‘HAN to be developed as research organization’

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 27 - Two days after being elected to the post of president of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Narendra Bajracharya, pledged that he would develop HAN as a research-based institution.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, he said, “I will make every possible effort to make HAN a research-oriented organization”.  Bajracharya is with the hotel industry for more than two decades.

The youngest president of HAN, Bajracharya has his own vision to advance the association as a multifaceted organization that will help to ameliorate HAN’s existing relations with international hotel associations.

Bajracharya said the association would further its programmes by organizing various tourism promotion activities along with food festivals in South Asian countries. 

The association is in dire need of enhancing its information and communications system in order to facilitate the concerned sector regarding the recent trends in the international tourism industry.

He wants to create an ‘information bank’ within the association. He said he would work towards setting up personal web site of HAN, establish training centre for hotel employees, keep on raising issues on garbage disposal, raising the issue of airport reform, Nepal promotion activities abroad, among others.

The detail action plan would be released soon, he said.

Bajracharya alleged the government of not providing the facilities to the tourism sector at a par with other industries. He asked for rebating  electricity tariff,  extending grace period for VAT submission to 90 days and tax holiday on foreign currency, among others.

Bajracharya, one of the promoters of hotel Vajra,  is equally critical of the government officials’ ad-hoc manner in supervising the hotels. He said government employees supervise hotels as per their wish.

He feels that Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is marketing tourism in a traditional manner.

He demands with the government to stop issuing licences for hotels in over-saturated areas like Chitwan, Kathmandu and Pokhara. He also pointed out the need of classifying hotels.

Bajracharya has served in the posts of Treasurer, Secretary, vice president and executive member of the association.

Businessmen ask to  resume IA flights

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 27 - A delegation of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) led by its newly elected president Narendra Bajracharya called on Indian Ambassador to Nepal K V Rajan, according to a press release issued by HAN today.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Ambassador requesting him to resume Indian Airlines’ flights at the earliest.

The memorandum mentions that the hijacking of Indian Airlines plane that took off from Kathmandu to New Delhi on December 24, 1999, has created problem in Nepalese tourism industry.

The delegation mentions in the report that the continuous onslaught by the Indian media especially through Zee News citing security lapses at the Tribhuvan International Airport has not only created negative impact on Nepal’s tourism sector damaging its reputation.

The continuous dissemination of negative news regarding Nepal by the Indian media has tarnished the image of Nepal in the international arena. The cancellation of Indian Airlines and negative news reports of the Indian media have incurred a loss of more than 100 million rupees for hotel industry.

The delegation requested the Ambassador to make the office of Indian Airlines in Nepal effective.

Ambassador Rajan responded positively and assured his assistance to resume IA flights to Kathmandu at the earliest, adds the release.

Gold price still fluctuating 

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 27 - Bank of England sold another 25 tons of Hallmark gold in the international market on Tuesday.

The bank sold the gold at US$ 289.50 per ounce (One ounce = 2.67 tola) aggregating US$ 233 million in total.

This is the fourth time that the bank has sold gold to reduce United Kingdom’s gold reserves from 715 tons to 300 tons over the next couple of years. 

The bank had sold 25 tons of gold on July 6 last year followed by a sale of 25 tons and 27.5 tons of gold on September 21 and November 29 respectively.

The bank had decided to sell 125 tons of gold by the end of March 2000 in its first phase. Till now it has sold 102.5 tons of gold.

The gold price fell during the first sale of gold but the second sale saw an upswing in the price of hallmark gold to a considerable degree. Similarly, the third sale was followed by a decrease in the gold price.

This time after the bank sold gold, the opening price of the precious metal on Wednesday fell by Rs 70 in the local market here compared to the price in the previous evening. The price of Hallmark gold on Tuesday was Rs 8,300 per Tola.

“If the past trend is to be analysed, the price of hallmark gold can be expected to fall for a couple of days,” said Nirmal Jyoti Tuladhar of Laxmi Jyoti Traders.

However, the opening price of gold on Thursday rose by Rs 30 to Rs 8,260.

The price of gold in the international market is also fluctuating. While the opening price on Tuesday was US$ 289.5 per ounce, the price fell to US$ 284.75 the end of the next day. However, Thursday evening the price settled at US$ 286.85.

“The fluctuations in the gold price is the result of the gold sold by the bank. The overall effect in the market, whether prices rise or fall, can be seen only after a few days,”  said Tuladhar.

Gokarna Resort launches Vacation Club

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 27 - Gokarna Forest Golf Resort, in conjunction with Interval International of USA, is opening a Vacation Club, an entirely new concept in Nepal tailor made for holidaymakers, it was announced at a press meet on Thursday.

Addressing the press, Amit Singh, the sales director said that such packages were getting immensely popular worldwide and the Resort was the first in the entire sub-continent to offer one.

“Following a study by Cornnel University, the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort has been preferred as an ideal location for this project,” said Singh. “This will surely add yet another feather in the cap of Nepal’s tourism.”

At Rs320,000, members of the vacation club will be entitled to enjoy a 7 nights stay every year up to 25 years at the resort’s specially built vacation club ownership cottages with accommodation of  5-star comforts.

A showpiece of traditional culture, built from Nepalese Dachia Brick, the 11 cottages each comprising 8 rooms, four on each floor with each room opening on to a balcony.

According to a resort press release, other facilities like swimming pool, squash, tennis, video games, pool tables, trekking, biking, elephant rides, jungle trails, video games were planned for the club members, besides access to the golf course at discounted fee.

NTB takes part in travel fair

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 27 - Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) participated in the Vankantiebeurs 2000 - a travel trade exhibition which was organized in Utrecht, Netherlands from January 11 to 16, 2000, says an NTB press release issued today.

A total of 1,600 exhibitors from 100 countries participated in the one of the largest annual travel trade shows in Europe.

The six-day exhibition was participated in by Marco Polo Travels, Zenith Experiences Travel Service, Summit Hotel and Asian Trekking from Nepal.

A total of 160,000 visitors from travel trade sector, media and consumers, among others visited at the fair.

About 60 tour operators visited Nepal stall at the fair, it is said. Netherlands was the 7th largest inbound market for Nepal during the year 1998.

High interest rates affect consumers

-By a Post Reporter,

LALITPUR, January 27 - Credit consumers today said many of them have come under financial constraint due to high interest rates of banks.

At a press conference organised by the Credit Consumers’ Association, Nepal (CCAN), here today, Jay Raj Sharma, Central Co-ordinator of CCAN, said, the country does not have specific policies on interest system.

“The rate of auction of the mortgaged property is higher in Nepal in comparison to other countries,” said Sharma.  He also accused the politicians of misusing foreign aids.

Sharma further demanded Credit Consumers’ Act for their promotion. Highlighting the objectives of the organization, he appealed all the credit consumers to come under the organization for better functioning.

Speaking from the chair, Chandrakala ‘Anchal’ Rana, Chairman of the branch requested all to cooperate the organization. The Association has established 21 branch offices throughout the country.