Tourist arrival via air dips by 7.09 pc in first quarter

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, May 4 - Total tourist arrival via air in the first quarter of 2000 declined by 7.09 percent compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

According to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Immigration Office and Nepal Tourism Board, the number of tourist arrival via air in the first quarter of 2000 reached to 120 thousand 9 hundred and 51. The figure was 130 thousand 1 hundred and 75 during the fist quarter of last year.

The quarterly figure however marks an improvement over the first three months’ figure. Tourist arrival during the first three months of 2000 had declined by 11.44 percent.

Though the total number of tourist arrival has declined in the review period, the number of air tourists coming from countries other than India increased by 5 percent. Compared to 92,914 number of tourists last year, this category increased to 97,556 this year.

During the review period, Japanese tourists stood first in terms of number. A total of 12,757 Japanese tourists visited Nepal during the period. United States with 12,549 air tourists stood second and Britain with 11,825 stood third. Other major countries to send tourists to Nepal are: Germany (7,964), France (7,285), Australia ( 3,895), the Netherlands (3,588), Canada (2,825) and Italy (2,454).

Despite the modest growth in air tourist arrival from country other than India, total air tourist arrival growth has gone negative due to decline in Indian air tourist arrival by 37.21 percent. Only 23,395 Indian tourists visited Nepal in the first four months of 2000 compared to 37,261 Indian air tourists arrival during the corresponding period last year.

The suspension of Indian Airlines, which followed the hijacking of IC 814 airplane that flew from Kathmandu on December 24, has resulted in a heavy decline in the flow of Indian tourists to Nepal, which comprises one-third of the total tourists flow to the country.

Workshop on family business enhancement

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, May 4 - With a view to trace out the problems of family business in Nepal and suggest measures to address them, a workshop on ‘Perils and Pleasures of Family Business’ was organized here today.

Participants of the workshop - mostly family business owners - expressed the views that gender discrimination in decision making; lack of communications on crucial issues; influence of in-laws, kith and kin - complexity of the web of relationships; lack of vision; generation gap; mistrust among family members when business grows; lack of shared vision; not clear arrangement for successor and overlapping of family with business are some of the issues marring the family business in Nepal.

Leslie Dashew and Joe Paul of the Aspen Family Business Group (AFBG) presenting joint papers on the occasion said that family is always emotional whereas business is rational and family tends to be traditional but business needs change. Therefore, if a clear demarcation line is not drawn between family and business they mess up and business collapses, they said.

Suggesting ways to avoid the perils and enjoy the pleasures of family business, the duo said shared value and vision, shared power among family members, willingness to learn and grow, activities for maintenance, genuine caring, assistance and support from all members, mutual respect, healthy boundaries and above all trust among the members are but some of the key measures.

The half-day workshop was jointly organized by GTZ, German technical cooperation and Nepal-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI) and sponsored by Radisson Hotel. The programme was participated in by over 50 family business owners and family business related people.

Acharya launches website of Tax Dept

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, May 4 - Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya launched Tax Department’s first computer website amid a function here today.

The website has general information on tax, tax laws, tax rates and slabs and treaties on tax. The website address is www.dot.gov.np.

Launching the website, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya said establishment of website was the reflection of government’s commitment to make tax administration more transparent and responsive to the general public.

On the occasion, Minister Acharya also asked the tax administration to be more responsive towards tax payers and establish a conducive environment to support government’s avowed policy for tax reform.

Minister Acharya, however, stressed that the government would take stern action against the tax defaulters.

Finance Minister Acharya also took the opportunity to request the business community to cooperate with Value Added Tax (VAT) and said the government would strengthen VAT in the days ahead.

Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said the establishment of website was a good step but said government should be more serious about implementing the laws and curtailing harassment.

Vidya Dhar Mallik, Director General at the Tax Department said tax payers and the general public can take benefit from the website since they can directly lodge complaints against any irregularities in the tax administration. "Since I will browse the website regularly, I will response serious complaints immediately," said he.

Lauda Air to begin Ktm-Vienna flight

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, May 4 - European airliner Lauda Air has announced a weekly flight from Vienna of Austria to Kathmandu Thursday, said a press release issued by The Explore Nepal Pvt Ltd, GSA for the airlines for Nepal.

According to the release, Bharat Basnet, Managing Director of the Explore Nepal and Mike Lewin, International Flight Coordinator and Sales Director of Lauda Air signed an agreement recently. It is said that the airlines will be using 285 seater Boeing 767-300 aircraft. From May to September, there will be one flight a week, which will be increased to three flights a week in October, November, March and April, said the release.

This flight is the replacement of Austrian Airline’s flight, which was flying to Kathmandu earlier. Lauda airlines is managed by Austrian Airlines group. The new aircraft will be catering twenty percent additional seats than the aircraft being used by Austrian Airlines.

Lauda airlines was named after formula car racer Nicki Lauda and established in 1979. It was enlisted in Vienna Stock Exchange in 1990 and turned into Lauda Air Public Limited Company. The airlines went into strategic alliance with Lufthansa Air of Germany and expanded its business.

From 1996 it further expanded its service in collaboration with Austrian Air Group, and started flying to various European countries. The airlines has expected to cater to more tourists with the higher capacity aircraft, and if there is a demand, the airlines is interested to increase the flights, it is learnt.