China Southern Airlines operates flight to Nepal from Feb 5

The maiden flight of China Southern Airlines landed at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal on February 5, 2007 carrying 165 passengers from Guangzhou. The flight connects Kathmandu, Nepal with Guangzhou, China. Representatives from Nepal Tourism Board and Gorkha Travels Pvt. Ltd, the local representative and sole agent of China Southern, welcomed the passengers at the airport with garland and khada. Tourism collaterals of Nepal Tourism Board were also presented to them. The passengers were greeted by Panchakanya (Five Little Girls) attired in traditional Nepalese dress.

China Southern Airlines will be operating this service every Monday and Friday from the new Guangzhou International Airport and Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The service will be offered with a Boeing 757-200 aircraft with the following schedule:

Besides being the industrial and commercial hub of southern China and capital of Guangdong province, Guangzhou also enjoys the proximity of the affluent city of Senzhen and Hong Kong SAR. Guangzhou generates the largest number of outbound tourists in China and as such its direct air connection to Kathmandu by China Southern Airlines revives the hopes of Nepali tourism industry from fastest growing tourist source market, which stands at staggering 34 million outbound per year.

The largest airline in The People's Republic of China for the past 28 years, China Southern Airlines - www.cs-air.com/en - connects more than 80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan. Its international services includes cities like Amsterdam, Bangkok, Dubai, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Lagos, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Penang, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

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Mr. Aditya Baral Promoted to Director from Manager

Mr. Aditya Baral has been promoted as Director-PR and Publicity Department of Nepal Tourism Board effective from February 5, 2007. Before being promoted, he was Manager, PR and Publicity at Nepal Tourism Board. Public Relations and Publicity Department was formed last year for effective promotion of Nepalese tourism. Mr. Baral holds an MBA Degree from Motilal Nehru Institute of Research and Business Administration (MONIRBA), University of Allahabad, India, the first University to provide MBA Degree in early 60's.

Over the last one and a half decades, he has accumulated wide array of experiences as a Research officer at the then Economic Services Center Ltd. (semi government body), Economic specialist in Foreign Aid section (Japanese Embassy) and travel trade entrepreneur. He joined Nepal Tourism Board in the post of Manager in 2000. Prior teaching as a Lecturer at School of Management, Kathmandu University and Faculty of Management, TU (Kirtipur), he also worked as an Instructor at Institute of Professional Practice at New Hampshire (USA).

Apart from reading and traveling, he has contributed many scholarly articles in national dailies, national and international journals and magazines.

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Nepal allures Spanish Tourists

Nepal participated in the FITUR fair 2007 being held at Faire de Madrid in Madrid, Spain from 31st January to 4th of February 2007 under the aegis of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA). FITUR 2007 kicked off from Wednesday 31st Jan 2007 formally and was inaugurated by the Queen of Spain, Her Royal Highness Queen Sophia.

NTB stall interacted with tour operators, media personnel and visitors and provided brochures and CDs and made DVD presentation based on the theme of "Naturally Nepal Once is not enough". Nepal stall also provided tour packages and travel information with the onset of local holidays and Seasonal holidays.

It was a good opportunity for the Nepalese travel trade companies to promote Nepal at fair as almost everybody visiting the fair knew about the improved political situation about Nepal and the end of Maoist insurgency. They seemed very much positive about visiting the country as well. A large number of press people and media also showed their interest in coming to Nepal and featuring Nepal as one of the upcoming holiday destinations for the Spanish travelers.

FITUR 2007 participation was organized by Nepal Tourism Board jointly with Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) and 8 travel trade companies from Nepal. The participants are: Mr. Anil Pathak, General Manager-Soaltee Crown Plaza, Mr. Bhupendra Man Pradhan, MD-Vista Travels and Tours, Mr. Chandra Niraula, MD-Independent Himalayan Adventure, Mr. Anil Agarwal, MD-Nebuti Travels and Tours, Mr. Hira Dhamala, MD-Karnali Excursions, Mr, Shree Man Pradhan,MD-Insight Travels and Tours, Mr. Ganesh Nuepane, MD-Monterosa Treks and Expedition and Mr. Bhagirath Pratap Singha, GM-Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure. Mr. Sarbottam Lal Shrestha and Dr. Hari Sarmah represented NATTA whereas NTB was represented by Ms. Shradha Shrestha-Oficer Tourism Marketing & Promotion and Mr. Samir Bajracharya-Senior Officer, IT.

FITUR is one of the biggest travel exhibitions in Europe catering to the global tourism as well as the Spanish market. FITUR 2007 celebrated the 27th year of FITUR fair commencement. There are a total of 845 exhibitors from 170 countries exhibiting their products in the fair. The FITUR organizers claimed an increase of 10% in the exhibitor participation in. It is expected that around 150000 individuals including trade professionals as well as local consumers will visit the fair.

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China to assist KU

Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Nepal Sun He Phing and Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University (KU) Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma signed an agreement to establish the Confucius Institute at the KU amidst a programme on February 5, 2007 in Kathmandu.

The Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) and Kathmandu University reached into an agreement to establish the Confucius Institute at the KU with the objective of strengthening educational cooperation between China and Nepal, support and promote development of Chinese language education and increase mutual understanding between the people of two countries.

The Confucius Institute at the KU, an extension of the Bejing-based Confucius Institute Headquarters (CHI), sponsored by the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, will be working towards enhancing intercultural understanding in Nepal by sponsoring and coordinating courses of Chinese language, culture and business.

The main objective of the Institute in Kathmandu will be to train Nepali and Chinese students in Chinese language and business while promoting Chinese language and culture in Nepal with a view of developing economic, business and cultural relationships between the two nations.

The Institute would be aiming to develop, design and deliver non-degree and professional programme of learning Chinese language, culture and business for Nepali and other nationals in Nepal.

Similarly, it will develop human and material resource base for learning and researching Chinese language, culture and business and coordinate with KU for designing and delivering degree and non-degree programme for Chinese students in language and business in KU's various schools and other institutes of higher learning in Nepal.

As per the agreement, the Hanban will initially provide professional, academic and financial supports for the establishment and operation of the Institute at the KU while the KU will operate the Institute and its programmes within the framework of the agreement and its annual plan.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Heping said that the opening of the Institute in Nepal was a historical event in the history of friendly exchange and cooperation between China and Nepal, the friendly neighbors boasting interactions of more than 1,000 years.

The friendship between the two countries is based not only on the traditional goodwill, but also on comprehensive modern time exchange, said Ambassador Heping adding that the tree of friendship cultivated by the late leaders of the two countries in the past has become luxuriant now.

Speaking on the occasion, VC of the KU Dr. Sharma said that the Institute would help providing information on Chinese language, culture and business to students of the KU and others. The Institute is to operate in Nepal from April 2007.

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High-Level Delegation Explores Further Tourism Potential in Lumbini, Palpa

A 9-member team headed by Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) and including other high-ranking officials from the government and other sectors, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program (TRPAP) paid a 3-day visit to Lumbini, its surrounding areas and Palpa from Feb. 2-4, 2007.

During the trip the officials met with official of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in Bhairahawa and explored the possibility for expansion of Gautam Buddha Airport into Regional International Airport. They also interacted with Lumbini Development Trust (LTD) officials, learned about TRPAP-initiated rural tourism activities in Rupandehi, and visited Madhubani village where they observed community women making handicrafts popular among tourists as souvenir items. The team also visited Ramagram an archaeological site along the Lumbini Circuit Tour before moving on to Palpa. The team then interacted with the DDC -Palpa, Palpa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other tourism stakeholders on the tourism prospective and plans of district.

It is hoped that the visit will be helpful to explore financial assistance for important tasks like airport expansion, support for conservation and management of archaeological sites, rural tourism development and strengthening marketing linkages of the area in the international market.

Participants included Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire (Secretary - MoCTCA), Mr. Basu Dev Dahal (Senior Economic Adviser - MoF), Mr. Kosh Prasad Acharya (Director General- Department of Archaeology, MoCTCA), Mr. Lal Shanker Ghimire (Under Secretary -MoF), Mr. N. Morita (Adviser - LDT), Mr. Kamal K.C. (Deputy Director General - CAAN, MoCTCA) and Mr. Shambhu Mall. National Program Manager of UNDP/TRPAP Mr. Rabi Jung Pandey and Director of PR and Publicity of NTB Mr. Aditya Baral were also part of the delegation.

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Nepal's Sustainable Tourism Program Wins Best Thesis in Germany

Ms. Angela Bergner, a master's level student from the University of Paderborn (Department Cultural Science and Geography) in Frankfurt, Germany, who interned at TRPAP for a period of three months from October till December, 2005, has won first prize for her thesis on sustainable tourism in Nepal.

In her research titled "Tourism as an instrument to alleviate poverty in Nepal: The Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP)" Ms. Bergner wrote about the sustainable tourism practices in Nepal, and tourism as a tool to alleviate poverty and develop the rural parts of the country with reference to TRPAP. The winner will be awarded this March at ITB 2007, one of the biggest tourism fairs held annually in Berlin, Germany.

"I'm proud to promote somehow also the TRPAP (at least, in about 30 pages I wrote about your wonderful programme so I expect to be asked about it)," wrote Ms. Bergner, "…my professor: Andreas Kagermeier nominated my thesis for this ITB academic prize..."

During her internship and research at TRPAP, Ms. Bergner was stationed at the PMU Office in Bhrikuti Mandap and visited the newly developed rural tourism sites: Village Tour in Rupandehi, Chepang Hills in Chitwan and Tamang Heritage Trail in Langtang.

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Trekking Map of Chitwan Chepang Hills Published

As a part of promoting the new rural tourism destinations in Nepal, TRPAP has published a detailed trekking map of Chitwan highlighting the newly developed Chitwan Chepang Hills, linking it with the Chitwan National Park in Sauraha, the primary tourist destination in the district. Prior to this trekking maps of Langtang and Dolpa were also published with the spotlight on the existing and new tourism products in the region, while the maps of Solukhumbu, Taplejung and Rupandehi are in the process of being completed. The maps have been published in coordination with Himalaya Map House Pvt. Ltd. The GIS Unit of TRPAP has provided the digital information and also supported in the design of the trekking maps. It is expected these new maps will help tourists to trek in the news areas with more ease and will also encourage tourists to venture out to explore these new areas.

