nepal stall and disseminated information on Nepal's tourism products and activities. Similarly, travel trade companies from Nepal had business-to-business interactions with the operators (buyers) at the fair. Thousands of enthusiastic visitors at the Nepal stall during the 5-days fair raised their concerns on trekking, sightseeing, connectivity, and safety issues. On the evening of 22 January, the Nepal Tourism Board and the Embassy of Nepal in Madrid jointly Read More
Memorial Candle Lighting Ceremony was held at Narsingh Chowk, Thamel, to honor and pray for the eternal peace of the souls of those who tragically lost their lives in the Yeti Airlines ATR72 plane crash on 15th January 2023 which was attended by tour operators, airlines, media, government and private sector officials including the passersby.
At least 68 people were dead after a Yeti Airlines ATR 72 flight carrying 72 crashed near the country’s new Pokhara Airport on January 15 2023. According to an airline statement, 53 Nepali nationals and 15 foreign nationals were on the flight, including five from India, four from Russia, two from South Korea, one from Argentina, one from Australia, one from France, and one from Ireland. There were at least six children on the flight, according to a passenger list shared by the country’s civil aviation authority. NATTA issued a Press Statement sharing its deepest condolences with the members of the bereaving family and with Yeti Airlines on the unfortunate crash of the ATR 72 plane that had taken off from Kathmandu to Pokhara on 15 January 2023. The accident claimed the lives of all the crew members and the passengers on the aircraft.
On January 11, tour operators of Nepal were together at the NATTA Secretariat to discuss several key issues affecting the travel and tourism industry. The main topics of discussion were tour guide remuneration, transportation fare adjustment, heritage site fee increment by government agencies, and the new rule requiring police clearance for managing directors of companies for renewal of NRB permits. We believe such discussions with entrepreneurs will surely pave the way to resolving the challenges.
On 8th January, the President of UFTAA Mr. Sunil Kumar Rumalla visited the Secretariat of NATTA today and held discussions with the Executive Board of NATTA. Recalling the friendly relationship between UFTAA and NATTA for many years both NATTA and UFTAA reminisced about the mutual tourism benefits and welfare. NATTA also submitted some concerns to the President of UFTAA that were raised by NATTA members during the APJC Meeting held in Kathmandu in July to take the lead in addressing these issues. Mr. Sunil Kumar expressed his positive thoughts on tourism potential in Nepal and assured NATTA that he would look into the possibilities of assisting NATTA in whatever way possible in the days to come.
A Joint meeting with the representatives of GDS along with their technical lead, IATA, and APJC Committee Members was organized on 6th January 2023 at NATTA Secretariat to discuss the current ongoing issues, especially the Cyber Security of each Global Distribution System (GDS). Certain issues were discussed on the current state of cyber security for each GDS, threats, and vulnerabilities that the GDSs are facing, measures that have been taken to improve Cyber Security, and plans for future cyber security improvements. Also, there were serious discussions on any relevant industry standards or regulations that apply to the GDSs, as well as any best practices that have been identified for improving cybersecurity in the global travel industry. It was agreed to provide coordination and communication between the GDSs and NATTA members on cyber security matters. GDS's need to have strong Cyber Security measures in place to protect against cyber attacks, as Read More
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board is organizing BITM in Nepal to promote Nepal through the BUDDHIST travel mart on 11-13 May 2023, in Lumbini, Nepal. MoCTCA is involved as Chair of the main organizing committee. Nepal Tourism Board is working as an organizing partner, whereas NATTA is working as an implementing partner, together with major tourism-related stakeholders.
The inauguration of the Pokhara Regional International Airport, built in the drop back of the Annapurna Mountain Range, was held on the 1st of January. In a special ceremony held in Pokhara, Hon'ble Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal officially inaugurated the international airport. Deputy Prime and Finance Minister Mr. Bishnu Paudel and stakeholders were also in attendance. Pokhara Metropolitan City declared a public holiday on Sunday to celebrate the inauguration. The government signed a $215.96 million soft loan agreement with China in March 2016 for the construction of the new airport in lake city. NATTA Executive Members also participated in the inaugural flight of Pokhara International Airport (PIA).
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) completed its 24 years of operation. A program was organized in Kathmandu to mark the 24th anniversary on 31 st December 2022. Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chairman of the NTB, Mr. Suresh Adhikari, opinioned that a new strategy was needed for tourism promotion in the changing global environment. On the occasion of the anniversary, the Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents (NATTA), Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), Nepal India Chamber of Commerce and other organizations were honored who contributed institutionally to revive tourism in Nepal. Similarly, IPP Mr. Achyut Guragain and the President of NATTA Banke Chapter Mr. Shreeram Sigdel received special acknowledgment for their contribution to tourism. At the ceremony, certificates were distributed to the employees working in NTB as excellent employees, and Read More
NATTA expressed its Condolences on the demise of the different personalities joining in their mourning period. NATTA offered a Condolence Letter visiting their residence to the Late Surendra Bahadur Basnet, founder of Buddha Air, Late Hon. Captain Kul Bahadur Gurung Koney, Father of Former NATTA Treasurer Mr. Narayan Prasad Gurung Koney, Late Illa Kumari Gautam Mother of Former NATTA Gandaki Province President Mr. Dilli Prasad Gautam, Late Dropada Devi Upadhyay Mother of Former NATTA Gandaki Province President Mr. Kedarnath Sharma, Late Keshari Bashyal Mother of NATTA Member Mr. Chabi Lal Bashyal (Jharana Travels) . Over the sad times, NATTA expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prays that the Departed Soul Rest in Peace.
