Date Line The Telegraph - Weekly (Nepal)

D A T E L I N E

Joy Dewan

"If peace prevails, Nepal could be made a piece of gold provided all forces act in tandem for the opulence of the Nation. If Peace and security prevailed as usual things will automatically fall in place".

These are the words of Joy Devan, MD Zenith Travels talking to the Telegraph Weekly on its issue of 28 April 2004.

It all started with the establishment of Zenith Travels. Then he was awarded with the GSA of Dragon Air. Then came the Sri Lankan Air and the internationally reputed Qatar Airways, which also awarded Dewan with the GSA for the Himalayan Kingdom. And since then, Dewan is breaking his own records set in the previous years.

Qualified and energetic youths who prefer western destinations could learn so many lessons from Dewan's creativity.

Now at a time the country is in a sheer crisis with the tourism industry in virtual collapse, the bringing of the AIR SAHARA to Nepal, he says will certainly increase the influx of the Indian tourists, which is a major part of the tourism commerce in Nepal.

The landlocked nation has no other option than the air-travel for the promotion of tourism business, opines Dewan.

Dewan further says, "It is for sure that the country's situation will not remain like this forever, so it is high time for the government to think about the existence of the RNAC, our national flag carrier". He adds, "There will be immense competition in this air business in the coming future, so RNAC should seriously think about its mechanism of service delivery". Tourists always prefer the flag carrier, thus RNAC should cash this and move forward with good intention, he said. We would always like to see RNAC doing well, this is for the progress of the nation as a whole, he added further. He talked with the Telegraph on 16th August afternoon.

Sahara Coming

From September 1 India's most preferred airline Air Sahara will be starting its commercial flights to Nepal, this was stated at a program organized at the Yak and yeti on 16th August.

K Damodaran vice president, sales and marketing Air SAHARA said that ," The airlines is executing its strategy of expanding its international horizons by connecting to all the SAARC nations and gradually to ASEAN countries after the Indian Govt. granted permission to private airlines to fly to some of these nations".

He said " AIR SAHARA, fleet today includes new generation Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-400 and 737-300 and CRJ jet aircraft. Air SAHARA flies to 23 destinations. The fleet also includes four helicopters. "