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NTB Signs MoU with DDCs Taplejung, Dolpa to Continue of SRTD Activities

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with District Development Committees (DDCs) of Dolpa and Taplejung in January, 2007, and February, 2007, respectively, to give continuation to the districts' sustainable rural tourism development activities initiated by Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program (UNDP/TRPAP) from September , 2001, till December, 2006. The MoUs are valid for the next five years.

The MoUs were signed on behalf of NTB by Chief Executive Officer Mr. Tek Bahadur Dangi, while on behalf of the districts the MoUs were signed by the respective Local Development Officers, Mr. Madhav Prasad Gadtaula from DDC-Dolpa, and Mr. Khadga Bahadur Chapagain from DDC-Taplejung.

The main clauses in the MoUs focus on sustainable rural tourism development in the districts with NTB as the central coordinator promoting, marketing and developing rural tourism products, and the districts coordinating, cooperating and mobilizing tourism stakeholders at district with linkage to the center at NTB, and the community at VDC level.

The MoUs were signed as per the program design and prior agreement between the Government of Nepal (GoN), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and NTB, according to which responsibility of sustainable tourism development is to be handed over to STDU/ NTB after the TRPAP tenure. Sustainable tourism development activities will be conducted by NTB in coordination with Sustainable Tourism Development Sections (STDS) at district level, which will have linkage with Sustainable Tourism Development Committees (STDC) at VDC level.

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Dumji: Festival of Mountain By Rajeev Dangol Sherpas are known as one of the gracious and cultured communities of Nepal. Living in the lap of the mountains. This particular group has earned fame for their best skill of mountaineering all over the world. Sherpas have a unique set of cultures still alive and celebrated with the same authenticity that used to be hundreds of years ago. One of such unique festival is Dumji. Dumji is celebrated all over Khumbu region. The festival is not only to celebrate their love towards nature but also for a social gathering bind in simple rules of unmatched tradition. Dumji is celebrated for five consecutive days and falls on 5th month of Tibetan Calendar. The legend has it, in ancient time a big mountainous rock was in a process of crumbling down that could crush the entire Khumjung valley. Khumbila one of the Tibetan deities is believed to have stopped the rock from falling down against the settlement and had saved the inhabitants from disaster. Since then the rock was named after the deity as Khumbila rock and worshipped with the same respect every year as a protector of Khumbu region. The name Khumbu has also been derived from the word Khumbila. In the whole of Khumbu, the first day begins with a gathering of devotees in their traditional attire at their respective monasteries to witness the rituals. For a complete five days, Lamas are sealed at Monasteries to read out Mantras where they are provided with every need by the villagers. The specialty of this festival is that entire village celebrates it together at the same place. Once in every 20 years, two houses get turn of serving villagers being 'Lava' during the time of Dumji. In the course of 5 days celebration, total of ten houses gets to become 'Lava'. The Lava is also responsible for distributing rice to every villager at Monastery during Dumji. "In ancient times, it was rice cake to be distributed but due to many constraints we have been distributing uncooked rice. This has made it more convenient and manageable. We have a committee at Monastery to manage the festival. It is also responsible to announce Lava every year in rotation basis. We have also standardized the amount of rice to be distributed so that both the Lavas would not go for competing with eachother," says the secretary of Monastery Development Committee, Nawang Tharwa Sherpa. Each person gets two 'manas' of rice from Lavas. A special ritual is completed, at the house of Lava where villagers gather to take 'Prashad' that comprises Tibetan bread, Khapse, sweets and Selo (a special liquor made of fermented rice or millet). A series of gestures go on the entire day at Lavas home after a 'Sherkim' (offering of liquor made to Lava by the visitors in praying manner) is completed. At the monastery, the enchanting mask dance of Khumbila is performed on the second day of Dumji. Upon arrival of Khumbila, Lamas read out mantras and series of offerings are made to the deity. As soon as the dance ends, Tharsing is taken to the Khumbila rock as to place them erected, asking the rock to stay sturdy. Tharsing is a prayer flag with five colors; Blue, White, Red, Green and Yellow. All five colors are symbolic to Sky, Water, Fire, Vegetation, and Land respectively. The Third and fourth day is celebrated with even special and astounding rituals. During the third day, ghee is collected from every household and brought to the monastery. A bon fire is made at night where a large amount of ghee and alchohol is burnt. The fire was to slay the evil spirits. The head Lamas recite mantras and invite evil spirits to the monastery, offering food and alcohol and demolishes them one after another. The Lama dance is also performed the following day. Fourth day of Dumji, is the most special day when a Yeti's scalf is worn and taken to the alleys in search of remaining evils as to demolish them and make the village free from evils. On fifth and the final day, Dumji completes after villagers receive blessings from the head lama at monastery. ( Courtesy: Nepal Travel Trade Reporter) Photos: Rajeev Dangol Back to top