National 7 (Spotlight Weekly)

Overseas Marketing

Nepal was the feature country at the 2002 PATA Travel Mart held in Singapore

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Even as violence continues to mar the prospects of luring in large number of visitors, tourism authorities actively participated in the recent Pacific Asia Travel Agents (PATA) Travel Mart in Singapore. The authorities hope to provide positive information and draw tourists by participating in the travel mart.

For long, tourism entrepreneurs in the country have been calling for the need to intensify marketing Nepal's tourism potential overseas. But thanks to scarce resources, such marketing never materialized. However, participation in international events and marts like these would definitely go a long way in achieving our targets, said a tourism entrepreneur.

As the PATA held this year's mart in Singapore, it has provided Nepal with better chance of luring tourists from South East Asian countries.

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According to a press release from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), there was a strong turnout in the travel mart despite the challenges the travel industry has faced in the last eight months. This year, the mart selected Nepal as the feature country and adventure travel was the feature product.

The mart showcased Nepal's pavilion as its highlight. Besides, Nepal had a strong presence with 16 private sector participants in attendance. The NTB and Royal Nepal Airlines, too, participated.

The spotlight the international tourism sector gave to Nepal was also underlined by the fact that Nepalese Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. was specially invited to open the mart amid a grand function. The mart was organized at the Suntec City, Singapore.

Officials from the NTB and PATA Nepal Chapter also participated in the mart, which was organized by the Reed Travel Exhibition. Minister K.C. along with chief executive officer of the NTB Pradeep Raj Pandey and PATA Nepal Chapter executives also addressed a press conference, responding to queries on issues relating to security, adventure tourism, Mt. Everest clean-up, the recent downturn in tourist arrivals, marketing strategy to bolster Nepal's tourism, incentive packages, RNAC flight plans, Approved Destination Status from China, DNC 2002-2003 and so on.

"The mart serves as a networking platform for both buyers and sellers to meet and also to increase visitor arrivals and revenue in Asia and Pacific. Final attendance figure at PATA Mart 2002 were strong, boosted by corporate buyers attending OAG corporate travel planning seminars on April 11 and 12 in conjunction with the Mart. The final tally of buyers was 353. Of this total 127 were corporate travel buyers, 212 were pre-registered buyers and there was 14 on-site registration. Some 401-product sellers from 190 companies and 68 journalists attended this specific event. A special cocktail reception was hosted at the Nepal Pavilion on April 11. Approximately 150 buyers and member of the media turned up for the event. The NTB distributed promotional collateral and 'topi' to the guests," states the NTB press release.

As a follow-up to the marketing strategy, Nepal is also inviting 45 buyers from all over the world on a familiarization trip starting from April 12. The trip was hosted by private entrepreneurs and provided an opportunity to Nepal to showcase its products to clients who would 'sell' Nepal abroad.

Nepalese tourism officials hope that their efforts in overseas marketing would pay off and help the industry tide over the extreme circumstances haunting the nation.