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| Nepal goes colorful in ATM Dubai- 2008 |
| Nepal Tourism Board, along with four private companies participated in the ATM- 2008 held in Dubai, UAE during May 6-9, 2008. The fair was keenly observed and visited by the media, travel related agencies and the common public in the Gulf Region. The Gulf region is the fastest growing region in the world and the ATM reflected that. The 14 year old international exhibition has doubled in size in the past four years with the space of 25,000 sqm; the success of the event reflects the growth of the region's travel industry. With 2,208 exhibitors from all aspects of industry from all corners of the world, the ATM is undoubtedly a special platform to showcase the tourism attractions and to meet with the travel related organizations. Nepal was very well received in Dubai by the media and the travel industry. With many new airlines flying to UAE and connecting the Gulf region to Nepal, there seemed numerous queries, interests and attractions towards to Nepal. The Nepalese companies enjoyed unprecedented meetings and flow of the visitors; and Nepal seems to have great tourism potentials in the region. On May 8, Nepal organized a short presentation on Nepal to address the inquiries of the media, travel professionals and common people and to brief them on the current scenarios in Nepal. The Nepal stand was visited by His Excellency Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa, the Nepalese Ambassador to UAE and by the Embassy officials. Yeti Travels, Flyyeti.com, Shangri-La Hotel and La Meridian Resort were the private companies that participated in the fair.Mr. Gahendra Rajbhandari – Officer participated the fair from Nepal Tourism Board. |
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| Rogers' "Rhythms of Life" project completed in Nepal |
| The Nepal Tourism Board is delighted to announce that Australian Sculptor, Andrew Rogers has just completed the tenth segment of his global "Rhythms of Life" Land Art Project against the stunning vistas of Jomson and Pokhara in Nepal. Andrew Rogers and his team were in Nepal creating the sculptures, 22 March to 5 April, 2008. Rogers' "Rhythms of Life" project is the largest contemporary land art project in the world – 12 sites in disparate exotic locations (from below sea level and up to altitudes of 4300 metres). Up to three Geoglyphs (land sculptures), each measuring up to 660 feet x 660 feet, are created on each site. Since 1999, "Rhythms of Life" sites have been completed in Israel, Chile, Bolivia, Sri Lanka, Australia, Iceland, China, India and Turkey. The "Rhythms of Life", derived from his earlier bronze sculpture, and "Labyrinth" which is a symbol of contemplation associated with both the Hindu and Buddhist religions, are located in Jomsom, in the deepest gorge on earth. They face a sacred 7,000m snow covered mountain called Nilgiri, and are adjacent to the Kaligandaki River, one of the most famous rivers in Nepal, which becomes a raging torrent in monsoonal times and is held sacred by the local river people. The third Geoglyph "Knot", which is one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, was created in Pokhara, in the Seti Gorge. These three Geoglyphs are connected by the idea of the Rhythms of Life and together form the tenth of the twelve sites, which are in the process of creation. The construction of this segment of the Rhythms of Life project involved over 450 people from the local Nepalese community. The lines of the Geoglyphs stretch approximately 2550 metres and comprise over 4500 tonnes of rocks, which were shifted by hand. Lisa Choegyal and Carolyn Syangbo coordinated the Nepal logistical arrangements. By completion the project will have involved over 5,000 people on six continents. "Geoglyphs constructed in desert and altiplano landscapes comprise my "Rhythms of Life" – metaphors for the eternal cycle of life, growth, and all the attendant emotions that colour human existence. They are optimistic symbols of life and regeneration – expressive and suggestive of human striving and introspection. Geoglyphs embrace a wide cultural vision linking history and heritage, and the pursuit of the spiritual," says Rogers. Andrew Rogers is one of Australia's most distinguished contemporary sculptors with an international reputation. He exhibits internationally and his critically acclaimed sculptures are in numerous private and prominent public collections in Australia, S.E. Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States of America. He has received many international commissions and the eleventh segment of his Rhythms of Life project commences in mid May in Slovakia on the side of a 2500 year old Castle, with the assistance of hundreds of Romanian Gypsies. |
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| Govt. waives royalty for Mid and Far West Mountain peaks |
| In an attempt to promote Nepal for All Seasons, the Government of Nepal has waived the climbing fee for all peaks of Mid and Far Western Development Region of Nepal for five years, according to a letter issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation on April 29, 2008. The royalty for climbing Everest and other peaks has been slashed by 75 per cent during winter and rainy seasons and 50 percent during the autumn season. The royalty for the spring season will remain the same. Royalty for other 326 peaks over 6,500 metres that are open for climbing have been slashed on a similar basis. |
