Tourist arrivals down marginally in June

Total tourist arrivals to Nepal via in June dropped by a marginal 0.3 percent to 41,137 compared to arrival figures of the same month last year. According to the Immigration Office at the Tribhuvan International Airport, arrivals from South Asia segment dropped by 1.04 percent, largely due to arrival in the number of tourists from India – the major market – by 2.21 percent. Arrivals from Pakistan and Sri Lanka were also down 5.54 percent and 28.97 percent, respectively. However, arrivals from Bangladesh increased by 17.43 percent. In Asia (other than South Asia) segment, total arrivals went up by 0.49 percent helped in rise in the number of Chinese tourists by 10 percent. Similarly, number of visitors from Singapore and Thailand increased by 12.56 percent and 5.79 percent, respectively. However, arrivals from Japan, South Korea and Malaysia declined by 13 percent, 31.8 percent and1.98 percent, respectively. Total arrivals from the Europe segment went down by 13.27 percent thanks to drop in the number of visitors from the UK (10.24 percent) Spain (3.5 percent), Italy (24.64 percent), the Netherlands (13.9 percent), France (16.25 percent) and Germany (17.85 percent). However, arrivals from Austria, Czech Republic and Poland increased by 71.05 percent, 6.67 percent and 12.77 percent respectively, compared to the same month last year. Visitor arrivals from Australia, New Zealand and the USA increased by 18.69 percent, 37.65 percent and 5.68 percent, respectively, compared to figures of June 2013.

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Nepali women climb Mt Denali

Members of Seven Summits Women Team reached the summit of Mt Denali – the highest mountain on North America – on June 24.
The women are on a bid to climb the highest peaks in all seven continents.
According to team leader Shaili Basnet, Chunu Shrestha, Asha Kumari Singh, Nimdoma Sherpa and Pema Diki Sherpa, along with cameraperson Ang Tshering Lama, reached the summit at 1 pm (local time). Other members -- Pujan Acharya, Maya Gurung and team leader Shailee Basnet, could not continue with the climb because of health issues.
The team aims to complete their campaign by climbing Vinson Massif – the tallest peak on Antarctica – this December.
TAAN has provided financial assistance to the team.

TAAN Organizes tree plantation program

             Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) celebrated World Environment Day 2014 on Thursday by organizing a tree plantation program in Jalbinayak Community Forest of Kirtipur.Office-bearers and executive committee members of TAAN, representatives of different travel trade associations, tourism entrepreneurs, media persons, and members of Jalbinayak Community Forest Users’ Group participated in the plantation program. Around 500 saplings of different species were planted on the occasion.World Environment Day 2014 is being organized all over the world on Thursday with the slogan ‘Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level’.TAAN President Ramesh Dhamala inaugurated the program by planting the sapling of pine tree. Speaking on the occasion, Dhamala said TAAN would join hands with the local community to protect the plantation area.Speaking on the occasion, Sagar Pandey, general secretary of TAAN, said the association would give continuity to similar programs in the coming year as well. Vida Hirachan, coordinator of Sustainable and Eco-Tourism Department of TAAN, said TAAN plans to promote the area as TAAN Forest. “We will erect fences and appoint gardener to make sure that the plants are not destroyed by cattle,” she added.Indra Maharjan, president of Jalbinayak Community Forest Users Group, expressed commitment to preserve the plantation area. TAAN has been organizing different programs to celebrate World Environment Day. Last year, it had organized plantation program in Martyrs Memorial Park in Kavresthali VDC, Kathmandu. Source by TAAN

Bardiya wildlite

 Bardiya nationalpark lies in the western plains of Nepal and is the home to the last remaining wild elephants of south Asia this tour offer 250 species of birds and 30 species of mammals in their natural habitat . the park comprises of grasslands and forests . Bardia has a large humber of deer species like the chita the hog deer barasingha sambar and  the swamp deer among others other animals included the antelope the blue bull and Himalayan tanr langur monkey rhesus macaque and the sloth bear 

Chinese tourist in Australia to spend a $ 13 billion by 2020

  Tourism Australia arrived at conclusive figures about Chinese visitor spending which is projected to hit A $13 bilion by 2020 . these figures were reveled in cairns at the Australian tourism exchange

