New airlines flock to Nepal as tourism booms
eKantipur.com, 11-Aug-2007
By Krishna Regmi
Nepal is fast turning into a hot destination for international airlines while the national flag carrier is reeling under lack of aircraft. Three foreign airlines are on the verge of beginning operations, while five more already operating in Nepal are planning to increase frequency.
Orient Thai Airlines, a Thailand based airline, is preparing to fly between Kathmandu with Bangkok from August 19.
Etihad Airlines, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Silk Air, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines have already announced commencement of flights to Kathmandu from October.
"We have received an application from Orient Thai asking schedule approval for thrice-a-week flights on the Kathmandu-Bangkok route from August 19," said an official at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). The airline will soon get the green signal.
With 140-seater Airbus 320 aircraft, Silk Air is scheduled to operate thrice-a-week flights on the Kathmandu-Singapore route. Etihad will operate four-days-a-week flights on the Kathmandu-Abu Dhabi sector.
Etihad will use Airbus A330-200 configured to carry 262 passengers, with 22 business and 240 economy class seats.
Thai Airlines, Qatar Airways, China Southern, Air Arabia, and Korean Air are planning to increase flight frequency to Nepal.
With robust growth in tourist arrivals to Nepal and more Nepalis traveling abroad, foreign airlines are jockeying to tap this market.
Tourist arrivals grew by a staggering 35.6 percent to 193,211 in the first seven months this year. Nepalis working abroad are also on a steady rise, with around 200,000 leaving for foreign employment last year alone. A decade ago only around 3,000 Nepalis left for jobs abroad.
Thai Airways plans to add three flights a week and is awaiting the green signal from the Nepali authorities. Qatar Airways has been requesting the government to allow it to run seven extra flights per week between Doha and Kathmandu. Korean Air also has requested the CAAN to let it to operate an additional flight. Air Arabia, which runs four flights a week on the Sharjah-Kathmandu sector, is seeking a green signal to operate four additional flights.
China Southern is also mulling a flight increment on the Guangzhou-Kathmandu route. "We are going to use bigger aircraft, Boeing-757 from September end, instead of current 128-seater aircraft. Then, we will take a decision whether to add a flight or two, depending on the response," said Deepak Bhatt, chairman of Gorkha Travels, general sales agent of the airline in Nepal.
Sri Lankan Airlines has also shown interest to fly to Nepal since the last year but the Nepal government is yet to respond.
Operation of new airlines and increment in frequency of flights have come as good news for the tourism industry at a time when all airlines flying to Nepal are packed, causing a number of tourists to cancel their travel plans.
Over the year, four airlines-- Bangladesh, Air Arabia, Korean Air, and China Southern-- began flights to Nepal.
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Monday, September 03, 2007
Tourist arrivals up by 9.6 pc
Tourist arrivals up by 9.6 pc
eKantipur.com, 5-Jul-2007
Tourist arrivals rose by a modest 9.6 percent in June, signaling a cooling down in robust growth, caused by the fall in the number of Indian visitors.
The rise is far too below the average growth of 37.5 percent in the first six months of the year 2007.
A total of 23, 502 tourists visited the country during the period, up from 21,444 tourists in the same month last year.
The tourism industry reported a robust growth from the European market. The number of European tourists increased by a staggering 39 percent.
The country registered whopping rises of 137 percent, 47.3 percent, and 82.2 percent in tourist arrivals from Sweden, Britain and Denmark. Some 756 Swedish, 11,536 British and 1,011 Danish tourists came to the country.
Likewise, the number of German tourists went up by 52.2 percent to 6,877. The tourism industry recoded a rise of 46.7 percent rise in arrivals from France. A total of 6,296 French tourists visited the country.
However, India, the main market of Nepali tourism industry, showed a very poor scenario. The number of tourists from India, which made up around 50 percent of tourists visiting the country, fell by 12.8 percent to 12,379.
On the slowdown in overall tourists arrivals, the NTB said frequent strikes, street protest and demonstration, hurdles in vehicle movement in the country, mainly in the terai region are some of the factors contributing indirectly to retard the healthy growth of tourism.
The NTB, in a statement, blamed the decline for air-accessibility. Moreover, the surge in air ticket cost in flying between India and Nepal is also one of the greatest reasons for the fall in the arrival figures from India, it said.
eKantipur.com, 5-Jul-2007
Tourist arrivals rose by a modest 9.6 percent in June, signaling a cooling down in robust growth, caused by the fall in the number of Indian visitors.
