NEPAL BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE

BusinessTravel Guide

Nepal

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A charming and serene piece of paradise

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NEPAL Nepal provides an unforgettable backdrop to an incredible history Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Ryan Gray

n the wake of the 2015 earthquake that struck Nepal, the country has remained the cultural powerhouse of the Himalayas. A particular favourite among both natives and visitors alike is the Kathmandu Valley, where you will find a collection of palaces and temples that are unrivalled anywhere in the world.

A trip to Nepal will provide you with a feast for the senses, combining breathtaking views, golden temples, charming villages and incredible wildlife. All of these factors contribute to making the country one of the most iconic places to visit in the world, as well as a blossoming business hub and the ultimate goal for mountain lovers.

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If you have enough spare time during your visit, the Himalayas has some of the world’s most iconic hiking on offer. This of course is alongside the option to try your hand at canyoning, climbing, paragliding and mountain biking, all located within the most incredible setting.

Despite the many options available, Nepal is not just for the thrill-seekers.

Many visitors will prefer to see the country at more of a leisurely pace, taking in the incredible history available there.

Tourism within the country has always thrived and with the aid of entities such as the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) which was formed in 1966, the association has united private sector travel within Nepal.

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FACTS & FIGURES

Languages: Nepali, English Area: 147,181km2 Population (2016): 28,980,000 Currency: Nepalese rupee (NRP) Time zone: UTC+5:45 Dialling code: +977 Internet TLD: .np

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HOLIDAY LIKE THE BIG CATS!

Right next to India’s border in Bhairahawa, Nepal, surrounded by the Himalayan foothills, is a luxurious new world of exhilarating, heart-stopping entertainment, as well as relaxing, restorative experiences.

Tiger Palace Resort.

Discover a happy new hunting ground for the fun-loving side of you.

Dare to go wild! www.tigerpalace.com

RT ESO CE R sort A L PA ent re m R n E i a G , ert TI Salon d ent Pool, ’s grate , e a t p n i S ub ar, acre daC s&B • 22 urant Centre an a t s e R ss • Six ps, Wellne children open Sho om for with up to s e c d a te sp King moda eting e me an accom l p i t l • Mu ens that c g gamin gard uests h 52 t i g w 0 50 ino s ss cas d-cla 20 EGM l r o • W es and 2 tabl

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The Business End T O U R I S M I N N E P A L has provided vast amounts of revenue for the country, and during the 50 years of its existence NATTA has been immensely successful in bringing together travel and tour operators to create a collective strength within the private sector of tourism.

“We have worked tirelessly to promote Nepal as a chief holiday and business destination,” explains Madhu Sudan Acharya, President at Nepal

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Association of Tour and Travel Agents.

“Over the years we have developed and enhanced the professionalism seen within the private sector for tourism entrepreneurs. This has been achieved through working closely with governments, I/NGOs, national and international tourism organisations and other stakeholders to better understand the constraints placed upon us.”

NATTA has made significant

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contributions to the development of the various branches of tourism for Nepal over the years, partnering with the Government and other private sector entities to successfully implement policies and programmes.

It has also generated employment for the nation, while making itself known in the international arena through marketing its tourism products and services at various road shows and exhibitions.

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Out & About N O T O N L Y W I L L Nepal provide you with beautiful and historical sights during your visit; it also has a host of exceptional activities to take part in. If you are feeling adventurous and have some time to spare, you could find yourself paragliding, rock climbing or on a helicopter tour - perhaps allow a little more time in your schedule for the first and last option.

Making time in your schedule to take in the extensive history of Nepal is highly advisable, with cultural riches everywhere you look. Depending on the area you are staying there is something to see for everyone, be that for architectural interest, religious reasons or general intrigue.

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After a long day you can sit back and enjoy some of the comforts of home in one of the many luxurious hotels available to you. Some of the better options rival any of the four and five star hotels available in western countries, providing access to free Wi-Fi, swimming pools, excellent room service and top-class restaurants.

Included in the excellent hospitality you will find in Nepal is the plethora of local and international cuisine options.

