SATTE, regarded as one of the most important tourism exchange fairs in South Asia was organized from 18th-20th May 2022. Many tourism industry experts participated in SATTE 2022, organized by B2B exhibition organizer Informa Markets at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida. NATTA also had its effective participation in the most coveted travel event, SATTE as a Buyer/Seller in the event. The participation from NATTA included Immediate Past President, Mr. Achyut Guragain, Senior Vice President Mr. Pramod Dahal, Secretary General Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya, Secretary Ms. Yubika Bhandari, Executive Member Mr. Bishnu Pandey and other NATTA General Members. The organising committee of SATTE Informa Markets and NATTA has always shared a warm and cordial relationship. As many as 36,000 + industry buyers and trade visitors across multiple industry verticals like travel, wedding planning, and corporate travel were present at the three-day event with business opportunities. Nepal Tourism Board had also Read More
The Election Commission (EC), Nepal had approved the 'Measure on vehicles mobility management on the voting day of the local level election, 2079.' The movement of vehicles in the Valley had been banned during the prohibitory period and only essential services, candidates and their representatives were allowed to drive the vehicles on the voting day, May 13, 2022. A total of 28 NATTA member companies and their 50 vehicles were given benefitted from this NATTA initiative. Therefore for the hassle-free movements of tourists to and from the Airport to their respective destinations during this day, NATTA lobbied with several concerned ends for the Vehicle Pass for the general members. NATTA had collected requests from its members and in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board, Chief District Office and Election Commission, NATTA provided passes for their vehicles based on certain pre-defined criteria. Likewise, Shuttle Bus services were arranged to and from Airport Read More
FNCCI together with its associations organised a meeting to discuss the Work based Skill Development Program at its Secretariat, Teku on 10th May 2022. The skill development training will be provided to the participants seeking to learn about tourism. A proposal for capacity building and training for 3 months for 50 participants has been developed and sent to FNCCI by the Research, Training & Development Committee of NATTA.
The newly elected Executive Committee of NATTA led by President Mr. Ramesh Thapa met with the Executive Chairman of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Mr. Ubaraj Adhikari on 8th May 2022 at the NAC office, Kathmandu. The meeting was well attended by the Directors of the Corporation, Mr. Tanka Nidhi Dahal and CA Janak Raj Kalakheti. The NATTA Executive Committee was accorded a warm welcome by the Executive Chairman of NAC and the officials present. Speaking on the occasion, on behalf of the NATTA Executive team, President Mr. Ramesh Thapa thanked NAC for their pleasant reception and said that airlines and travel agents should complementarily work together. NATTA has had a wonderful understanding with NAC in the past and it looks forward to better and more productive days ahead by working together in tandem. NATTA also presented a certain set of points of suggestion to NAC which included expansion of Air Read More
NATTA organised a brief meeting with Dr. Jeevan Amgain, Member of Revenue Advisory Board, Ministry of Finance on 06th May 2022 at NATTA Secretariat. The meeting was organised to discuss the upcoming budget of the Nepal Government as well as the long term policy intervention of the tourism industry. The meeting highlighted the issues related to a rebate of foreign currency income to tourism based companies to support and motivate them, exemption of Value added tax (VAT) until full recovery of tourism or for a minimum of 5 years. Other relevant issues of travel and tourism related to refinancing, investment of tourism infrastructure, providing industry status to the Tourism sector, continuing 1% income tax, subsidized loan facility, e-visa with online payment system, and MICE tourism were discussed. A 21 points suggestion paper regarding the financial issues was submitted to Dr. Amgain. He assured NATTA to lobby for the issues Ministry Read More
A joint meeting was held between representatives of International Airlines operating in Nepal and NATTA Executives chaired by President Mr. Ramesh Thapa at Aranya Boutique Hotel on 05th May 2022. The meeting was an introductory meeting after the Election of the New NATTA Executive Committee with the International Airlines Executives. During the meeting, ongoing situations faced by the Travel Agents as well as International Airlines were discussed. Furthermore, future possible cooperation between the International Airlines and NATTA during tourism promotional events organized later was discussed.
TAAN organised a felicitation program in honour of the newly elected executive committee of NATTA. TAAN President Mr. Khum Bahadur Subedi welcomed NATTA President and team of NATTA. Also, on the very same day, a Joint meeting was organized by TAAN with tourism associations at its Secretariat on 29th April 2022. The meeting was organized to discuss the amended Tourism Act 2078 issued by the Government of Nepal. NATTA also surveyed its general members for feedback regarding the new Tourism Act by Bagmati Province which would be supportive of our further persuasions.
