Lonely Planet says Nepal the world's best value destination for 2017

Nepal has been ranked as one of the best countries in the world to visit in 2017, according to Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel list.

Boudhanath Stupa, Kathamndu

Publishing the travel list for 2017 on Tuesday, the world’s renowned travel guide has said that Nepal is the hottest destination for all budget travelers while the country came out on the fifth place among top 10 countries of the list.

“Nepal is the world’s number one destination in terms of service and value,” the Best in Travel 2017 list which showcases the top 10 countries, cities, regions and best value destinations for next year, added.

Gorkha Palace Museum, Gorkha (Home of Brave Gurkhas Army)

The ‘travel bible’ notes that natural disasters can’t even keep Nepal down for long.

“The 2015 earthquakes caused devastation, but what is most striking from a traveller’s perspective is not how much was lost but how much remains.”

Landmark temples crumbled, but others came through with just the odd tile out of place, and whole swathes of the country escaped serious damage, including most of the popular trekking trails, it added.

According to the leading travel guide brand, Nepal has all the skills required to repair monuments and infrastructure, but what it does need is income.

“By visiting Nepal now and supporting local culture and people, you can help a nation rebuild and bounce back even stronger.”

Nepal is bouncing back from earthquakes and a fuel strike that made getting round the country tough. “It remains a fabulous choice for budget-conscious travellers, who can access the best of its world-famous trekking routes and underrated wildlife for well south of US$50 a day,” it describes.

Ascend walk for Mt. Everest (8848 m) Summit

“The number of visitors is slowly recovering and the time is ripe to get back to Nepal’s mighty mountains; wherever you go, you’ll receive a warm welcome, as your visit brings much-needed income to communities getting back on their feet.”

Lonely Planet’s listing certainly inspires the stakeholders as the country has already announced to mark 2017 and 2018 as ‘Nepal Visit Year’.

Millions of customers around the world rely on Lonely Planet to help them travel, the company said.

Source: The Himalayan Times, Daily Newspaper of Nepal

TAAN delegation meets DG of Department of Tourism

A delegation of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) led by its President Chandra Prasad Rijal on Friday paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Director General of the Department of Tourism Jaya Ram Acharya.

The delegation congratulated Mr. Acharya for assuming the office at the Department of Tourism and wished for his successful tenure. Speaking on the occasion, TAAN President Rijal said that the government and the private sector should work hand in hand for the development and promotion of tourism industry. "There are some issues like illegal operation of trekking business which the department should look into immediately. Similarly, there are problems in garbage deposit fee and insurance for mountaineering expeditions," Rijal said, requesting the director general to take needful initiatives for ensuring smooth movement of tourists in restricted areas.

Responding to the delegation, Acharya said he would study demands placed by the private sector and tackle burning issues accordingly. "One agency alone cannot bring change. We need concerted effort of all government agencies to address burning issues of the tourism industry," he added.

TAAN General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama, Executive Member Pemba Sherpa 'Sangam' and CEO Tekendra Mahat, among others, were present in the delegation.

Source: TAAN News.