Post-quake, Nepal Welcomes Tourists

BENGALURU:  Four months after a devastating earthquake, Nepal Tourism Board is trying to bring the country’s tourism sector back on track.

Addressing reporters at Press Club in the city on Friday, director-general of the Department of Tourism of the Government of Nepal, Govind Bahadur Karki, said, “The Nepal government considers Bengaluru as a major hub of tourists to Nepal from South India. As the tourism season is coming up, Nepal tourism is ready to facilitate its tourists as the country has recovered after the earthquake.”

He said that to address the revival of tourism, a national committee called Nepal Tourism Promotion Committee has been formed by the government.

The campaign is focused on providing current information on the ‘as is status of Nepal’ for potential travellers and tourism entrepreneurs with the launching of the website www.nepalnow.org, he said.

As per reports, only 14 out of the 75 districts of Nepal were affected by the earthquake. Two of the 35 trekking routes were also affected by the earthquake.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, a minimum of 15 mountaineering teams will attempt to summit various peaks, including Mount Everest in the coming season, Karki said.

The total tourist arrivals by air to Nepal in 2014 was 5,85,981. In 2015, even though the arrival figures plummeted in the months post 25/4, figures are expected to rise again in the again in the coming season, he said.

Attractive Offers

Nepal Airline has resumed Bengaluru, Mumbai flights from Kathmandu, starting this month. The national carrier Nepal Airlines is also expected to expand its flight services to other tourist generating sectors, and has announced special offers of ‘buy two get one free’ for Bengaluru and Mumbai flights.