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Kathmandu Friday July 21, 2000 Sharawan 06, 2057.
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Tourism entrepreneurs divided on
establishing CNTO
By Shree Ram Subedi
KATHMANDU, July 20 - Divided opinion among the tourism entrepreneurs on whether the
Chinese National Tourism Office (CNTO) should be allowed to operate office in Kathmandu
has kept the Chinese proposal on pending since last two years.
CNTO, the overseas office of National Tourism Administration of
Peoples' Republic of China, which is China's de facto tourism ministry, applied to
establish Kathmandu office in 1998. CNTO in its proposal has said the Office is intended
to promote the cooperation and exchange between the tourism departments and tourism
enterprises of China and Nepal. It will also help to disseminate tourism-related
information and tourist of third countries wishing to travel to Tibet, says the proposal.
Like the other 14 overseas tourist offices around the world, Kathmandu Office will be
non-commercial and promotional tourist Office, adds the proposal.
Xue Yaping, Director for the proposed Office, hopes that joint marketing and promotion
worldwide, mutual training and education and joint venture in tourism development will
immensely benefit Nepal.
But the entrepreneurs, who have been handling tourists to Tibet over a decade maintain
"all-is-not-well" attitude about the Chinese proposal.
Some of the local operators even went to the extent of alleging
the proposed Office as ill intended and said it could be used for "unwarranted
activities".
"The proposed office may be a safe land for them to cover up illegal practices,"
said an entrepreneur on condition of anonymity.
But Yaping refutes the allegation flatly. "It is totally a
baseless allegation," said he. He argued that the proposed office is a hundred
percent government financed office and such offices are established even without any
commercial motive.
Local tour operator's negative attitude seems to be based mainly on their past experience.
If the Chinese were serious in promoting tourism between the two countries, why they would
increased China South West Airline (CSWA)'s airfare for the last three consecutive years?
CSWA is the only air link. Why there should be such a complex visa procedure? And why five
members at minimum in a group wishing to travel Tibet?
But not all the tourism entrepreneurs oppose the proposal.
Narendra Bajracharya, President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) says, "establishment
of tourist Information Centre in another country is common and natural practices."
The license to operate the office can be given on renewal basis and cancelled if found
involved in illegal activities, says he.
Officials at Ministry of Tourism and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) are also positive towards
the proposal.
"As the preparation is underway to declare Nepal as a holiday destination for Chinese
tourists, Nepal should act wisely," says a highly placed official at the ministry of
tourism.
Given the bigger market and potentiality of tourism development in China, Nepal should not
maintain a thrifty attitude on it, said Pradeep Raj Pandey, Chief Executive Officer, NTB
adding that CNTO's global network will bring more tourists to Nepal.
Nepal has requested China to declare her as one of the outbound tourist destinations and
Nepalese officials including tourism entrepreneurs are optimistic about a positive
response from the Chinese.
Yaping also says, "China is taking the proposal positively." Once it is
declared, Nepal will benefit enormously and will be the first south Asian destination for
the Chinese outbound tourists."
Chinese middle class is booming rapidly in the post nineties along with the sparkling
economy. Fueled by economy and increasingly liberal Chinese attitude towards outbound
tourism, the number of the Chinese tourists is increasing by leap and bounds every year.
According to National Tourism Administration of China, some 8.42 million Chinese tourists
went abroad in 1998 and the number crossed 9 million in 1999.
China has so far declared only 8 nations as its outbound destinations for tourists.
Enticed by booming Chinese holiday-makers many other countries are also competing to
register their name in the Chinese tourist outbound list.
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