National 5 (Spotlight Weekly)

Southern Succor

An Indian Airlines scheme to attract more passengers from Indian metros could give new life to Nepal's sagging tourism industry

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Although the total number of international visitors to Nepal in October decreased by nearly 18 percent, to 27,172, according to recent figures by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the marked growth in arrivals from India has helped entrepreneurs to hope for better days ahead.

Compared to the same period last year, October marked a net loss of 5,865 tourists. The Indian market, however, grew by 22 percent, a gain of 869 tourists. "This is the fifth month in a row that the market has retained growth," said Aditya Baral, manager-PR and Publicity, Tourism Marketing and Promotion, NTB.

Tourists at TIA : Heartly welcome

The growth in the Indian market is quite an encouraging sign for the Nepalese tourism sector. "India is our most important market. After the hijacking of an Indian Airlines airliner in 1999, this market had plunged. Now, we hope an effective marketing strategy would help lure Indian tourists back," said an entrepreneur.

Meanwhile, in an effort to attract more passengers to Nepal from Indian metros, Indian Airlines tying up with the hotels in Kathmandu has launched an extremely attractive and affordable holiday package for its Indian passengers to Kathmandu. The scheme will be in effect from November 15, 2002 to March 31, 2003. Passengers from 11 metro cities of India, i.e., Delhi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Kolkatta, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Banglore, Ahmedabad, Cochin and Amritsar, will be entitled to enjoy the package.

The hotels that have tied up with Indian Airlines in this scheme include Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Hotel Yak & Yeti, Hyatt Regency, The Everest Hotel, Grand Hotel and Hotel Shangri-La.

The three-night/four-day package would include passenger service fee, insurance and surcharge, return air fare in economy class, accommodation at the selected hotels, airport pick-up and drop and sightseeing tours, among other things. Most of the hotels have extended additional facilities like free entrance to health club, fruit basket in the room and welcome drink.

"Nepal is one of the few destinations where Indian Airlines has launched such an attractive package and we believe it will be of mutual benefit, as Indians are the major component of tourists coming to Nepal." says Nirbhik Rai Narang, station manager of Indian Airlines in Nepal. The scheme has been introduced under active support from the NTB.

According to Narang, the package from Delhi ranges from INR 8,780 to INR 11,080, which includes return airfare. Return airfare alone in the sector without package is INR 7,800. At present, Indian Airlines flies to Kathmandu from metros of Delhi, Varanasi and Kolkatta. The out-stationed passengers as per the package will be routed to Nepal via Delhi.

'The duration of the package will be extended if they are able to attract more passengers and we are confident that we will be able to do so," says Narang.

The dip in arrivals from the West even at the height of Nepal's tourist season has triggered further gloom in a market that had already been showing signs of utter distress. Fears of terrorist attacks like the one targeted against western tourists in Bali, Indonesia have pushed global tourism into a deeper slump. Tourists are keeping away from South Asia for a variety of reasons.

Political instability and an upsurge in Maoist violence have put Nepal in greater disadvantage. New schemes and marketing strategies are the order of the day if the country wants to maintain its image as major tourist destination.