First girl skier from Nepal

By a staff reporter

Beauty on the slopes.

Nikita Bhandari completed the basic technique of skiing up to Stern Turn, conducted in Manali, H.P., by the government of Himachal Pradesh Mountaineering and Allied sports. Thus, she becomes the first girl skier from Nepal to earn a ski diploma. A BBS student, Nikita was offered free training in skiing in Manali by Col. N. Kumar, the VIP guest in the SAF games held in Nepal last year. Indian Olympic committee sponsored the training on recommendation from Nepal Olympic committee; and Bikram Pandey of Himalaya Expedition sponsored the air tickets.

 Nikita says she would like to explore the possibilities of promoting ski-tourism in Nepal. Recalling her training, she said, “It was a tough exercise requiring a lot of grit and stamina. I’m glad for the experience.” Tanned and fit, she could very well represent Nepal in future winter games in the international circuit. And she is an eligible candidate now after the training.

Executive lunches

By a staff reporter

So little time and so much to do .................

Limited working hours and paramount amount of work load, leaves no time for today's executive for a wholesome lunch or for a hearty work out.

The ever increasing desk job and untimely consumption of junk food increases belly size and one is always pondering how to bring it down.

Well, one is not talking about introducing aerobics nor a new health club. What Annapurna brings to you is an executive meal designed specially for you keeping the above in mind.

It is short, fast, low calorie and light on your stomach and pocket.

The executive lunch recently introduced at Hotel De L' Annapurna is available between 11AM to 3PM.

Menu comprises of fixed meal for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. It is very reasonably priced at NRS. 225/- and NRS. 275/- per person respectively.

NATA's visit to the roof of the world fruitful

By a staff reporter

A seven member delegation of Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA) spearheaded by its President Bhola Bikram Thapa returned to Kathmandu last week completing a four day goodwill visit to Lhasa, the autonomous region of Tibet.

The visit, June 10-13, culminating through an invitation of China Tibet-Tourism Bureau proved to be “fruitful” in many ways. During their stay in Lhasa, besides signing a joint Memorandum of Understanding with China Tibet Association Travel Agency (TATA) for mutual promotion of tourism in Tibet and Nepal, another joint declaration document named Lhasa-Kathmandu Sister Cities in Tourism was signed on June 12.

 In the MoU signed jointly by Bhola Thapa, Zhang Wan Sheng, Director, China Tibet Tourism Bureau and Jigme Wangchuk President, Tibet Association of Travel Agency; it has been agreed that China Tibet Tourism Bureau and NATA will henceforth exchange goodwill visits every year to promote friendship, understanding and common tourism interests. The MoU also spells out that joint efforts will be put in by NATA and CTTB to further facilitate the tourists visiting Tibet and Nepal.

CTTB had organised a special ceremony to sign the above documents and Himalaya Hotel in Lhasa. The autonomous region of Tibet’s Standing Vice-Chairman Yumin Yang was the Chief Guest. Others present at the function were CTTB Officials, Royal Nepalese Consulate General to China, Shanker Pandey, tourism entrepreneurs of Tibet, local journalists and media representatives from China. Speakers during the function, vice chairman said that efforts are being made to declare Nepal as a holiday destination for Chinese out bound tourists and talks are also progressing with concerning authorities to facilitate tourists visiting Tibet via Nepal.

Tourists arrival to Tibet via Nepal witnessed a decline of some 30 percent this year as China Southeast Airlines hiked airfare, nevertheless Tibetan tourism entrepreneurs consider Nepal as an important player for boosting the tourism industry in the Autonomous Region

Urging Royal Nepal Airlines to fly to Tibet, the entrepreneurs informed that China Southeast Airlines has agreed to fly to Nepal throughout the year.

Meanwhile, the tourism entrepreneurs also took the opportunity to flay the government for neglecting the tourism sector as the new budget has no programme to enhance tourism. They said that they had submitted a six-point suggestion to the government of the budget, but none of them were incorporated in it.

Hari Sharma, CEO of NATA expressed dissatisfaction at the government’s decision of hiking the price of air fuel effective from June 8. He said that the price has been raised without considering the impact it could have on the foreign sector.