Depending on your tastes, you could enjoy the Mediterranean inspired dishes from El Mediterraneo or perhaps a more traditional experience at Le Sherpa Restaurant. You won’t be short of a place to spend a relaxing evening after a long day on your feet.

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Transport Links F I N D I N G Y O U R W A Y around Nepal can more often than not be quite a challenging business, due in part to the terrain and the condition of the vehicles available to you there.

Unfortunately damage to the country’s roads from the 2015 earthquakes has only enhanced this problem, so it is advisable to allow time in your schedule for travel.

Depending on the area you are based during your stay in Nepal, there are numerous options for travel around the country. It is now home to an excellent array of domestic airlines, including Yeti Airlines, Buddah Air and Sita Air, all of which offer frequent

flights to and from Kathmandu.

Depending on your schedule, Nepal has a wide array of transportation options available to you, including the micro bus which has become very

popular lately. This service is extremely efficient and has almost completely wiped out the local bus service that preceded it.

When it comes to taxis, it is advisable to book a private car to get you from meeting to meeting. There is also the option of a 10-Rupee taxi, however, if you are in a rush try to avoid them as the drivers will wait until the vehicle is full before leaving.

If you are enjoying the delights of some of the older parts of town, cyclerickshaws are very common there and will provide you with an atmospheric way to explore and see the best of the lesser-known areas.

Airport runway, Lukla, Nepal

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Nepal Tourism Board T H E N E P A L T O U R I S M Board (NTB) was established through an act of parliament by the Government of Nepal in 1999, as a public-private partnership used to promote Nepal as a premiere holiday destination. Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer at Nepal Tourism Board, explains to Asia Outlook the exciting changes taking place for NTB moving forward.

Asia Outlook (AsO): Since inception, how has Nepal Tourism Board developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Deepak Raj Joshi (DRJ): In the years since its inception and as per its objective, NTB has promoted the tourism of Nepal internationally while also delivering its service to the private sector. The organisation has progressed in the recent years as an organisation that develops the country’s tourism through preservation of natural and cultural heritage, creating visibility for Nepal as an attractive and reliable tourism destination in the international

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market, while increasing the country’s gross domestic product, foreign exchange earnings and employment.

AsO: To this end, how would you say Nepal has developed in recent years as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal?

DRJ: As one of the pioneering and exemplary bodies of public private partnership, NTB has representatives from the Government as well as the private sector as board members to make sure the leadership gets the best of both parts, for example visiondrawn leadership of the public sector combined with the dynamism of the private sector.

That is how we have been successful in establishing our identity in the travel business. Our continuous

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promotional efforts through every situation, taking the lead at times of crises and being open and accessible to the tourism community always, has also been a major factor in our growing partnership with our own and international tourism partners and our “growing appeal”.

AsO: Taking a more general industry stance, how would you evaluate the tourism sector in Nepal now compared to its condition when the Tourism Board began?

DRJ: The tourism industry of Nepal was a small group of pioneering entrepreneurs catering to the high-end adventure and leisure market in the early days of Nepal Tourism Board.

Almost two decades have gone by since and in these decades, there have been many changes in the dynamism of Nepal’s socio-economic sector.

With those changes, our industry changed too. Today, we have almost 6,000 companies and service providers from all over the country operating successfully and catering to different

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market segments. Our industry has definitely grown and there is more innovation now to cater to niche markets and special interests, so that tourists can have tailor-made and customised experience in Nepal.

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has been possible through dedication and consolidated efforts of the tourism industry, good leadership during times of crises, immense international support in the recent years, and of course our unmatched products. Our effort onward would be to enhance our image and visibility in the target market AsO: What is in store for Nepal through specific programmes through over the course of 2017 and coordination and partnership with beyond to continue the good work already commenced and to enhance its national and international stakeholders. reputation as a tourism and business AsO: Finally, looking forward, if travel hub further in the future? we were to speak again in DRJ: 2017 was a good year for three-five year’s time, what progress Nepal’s tourism industry, with the and development would you hope and international arrival numbers from expect to be able to report back, both January to October, 2017 is about 30 in regards to the Nepal Tourism Board percent higher as compared to the as an entity, and in regards to the year before. This is a milestone in the business travel industry in Nepal as a history of Nepal’s tourism and is a whole? reason for celebrating. I believe, this

ASIA DRJ: In the next few years we will be working closely on different markets through targeted programmes and campaigns on site and online. We hope to be able to reach a mark of two million by 2020.