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| Visitors Arrival in April 2008 (by air only) |
| Press Release May 2, 208 April Records a marginal decrease of 1% to last year The arrival figures released by Immigration Office, TIA indicate that visitors' arrivals to Nepal in April 2008 reached 32,665, which is a marginal decrease of 1% as compared to same month last year. However European Sector remains unchanged with almost the same figure as compared to the April 2007. France grew up by 21%, Austria with 20%, Netherland & Israel with 28%, Switzerland with 66%, Spain with 25%, but UK, Sweden & Germany decreased by 20%, 31%, & 20% respectively. There are some significant growths recorded; Australia & New Zealand arrivals show a growth of 51%. Closely following the trend are Canada & USA with the growth of 25%. The arrival figure shows a decrease of 18% for the Asian countries. SAARC countries arrival is decreased by 14% where India has the share of 19% decrement. Bangladesh on the other hand shows an extraordinary growth of 60% which may be the positive impact of the recent Bangladesh Sales Mission program held vigorously. Taking the data into consideration, the main reason for the decrease in arrival might be the prediction of uncertainty in the minds of travelers due to our Constitutional Assembly (CA) Polls. Analyzing the total number of arrivals in the first four months of this year, it shows 1,28,802 visitors to Nepal with an increment 11.15% than the total arrival of the same period of last year. Therefore, we are still hopeful of getting a healthy growth in days to come. The successful completion of the Constitutional Assembly Election with peace being reinstated in the country will definitely give a good message to the potent travelers and also to the travel trade fraternity of the world. |
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| Eco Everest Expedition 2008 launches from Everest Base Camp |
| Climate change is affecting people around the globe, and this is especially evident at the top of the world, around Mount Everest and other great peaks of the Himalayas. Glaciers are shrinking leaving behind glacial lakes with massive amounts of water threatening people and land downstream. The loss of ice and snow heralds water problems for the 1.45 billion people living in the great water basins of the Himalayan rivers. This is the message given by the 11 member climbing team of the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 when they met at Everest Base Camp on 18th April to mark the start of their climb with a traditional Buddhist religious ceremony, called puja. Dr Schild, Director General of ICIMOD, handed over the ICIMOD Silver Jubilee flag to Dawa Steven Sherpa, the leader of the climbing team, to take to the top of the world. A premier of a photo exhibition, 50 Years of Change – Glaciers, Landscapes, People and Resilience in the Mount Everest Region, Nepal is taking place at Base Camp at the same time. The exhibition includes a unique collection of repeat panoramas of mountains, valleys and glaciers taken in the 1950s, and retaken in the past few years. These photographs demonstrate the changes in the climatic, cultural and physical landscape of the Khumbu over the past half century. The exhibition will be unveiled at Everest Base Camp and will then tour several European countries. The Eco Everest expedition is the brainchild of Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking, shocked by his own experience of ice collapse in the Khumbu ice fall, and the realisation of the impacts of climate change. Dawa Steven and Asian Trekking have joined with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development – ICIMOD – and the United Nations Environment Programme – UNEP – in a plan to use the climb to draw the world's attention to the problems resulting from climate change and the need to help the people of the region, and the world. ICIMOD has been working for 25 years for the mountains and people of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, 2008 marks its 'Silver Jubilee'. The Expedition is one of a number of events being held to celebrate this milestone. The expedition will also field test an ecofriendly approach to climbing, including a ten-point plan that could be used as a basis for international certification for environmentally friendly climbing expeditions. The expedition plans to bring down garbage left by other groups, and will encourage others to do the same. The climbing team is being supported by the renowned Japanese conservationist Ken Noguchi, who is expected to visit the Everest Base Camp. The expedition is endorsed by world renowned mountaineers including Reinhold Messner, Conrad Anker, and Peter Habelar, and is also supported by the Nepal Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Tourism Board, and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and numerous local, regional, and international organisations. Parallel to the climbing expedition, scientific research is being carried out to monitor glaciers and glacial lakes in the region and gather