The rise is far too below the average growth of 37.5 percent in the first six months of the year 2007.
A total of 23, 502 tourists visited the country during the period, up from 21,444 tourists in the same month last year.
The tourism industry reported a robust growth from the European market. The number of European tourists increased by a staggering 39 percent.
The country registered whopping rises of 137 percent, 47.3 percent, and 82.2 percent in tourist arrivals from Sweden, Britain and Denmark. Some 756 Swedish, 11,536 British and 1,011 Danish tourists came to the country.
Likewise, the number of German tourists went up by 52.2 percent to 6,877. The tourism industry recoded a rise of 46.7 percent rise in arrivals from France. A total of 6,296 French tourists visited the country.
However, India, the main market of Nepali tourism industry, showed a very poor scenario. The number of tourists from India, which made up around 50 percent of tourists visiting the country, fell by 12.8 percent to 12,379.
On the slowdown in overall tourists arrivals, the NTB said frequent strikes, street protest and demonstration, hurdles in vehicle movement in the country, mainly in the terai region are some of the factors contributing indirectly to retard the healthy growth of tourism.
The NTB, in a statement, blamed the decline for air-accessibility. Moreover, the surge in air ticket cost in flying between India and Nepal is also one of the greatest reasons for the fall in the arrival figures from India, it said.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Manakamana Cable car: country's pride
Manakamana Cable car: country's pride
eKantipur.com, 17-Jun-2007
In a mountainous country like Nepal, where a large chunk of people is yet to be linked to road network, Manakamana Cable Car has demonstrated how establishment of a cable transport link can facelift economy and social wellbeing of a community.
Over the period of about eight years, the Cable Car has not only facilitated travelers and increased flow of people to Manakamana - of the most famous the pilgrimage sites, it has also created market, enhanced trade and enabled local people secure good income returns. Most importantly, it has demonstrated cable cars can be an effective transportation alternative in the country, where difficult terrain stands a major impediment to extending road transportations.
All the success stories Manakamana Cable Car boasts today, however, have emerged from a meager start, an ambitious plan and a vision of its promoter. Manakamana Darshan Private Limited (MDPL), the operator of cable car was established in 1998 with an objective to provide clean, safe and convenient means of transportation for the pilgrims and visitors wanting to go to Manakamana. The total investment of the project was Rs 500 million.
What inspired the promoters to venture into such an expensive project? Manakamana was already one of the most visited pilgrimage sites. Owing to distance and difficult trail, many others who wished to visit the place were unable to visit the hilltop holy temple due to a difficult four-hour trek. So, the scope of business was already there, says its officials.
"When people had no alternative than to walk, 50,000 visitors used to visit the place per year," said Manoj Manandhar, sales and marketing manager of Manakamana Darshan.
With the start of the service, promoters knew they could easily raise the number of visitors by at least two-fold and soon they realized they were not wrong. Today, more than 400,000 visitors travel to Manakamana on cable car every year.
The service not only shortened the journey to the religious hot spot, but also generated ample of self-employment and business opportunities for people residing around, giving a complete facelift to the local economy.
Due to influx of huge number of people, a considerable number of restaurants, souvenir shops and resorts have come into operation in the place, which in turn has provided employment to many locals and increased their income level.
According to the company, around 1,200 people visit Manakamana via the cable car every day. "Even if each of these people spends Rs 50, the business transaction in the local economy would reach Rs 600,000 per day, which is a considerable amount," said Manandhar. Besides, the local farm produces, especially oranges, which earlier used to be wasted, now are sold at better prices, generating handsome returns to farmers. And, the locals who were required to walk up or down during emergencies now have access to advanced mode of transportation. This has increased their access to urban areas.
Statistics of the company shows that the cable car ferried a total of 2.935 million people to Manakamana till the end of last fiscal year. Of that, 446,102 traveled in the year 2005/06 alone.
The company has so far generated revenue of Rs 737.4 million, of which Rs 705.4 million was generated from the operation of the cable car, one million from cargo service, Rs 6.3 million from parking facilities, Rs 4.14 million from sales of souvenir and Rs 20.5 million from restaurant business.