The national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) conducted an ‘operational performance test flight’ to Gautam Buddha International Airport which serves as the country’s second International Airport on 28th April 2022. The NAC A330 wide-body aircraft took off from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 5 pm and landed at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa at 5:55 pm. NATTA Executives had also been invited to the Test Flight by Nepal Airlines Corporation and participated in the delegation of the test flight. The test flight by the wide-body Airbus at the country’s other international airport built after 74 years of the establishment of the first one is said to be historic. According to CAAN, domestic airports in Terai as well as Gautam Buddha International Airport are coming into operation for 18 hours daily. Similarly, international commercial flights would be operated at Gautam Buddha International Airport for 24 hours from upcoming Read More
In the initiation of NATTA, a letter was handed over to the Environment Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City on 28th April for installing a mobile toilet in Sorakhutte, where Tourist Buses pick up the passengers. NATTA Secretary General Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya and Executive Member Mr. Dhaknath Kafle along with Mr. Milan Nepal of TBAN met with Ms. Sarita Rai, Chief of the Department to deliver the letter.
A joint meeting was held between representatives of Domestic Airlines of Nepal and NATTA Executives chaired by President Mr. Ramesh Thapa at the NATTA Secretariat on 26th April 2022. The meeting was an introductory meeting after the Election of the New NATTA Executive Committee. The meeting discussed the second edition of BITM and possible cooperation from the Domestic Airlines operating in Nepal. Also, the meeting discussed some of the rising technical issues such as esewa, Credit System to Agents, Lukla Airport and many more. Domestic Airlines Representatives were from Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Saurya Airlines, Shree and Summit Air. The meeting had the presence of Senior Vice President Mr. Pramod Dahal, Treasurer Mr. Raj Kumar Devkota, Executive Member Mr. Dendi Sherpa, CEO Mr. Uttam Prasad Devkota and COO Ms. Shradha Chhetri.
NATTA called on for the Joint Meeting with Presidents of tourism umbrella associations; HAN, TAAN, NMA, NARA, NATO, PATA, SOTTO, NTVA and TBAN on 26th April 2022 at NATTA Secretariat. The meeting started with the introduction session of New Executive Members and participated Presidents of invited Tourism Organisations. The joint meeting focused mainly on immediate actions for the survival of the tourism industry, reviving the 'One Voice for Tourism' solidarity as well as reviving the Secretary General Club of all the Associations. Also in the meeting, the Associations agreed to put forward concerns like; emphasis on digitalization in marketing strategies, and work in close coordination with Government and Nepal Tourism Board. A white paper was decided to be prepared on the challenges created by pandemic situations, infrastructure and others. Presidents also expressed their gratitude and commitment to work jointly in every way possible and visit concerned authorities together for the Read More
FNCCI invited all its Commodity Member Associations for the Preparatory Budget Program with the Revenue Consultation Committee, Government of Nepal on 26th April 2022 at FNCCI Secretariat, Teku. Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya, Secretary General of NATTA participated in the interaction. Mr. Thapaliya put forwarded certain suggestions to be implemented for the upcoming Budget of the Fiscal Year 2079/80. NATTA compiled all the suggestions and presented them to FNCCI. The suggestions were; refinancing should be continued for at least 5 years by Nepal Rastra Bank, a policy of 10 percent cashback incentive to be given to the agents who have contributed to importing foreign currencies in Nepal, increment of the investment in the maintenance of the infrastructure of country and many more.
NATTA issuing a Press Release has strongly objected to the Government’s decision to increase airport service charges to Rs 3,000 per passenger. This increase in tariff is likely to adversely affect the Nepalese tourism industry which is gradually picking up its pace following the COVID-19 pandemic. NATTA has demanded an immediate reversal of the Government's decision and that such decisions should not be taken without consultation with all the stakeholders.
After the Department of Immigration issued a notice for travellers to Nepal to carry $200 in cash to pay for their on-arrival visa at the airport, there had been several criticisms. It was stated that the single ATM at Tribhuvan International Airport does not accept certain cards, and it is a good idea to carry cash. NATTA together with other tourism associations also issued a statement disagreeing with the Statement of Immigration as it will create an extra hassle for the travellers. Nevertheless, the Department of Immigration backed off from its decision to ask tourists to bring cash to obtain on-arrival visas after the disapproval from all the places. Rastriya Banijya Bank installed two ATMs and two POS machines to facilitate tourists after the decision courted a strong backlash.
Regarding the training to be provided to members of NATTA, a meeting was held with the representative of PUM, Netherlands, Mrs. Lajali Bajracharya regarding exploring the several possibilities of training the tourism professionals on 21st April 2022. The physical training shall be organized on various Subjects; Digital Marketing Training, Promotional Skills, and Sales Marketing with the Senior Experts from the Netherlands. Present in the meetings were President Mr. Ramesh Thapa, Secretary and Chairperson, Training & Development Committee Ms. Yubika Bhandari, Executive Member Mr. Dendi Sherpa and Mr. Bishnu Pandey.