I’m also positive that our dynamic tourism industry will be able to work in more innovative ways to create new products and packages. In the changed context within the country, we are going to reach out more locally at state level and more internationally at central level. In about threefive years’ time we hope to be talking about NTB’s success story of transition into federal structure and its modus operandi then. At the time, I’m positive that we will also be talking about Nepal’s position as a top tourism destination in the world.

Boudhanath Stupa, A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Experience Spiritualism, Experience Nepal...

nepaltourismboard

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Outlook Recommends “[In the future] I'm positive that we will be talking about Nepal's position as a top tourism destination in the world.”

- Nepal Tourism Board

HOTELS

FOOD & DRINK

PRIVATE AIRLINES

Fairfield by Marriott Kathmandu

Yeti Airlines El Mediterraneo Grand Hotel Kathmandu

Bhojan Griha Le Sherpa Restaurant TEMPLES

Yeti Airlines - with its sister company, Tara Air - operates the widest network and largest fleet of aircraft in Nepal.

Visit www.yetiairlines.com and www.taraair.com to know more about our services.

Buddha Air Sita Air LEISURE Garden of Dreams Helicopter sightseeing

Yak & Yeti Kathmandu

Hattiban Rock Climbing Maya Devi Temple Swayambhunath Stupa Golden Temple (Kwa Bahal) 12

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Bhairahawa

Pokhara

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World Class Rafting, Kayaking, Canyoning & SUP Adventures

Bharatpur Yeti Airlines is one of the leading commercial flight operators in Nepal. We conveniently connect you to all tourist destinations of Nepal with our frequent flight services.

Book your flights online ANYTIME & ANYWHERE For more details: +977 4464878 / 4466576 ecommerce@yetiairlines.com

LAKESIDE · POKHARA · INFO@PADDLENEPAL.COM

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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

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A S S O C I A T I O N

NEPAL ASSOCIATION OF TOUR AND TRAVEL AGENTS (NATTA) was formed in 1966 as an association to unite private sector travel service providers of Nepal with a commitment of professional entrepreneurship setting up the following objectives: • To develop goodwill among travel agents on all subjects of common interests and welfare and protect their professional interests; • To provide consultations and cooperation to Government of Nepal for the promotion of tourism; • To work directly or indirectly for institutional mission of all matters pertaining to the interest of tourism industry and trade; • To enthuse feelings of close coordination and professional ethics among all components engaged in tourism industry; • To undertake research work for the promotion of tourism; • To obtain national and international recognition for the association; • To promote and safeguard the interests of other professionals, trade and industries which are ancillary to tourism, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has gained a stature of one of the most prominent and pioneering travel associations of Nepal accommodating regional associations and chapters and consisting of around eight hundred members nationwide.

Over these 50 years of its establishment, NATTA has been successful in bringing together professional travel and tour operators

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Fifty years have elapsed since NEPAL ASSOCIATION OF TOUR & TRAVEL AGENTS (NATTA) came into existence.

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and agents under a same roof and to guide and lead the private sector tourism enterprise as a collective strength, in promoting Nepal as a chief holiday destination in the global tourism map; in developing and enhancing professionalism in the private sector tourism entrepreneurs; in working closely with Government, I/NGOs, national / international tourism organizations and other stakeholders to identify bottlenecks and constraints in the tourism industry and provide possible assistance in solving them; in addressing the concerns of its members for the common benefits; and for the overall contribution for the growth and prosperity of tourism sector of Nepal.

