Nepal takes part in travel trade fair in Kolkatta

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug 29: The 23rd Travel Trade Fair (TTF) was inaugurated by the Minister of Tourism West Bengal at the Netaji Indoo Stadium Calcutta on the August 24, 2001 according to a Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) press release. Besides participants from various states and Union territories of India there were seven international participants including Nepal, Thailand and Singapore.

The Nepal stall received around 15,000 visitors out of the total 20,000 visitors who visited the exhibition that went on for three days. There were more than 200 trade visitors to the Nepal Stall.

Participants from Nepal included Loyal Travels & Tours, Natraj Travels & Tours, Hotel Dharma Inn, Everest Panorama Resort. They did good interaction not only with existing agents promoting Nepal but also made new contacts and did spot bookings for the coming season, the press release further states.

On the opening day of the inaugural function, NTB officials participated in the press briefing organised by the TTF and apprised the media about the ongoing tourism scenario and tourism attractions of Nepal taking into consideration the fact that one-third of the total tourists visiting Nepal comprise of Indians. It was also emphasised that out of the tourists visiting Nepal from 151 countries, Indians are the only tourists who are entitled to the special facilities in the event Festival of Life (May-Sept 2001) which incorporates facilities from more than 400 companies including hoteliers, souvenir shops, shopping complexes, adventure and airlines agencies.

Interviews to the local television CTVT, ATN channel-Khas Khabor, Sky B, Bangla, Doordarshan channel seven print medias like Daily Vishwamitra, Hindustan Times, Businesstimes and Travel Magazines were given highlighting Nepal’s readiness to host tourists from around the world and particularly from India. A special coverage on different distinations like Kakani, Daman, Pokhara was featured in the Daily Vishwamitra-Koilotta edition.

The Nepal stall incorporated ethnic designs with pictures highlighting the Shikhara, Stupa architecture, the wooden indigenous crafts, Buddhists paintings, portraits of Their Majesties the King and Queen, National flags, Pashupatinath temple with NTB officials in national dress to make visitors feel the touch of Nepal.

Nepal was awarded Group Participation Award Winner at the fair.

The main thrus of our participation was to inform the press, the tour operators and potential visitor from Kolkotta that the situation in Nepal following a moment of brief recession has returned to normalcy and tourist inflow to Nepal has been increasing. NTB also made a Tour Operators Survey to collect information about agents who are promoting or not promoting Nepal, the problems they have in doing so and the role of NTB in facilitating them to promote Nepal as a destination.

With the Indian Airlines flying to Kathmandu thrice a week from Kolkotta and providing air fare much cheaper than between Indian domestic destinations, good Indian railway connection to the bordering areas of Nepal like Raxual and Siliguri and better exchange rate vis-a vis the Nepalese currency, and unbeatable price Nepal offers in shopping, travel expenses and most revered pilgrims sites make Nepal one of the most affordable destinations for Indians travelling from Kolkatta and the north-eastern part of India.

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