News Letter January, 2010

Namaste! From Highlander Nepal.
After the great farewell of 2009, we are already entering the 2010 to have a wonderful year for the tourism in Nepal and we are ready to serve up with the start of coming spring season.

At this time, we would like to extend a thank to all of our clients who were travel with us and appreciate our service in 2009. With your valuable support, comment, suggestions are always welcome and that makes our service level even high and satisfied in 2010.
 

New Year Festival concludes in Pokhara

Annual tourism promotional event Pokhara New Year Festival concluded in the lake city on January 1.

The event is being organized from the last eleven years to commemorate New Year and promote Pokhara as a New Year destination for both domestic and international visitors. The event was organized by Pokhara chapter of Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN).

About 80 restaurants in the Lakeside served their guests on the street throughout the festival. The organizers also blocked traffic on the 3 km stretch from Fishtail Gate to Dihikopatan for the celebration.

Apart from food and cultural programs, interesting sporting events like Tourist Race, Kayak Race, Tug of War, Waiter Race and food eating competitions were also organized. The event also saw cultural attractions like Chyaju dance of Gurungs, Selo of Tamangs, Kaura dance of Magars, stick dance of Tharus and cultural procession of Kirant and Newar people.

China Southern Airlines to promote Nepal as attractive tourist destination

Nearly three months of its operation in Nepal, China Southern Airlines (CSA) is now focusing at promoting Nepal as an attractive tourist destination among outbound Chinese travelers."Although we are still a starter in the Nepali market, the initial three months have proved that we could market Nepal as an attractive destination among the Chinese tourists," Vincent Zhen, general manager of CSA Nepal Office.

The airlines began its Nepal operation from Feb. 5, connecting Nepali capital Kathmandu with Guangzhou city of China, twice a week on Mondays and Fridays."Over 1,100 Chinese passengers flew by China Southern on Guangzhou-Kathmandu route over the past three months. The trend is encouraging, which is a clear testimony that there still lies a huge potential to be tapped," Zhen said.

According to Zhen, during the upcoming golden-week from May 1, about 300-400 Chinese tourists will come to Nepal by CSA's Boeing-757 aircraft. Although Nepal and China are close neighbors, Nepal's rich cultural heritage and biodiversity, south face of the majestic Himalayas and Nepali hospitality are still unknown among many Chinese, said Zhen, adding that Nepal has yet been properly promoted in China.
He points out that the promotion of Nepal in China, the fastest growing economy in the world, could significantly increase the inflow of Chinese tourists, benefiting both the tourism industry and the airlines.

"Keeping the growing trend in mind, CSA is ready to increase frequency to four flights a week or even daily," he added.

Nepal Tourism Year 2011" Guests are Gods

 Government of Nepal in consultation with Nepalese travel trade sector and concerned organizations/experts decided on October 25, 2008 to launch a national tourism campaign "Nepal Tourism Year 2011". This announcement reflects the government’s anticipation to bring into Nepal at least one million international tourists by the year 2011 and tourism industry’s demand to organize a tourism promotion campaign for wider impact.

With the badge of adventure destination glittering and the adage “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guests are Gods) embedded in our culture, the portfolio of tourism products never cease to mesmerize the visitors. The unparallel cultural, geographical, ethnic and bio diversities of the country allure visitors to Nepal time and again which truly substantiates the spirit of Nepal tourism brand Naturally Nepal, once is not enough !

Etihad operate daily flights to Kathmandu

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will increase its Abu Dhabi-Kathmandu services from four to seven flights per week from January 2010.

Etihad's flights to Kathmandu, which were launched in December 2008, have proved extremely popular with travellers, providing high volumes of traffic into Abu Dhabi and the Middle East, as well as transit traffic to destinations including London and Frankfurt in Western Europe, and New York and Chicago in North America.

The success of the route is evident in average load factors of between 80 and 90 per cent on both in- and outbound flights. This is attributable to growth in corporate travel and also a positive trend in inbound tourism to Nepal, and the additional flights were introduced to satisfy these customers' demands for daily frequencies, specifically.

Joost den Hartog, Etihad Airways' regional general manager for North Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, said: "In addition to the strong demand for flights from Nepalese nationals who work in Abu Dhabi and further afield, we have seen a strengthening in corporate and leisure traffic, which is important to the economic development of Nepal. Etihad is pleased to support this growth with an increase in its services."

Hari Dharel Attend WTM & Luxury Travel Show in 2009

Our Managing Director Mr. Hari Dharel attends WTM London in November 2009 and Luxury travel show December 2009 in Las Vegas.