information to help communities and develop early warning systems. A six-member research team led by Basanta Shrestha of ICIMOD is already in Khumbu to start the work. A pilot early warning system will be implemented for Imja lake, one of the fastest growing lakes in the region, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Keio University of Japan. The scientists have already carried out investigations to assess the status of Dig Tsho glacial lake, which had a devastating impact when it burst in 1985. A Trust Fund has been set up to support development of early warning systems, scientific investigations to help assess risks, monitoring of the melting glaciers, and removal and disposal of waste in eco friendly ways. Every climber on the expedition has contributed to the fund and contributions are now being solicited from interested individuals and organisations. ICIMOD's new strategy focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change, and finding ways to strengthen people's resilience and support adaptation. Says Dr. Andreas Schild, Director General of ICIMOD: "The changes taking place currently are alarming, and the time to act is now." While climate change is mostly caused by the highly industrialised parts of the world, the effects are already taking their toll in the sensitive mountain areas. Climate change needs global measures of mitigation, regionally focused measures of adaptation, and targeted measures to strengthen the resilience of the mountain people. "We want to build up a system of early warning of risks from glacial lake outbursts. We want to discuss and prepare measures to strengthen the resilience and adaptation of people to climate change. This means livelihoods, conservation of biodiversity, and maintenance of the landscape as a global heritage. Conservation and management of water has the highest priority," concludes Dr Schild. |
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| ICIMOD repeats study on Himalayan Glacier |
| ICIMOD repeats study on Himalayan Glacier: Research Team revisits the 1985 Dig Tsho GLOF site in Khumbu As part of the ongoing Eco Everest expedition (www.ecoeverest.net.np), an ICIMOD research team led by Basanta Shrestha revisited the Dig Tsho GLOF site in the Langmoche and Bhote Koshi valleys to study the conditions of the Dig Tsho glacial lake and downstream river banks 23 years after the lake burst out on 4 August 1985. The first results have just been communicated from the remote valley when the team reached a contact point on 15 April. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) continue to be a real threat in the Himalayan region as a result of continued glacier retreat accompanied by development of lakes, aggravated by climate change. ICIMOD, together with national institutions, is continuing its work on identifying and monitoring lakes with a potential to cause GLOFs. Lakes will be mapped and monitored in a stepwise approach using satellite imagery and remote sensing, field investigations of lake sites to determine the GLOF risk, and downstream vulnerability assessments of communities and infrastructure that could be damaged. Satellite images indicate that the Dig Tsho has reached a stable state. The expedition could see on the ground that even if the steep Langmoche glacier retreats further, the lake won't grow as only bed rock will be exposed. The present outlet of the lake is at the same level as the Langmoche river bed, and there is no longer any likelihood of a mass failure at the breach area blocking the outlet. Thus it is very unlikely that, The memories of the 1985 GLOF are still alive. Two eyewitnesses of the 1985 GLOF, Lhakpa Chhamji Sherpa of Thameteng and Ang Maya Sherpa of Thamo, told the team how they saved their lives by running uphill when the sudden flood of black water washed away the micro hydropower house, fields, and dwellings. The debris and undercutting of river banks turned many fields into wasteland and still threatens the settlements. Several landslides triggered by the Dig Tsho outburst in the Langboche and Bhote Koshi valleys are still active as the erosion due to the flood has left the slopes extremely steep. Even though the chance of a second GLOF from Dig Tsho is slim, the threat of GLOFs in the valley remains a serious threat as there are several glacial lakes close by which are growing rapidly and could burst at some stage. Such events pose a severe threat to the livelihoods of local people and the valley economy. These lakes need to be monitored on a regular basis with in-situ measurements so that preventive measures can be taken to safeguard the mountain communities and the fragile environment. As part of the Eco-Everest Expedition, the ICIMOD scientific team will be conducting a detailed field investigation and establish a pilot early warning system for Imja lake in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Govt. of Nepal, and Keio University of Japan. An Eco-Everest Trust Fund has been set up to raise funds to finance further research, and monitoring and early warning systems for glacial lake outburst floods, and to help the local community to adapt to climate change and to increase their resilience. The Eco Everest Expedition calls for contributions from all. |
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