Tourism Authority of Thailand on 20th April launched its “Visit Thailand in 2022: Amazing New Chapters” campaign in Nepal in a bid to attract affluent Nepali tourists to the land of white elephants. The authority launched its latest tourism initiative to create awareness amongst Nepalese Travel Agents regarding new regulations and procedures to visit Thailand. Thai Ambassador to Nepal, His Excellency Mr. Vosita Vorasaph at the launch informed that Thailand has been reopened with most of the travel restrictions removed from April 1. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that fully vaccinated travellers from any country are allowed to enter Thailand without quarantine. However, visitors will have to be fully vaccinated for more than 14 days before travelling, must book a hotel for one day while waiting for the result of the PCR test report and must possess Covid-19 insurance policy with coverage of no less than $20,000. Travellers will Read More
Various necessary NATTA Committees have been formed to ease the solution to the ever-increasing responsibilities of the associations: 1. National and International Promotion Committee Mr. Pramod Dahal 2. IR & VAT Committee Mr. Pramod Dahal 3. China Tour Promotion Committee Mr. Varun Mehta 4. APJC Committee Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya 5. Media, PR & Govt Coordination Committee Mr. Kumar Mani Thapaliya 6. Tour, Heritage & Culture Committee Ms. Yubika Bhandari 7. Research, Training & Development Committee Ms. Yubika Bhandari 8. Banking, Finance & Resource Management Committee Mr. Raj Kumar Devkota 9. Budget Airlines Committee Ms. Geeta Dhakal 10. Sports & Entertainment Committee Mr. Dendi Sherpa 11. Transport & Hotel Coordination Committee Mr. Dhaknath Kafle 12. Membership Committee Ms. Sabala Bhandari 13. Domestic Airlines Promotion Committee Mr. Namaraj Bhetuwal 14. Printing & Publication Committee Ms. Shradha Joshi 15. BIMSTEC Countries Promotion Committee Mr. Bishnu Pandey 16. Membership Feedback & Solution Committee Read More
The newly elected NATTA Executive Committee took part in the 27th AGM and 12th Election of NATTA Gandaki Province which was held on 18th April 2022. The Newly Elected Executive Committee of NATTA Gandaki Province was elected under the leadership of Mr. Hariram Adhikari. Similarly, Mr. Kishore Dahal was elected as First Vice President, Ms. Kamala Giri as Second Vice President while Ms. Sangita Paudel was elected as General Secretary, Mr. Chetan Karki as Secretary, Mr. Nawaraj Bhandari as Treasurer, Mr. Subash Pahari as Joint Treasurer. Likewise, Mr. Sandip Shrestha, Mr. Tara Prasad Gautam, Ms. Sushila Sigdel, Mr. Khim Bahadur Nepali, Mr. Ganesh Pokhrel, Mr. Tulbahadur Gurung and Mr. Ratnaraj Regmi were elected as Executive Members of the NATTA Gandaki Province. The delegation from the NATTA Central was led by President Mr. Ramesh Thapa. Representatives from NATTA Kakadvitta Province, Sudurpaschim Province, Lumbini Province and NATTA Palpa & Banke Chapters also Read More
Past President Council Meeting was held on 17th April 2022 at the Secretariat of NATTA. In the meeting, besides NATTA President, Senior Vice President and Secretary General were also present as Invitee Members. At the very first meeting after the election, Past Presidents welcomed the newly elected Executive Committee. President Mr. Ramesh Thapa apprised the Presidents about the Working Plans that have been prepared which include the concerns of IATA Payment, VAT/Tax, Foreign Exchange, BITM, National Carrier/Airport/Infrastructure/Tourist Bus Park and many more. Convener of Council and Former Presidents expressed their best wishes along with suggestions and ideas to be implemented the soonest possible in our tourism industry.
The 56th Annual General Meeting of the Federal of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI) was held at Hotel Soaltee on April 10th and 11th, 2022. The Member Associations from different Provinces and Sectors contributing to the trade were awarded on the occasion. Past Presidents and Executives of FNCCI, Government Officials, Members of the Association and Media Personnel were present at the 2 day long event. A panel discussion was organized with the presence of Government officials and FNCCI Executives to discuss on Challenges and Possibilities of Foreign Investment, Competition in the Nepalese Production Industry. NATTA President Mr. Ramesh Thapa and Immediate Past President Mr. Achyut Guragain participated in the Annual General Meeting.