In addition, NATTA has made a significant contribution to the nation by always standing firm for the development of tourism,

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partnering with Government and other private sector in the implementation of policies and programs, and by generating employment and by bringing foreign currency into the nation. It has also made a significant presence in the international arena by marketing Nepal's tourism products and services, taking part in various international fairs, marts, sales missions, road shows, exhibitions, familiarization tours and much more. Being one of the pioneering associations in South and South East Asian Region, NATTA has made a dignified presence at the global body of travel agents, United Federation of Tour and Travel Agents (UFTAA) which coincidently is of the same age as NATTA. NATTA is also a Member of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepalese Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and Thailand Tourism Council (TTC).

NATTA GOLDEN JUBILEE

To mark its 50th Anniversary, NATTA Executive Board headed by President Mr. Madhu Sudan Acharya decided to observe this historic occasion with momentous celebration of NATTA Golden Jubilee. The Board also set the theme of the celebration as "Nepal Tourism: Industry of National Priority": to draw the attention of the Government, regulating

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agencies and stakeholders to the sites, products, trekking trails and historical architecture devastated by the 2015 Earth quake so that all concerted efforts from the concerned authorities would be put to revive and renovate the products as soon as possible; and to give the message to the outside world that we, the private sector, are all set and well equipped to operate tour and travel in efficient and professional manner.

Round the year of Golden Jubilee, NATTA organised scores of events and participated in dozens of programs nationally and internationally in partnership and collaboration with Government, Private Sector and National Tourism Organisation. We are proud to see the growth in tourism arrival this year by 30 percent in

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comparison to last year. The arrival figure this year end is expected to cross one million first ever in the history of Nepalese tourism.

We hope to see the growth even higher next year as we will have a stable government and speedy development activities in the wake of first ever general elections after the new constitution was promulgated two years back. We invite all travel trade fraternities worldwide to join hands and feel free to promote Nepal as the premiere holiday destination.

Madhu Sudan Acharya President

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Landmark Attractions Bodtnath Stupa

“The first stupa at Bodhnath was built sometime after AD 600, when the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, converted to Buddhism. In terms of grace and purity of line, no other stupa in Nepal comes close to Bodhnath. From its whitewashed dome to its gilded tower painted with the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha, the monument is perfectly proportioned… The highly symbolic construction serves in essence as a three-dimensional reminder of the Buddha’s path towards enlightenment.”

- Lonely Planet

World Peace Pagoda

“The World Peace Pagoda is a popular destination southwest of Pokhara, situated at an altitude of almost 1000 meters. Visitors can enjoy views of the Himalayan peaks, as well as Phewa Lake and Sarangkot Mountain. To reach the World Peace Pagoda, you can take a taxi from Pokhara, but you still have to walk a bit to reach the pagoda and its main viewpoint.”

- insidehimalayas.com

Maya Devi Temple

“The spiritual heart of Lumbini, Maya Devi Temple marks the spot where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama. In the adjoining sacred garden you’ll find the pillar of Ashoka, ancient ruins of stupas, and maroon- and saffron-robed monks congregating under a sprawling Bodhi (pipal) tree decorated with prayer flags. Buy your entrance ticket 50m north of the gate to the Sacred Garden, and remove your shoes at the gate.”

- Lonely Planet

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Patan Museum

“Patan Museum is housed in a courtyard within the Northernmost building complex of the Durbar area. The most picturesque setting of the palace that has been created in so small a place by piety and pride is known now to the people as Keshav Narayan Chowk after a temple standing at the center of the courtyard dedicated to Keshavnarayan- a form of Lord Vishnu.This part is recorded in the history as Chaukot Durbar or fourcornered-fort-palace.”

- patanmuseum.org

Garden of Dreams

“The beautifully restored Swapna Bagaicha, or Garden of Dreams remains one of the most serene and beautiful enclaves in Kathmandu. It's two minutes' walk and one million miles from central Thamel.” - Lonely Planet

Hanuman Dhoka

“Kathmandu's royal palace, known as the Hanuman Dhoka, was originally founded during the Licchavi period (4th to 8th centuries AD) but the compound was expanded considerably by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century.

Sadly, the sprawling palace was hit hard by the 2015 earthquake and damage was extensive… the main Nasal Chowk courtyard remains open but the palace buildings are closed for reconstruction.”

- Lonely Planet

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BusinessTravel Guide joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 676

ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 672

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