  That huge sum represents an increase of nearly 50 percent on the previous estimate Australia is attributing like a paltry A$9 billion . Tourism Australia is attributing the spike to the rapid rise of a new breed of young and independent Chinese traveler placing Australia at the top of their travel wish list and tourism Australia managing director john o Sullivan said that Australian tourism was reaping the benefits of a clearly focused china tourism plan targeting that demographic .  he felt that Chinese arrivals are at record levels id great but our strategy in much more than a numbers game . the Chinese visitor they’re going agter is a more confident independent minded traveler wishing to travel further and immerse themselves more deeply in the many rich and varied experiences available across our country . he also added that from the latest available immigration data definitely shows a big free independent traveler visas exactly the lucrative market that are being actively targeted . o’sulivan added that the china tourism law introduced in October last year would actually prove to be a positive factor in the long term – not detrimental to Chinese inbound tourism like some fear . positive signs of a change in the visitor mix from china is being seen a shift to a more independent higher spending Chinese visitor enjoying higher quality visitor experiences. source by TAAN

Everest death toll rises to 13

Death toll in the Everest avalanche rose to 13 on Saturday after rescuers recovered body of another Nepali mountaineering work Rescue team recovered the body of Dorjee Khatri of Lelep VDC-9 in Taplejung district. His body has already been airlifted to Kathmandu.Bodies of 12 mountaineering workers were recovered on Friday. Three other are still missing, while six others are injured. The injured are receiving treatment at different hospitals in Kathmandu.Ten of the deceased are from Solukhumbu, two from Sankhuwasabha, and one from Taplejung. The bodies have already been handed over to family members for last rites, according to government officials.The deceased have been identified as Mingma Nuru Sherpa of Namche-4 in Solukhumbu, Dorji Sherpa of Namche-9 in Solukhumbu, Ang Tshirig Sherpa of Namche-7, Nima Sherpa of Namche-9, Phurba Ongyal Sherpa of Khumjung-7, Lakpa Tenjing Sherpa of Khumjung-2, Chhiring Ongchu Sherpa of Khumjung-2, Then Dorjee Sherpa of Khumjung-7, , Phur Temba Sherpa of Yamphudin-9 in Sankhuwasbha, Ang Kaji Sherpa of Makalu-9 I Sankhuwasabha, Pasang Karma Sherpa of Jubing-5 and Asmang Tamang of Sotang-9 in Solukhumbu. An avalanche at 5800 meters, below Camp I, swept away mountaineering workers of different expeditions at 6:30 am on Friday.According to trekking and mountaineering section under tourism ministry, mountain guides of Nepal National Mountain Guide Associations (NNMGA), liaison officers, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel and mountain guides and mountaineering staff of different expeditions were involved in rescue operation.Meanwhile, the government has decided to provide compensation of Rs 40,000 each to next to kin of the deceased for final rites. Similarly, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) each have decided to provide Rs 50,000 to next to kin of the deceased and Rs 35,000 to the inured. Expedition Operators Association Nepal is providing Rs 25,000 to next to kin of the deceased and Rs 15,000 to the inured.

TAAN participates in Holidays

A delegation of trekking agencies led by Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) participated in Holiday and Travel Show organized in Sydney and Melbourne of Australia. Two trekking companies – Mountain Sherpa Treks and Himalayan Glacier Trekking – participated in the Holiday and Travel Show Melbourne held on March 29 and 30. According to Pasang Tendi Sherpa, executive member of TAAN who led the delegation, the event was very effective for tourism promotion. “Around 300 visitors, mostly buyers, visited Nepal stall. Most of them sought information about adventure tourism products in Nepal,” he said. Sherpa, who is also the sub-coordinator of TAAN’s Nepal Promotion and Exhibition Department, said visitors also inquired about air connectivity. They were very curious about trekking. They asked us for how many hours they need to walk in a day and up to which altitude,” Sherpa said, adding, “We felt that they could be brought to Nepal with effective marketing and promotion.
Sherpa also said the turnout of business visitors was also good. “Some participating agencies might get good business,” he said. Similarly, three companies -- Nepal Hiking Trek, Himchuli Trek and Mountain Sherpa Treks – participated in Holiday and Travel Show Sydney held on April 5 and 6.
Sherpa said visitor turnout was comparatively low in Sydney. “But they were quality visitors. Most of them knew Nepal as a destination and called Nepal the Everest country and the top of the world,” he added. TAAN distributed promotional collaterals like itinerary book, maps and promotional DVDs of new trekking trails like Ruby Valley, Lower Manaslu, Humla-Rara, Khaptad, and Lumbar-Sumba among others in both the shows.