"With the restoration of peace, we believe more people will use the cable car," Manandhar said. The cable car company has also made numerous endeavors to establish itself as a responsible to corporate house accountable to the surrounding communities in operates in.
"To meet that end, we are giving huge discounts on cable car fares to locals of Manakamana VDC and Darhechowk VDC," Manandhar said. As per the agreement, people residing in those two VDCs do not have to pay more than Rs 65 to travel on the cable car.
The company also gives grants of Rs 500,000 to Manakamana VDC and Rs 250,000 to Darhechowk VDC every year. Moreover, it has made sure that 90 percent of the total 110 staffs are locals.
"Besides, we have also teamed up with locals and Manakamana Development Committee to promote historical sites such as Bakreshwor Mahadev and Lakhan Thapa Cave, located in the vicinity of Manakamana temple." The company feels that it would be able to give more to the local communities, if locals there take more concrete initiatives to develop Manakamana as a tourist spot.
"Currently, most of the visitors are pilgrims, who visit the place for short period of time, i.e. couple of hours. But, if we can develop it as a tourist spot, more people would come to the place to spend their vacation. If their length of stay increases, their spending would also increase. This will ultimately open new avenues for locals planning to do business and further keep the local economy robust," Manandhar said.
eKantipur.com, 17-Jun-2007
In a mountainous country like Nepal, where a large chunk of people is yet to be linked to road network, Manakamana Cable Car has demonstrated how establishment of a cable transport link can facelift economy and social wellbeing of a community.
Over the period of about eight years, the Cable Car has not only facilitated travelers and increased flow of people to Manakamana - of the most famous the pilgrimage sites, it has also created market, enhanced trade and enabled local people secure good income returns. Most importantly, it has demonstrated cable cars can be an effective transportation alternative in the country, where difficult terrain stands a major impediment to extending road transportations.
All the success stories Manakamana Cable Car boasts today, however, have emerged from a meager start, an ambitious plan and a vision of its promoter. Manakamana Darshan Private Limited (MDPL), the operator of cable car was established in 1998 with an objective to provide clean, safe and convenient means of transportation for the pilgrims and visitors wanting to go to Manakamana. The total investment of the project was Rs 500 million.
What inspired the promoters to venture into such an expensive project? Manakamana was already one of the most visited pilgrimage sites. Owing to distance and difficult trail, many others who wished to visit the place were unable to visit the hilltop holy temple due to a difficult four-hour trek. So, the scope of business was already there, says its officials.
"When people had no alternative than to walk, 50,000 visitors used to visit the place per year," said Manoj Manandhar, sales and marketing manager of Manakamana Darshan.
With the start of the service, promoters knew they could easily raise the number of visitors by at least two-fold and soon they realized they were not wrong. Today, more than 400,000 visitors travel to Manakamana on cable car every year.
The service not only shortened the journey to the religious hot spot, but also generated ample of self-employment and business opportunities for people residing around, giving a complete facelift to the local economy.
Due to influx of huge number of people, a considerable number of restaurants, souvenir shops and resorts have come into operation in the place, which in turn has provided employment to many locals and increased their income level.
According to the company, around 1,200 people visit Manakamana via the cable car every day. "Even if each of these people spends Rs 50, the business transaction in the local economy would reach Rs 600,000 per day, which is a considerable amount," said Manandhar. Besides, the local farm produces, especially oranges, which earlier used to be wasted, now are sold at better prices, generating handsome returns to farmers. And, the locals who were required to walk up or down during emergencies now have access to advanced mode of transportation. This has increased their access to urban areas.
Statistics of the company shows that the cable car ferried a total of 2.935 million people to Manakamana till the end of last fiscal year. Of that, 446,102 traveled in the year 2005/06 alone.
The company has so far generated revenue of Rs 737.4 million, of which Rs 705.4 million was generated from the operation of the cable car, one million from cargo service, Rs 6.3 million from parking facilities, Rs 4.14 million from sales of souvenir and Rs 20.5 million from restaurant business.
"With the restoration of peace, we believe more people will use the cable car," Manandhar said. The cable car company has also made numerous endeavors to establish itself as a responsible to corporate house accountable to the surrounding communities in operates in.
"To meet that end, we are giving huge discounts on cable car fares to locals of Manakamana VDC and Darhechowk VDC," Manandhar said. As per the agreement, people residing in those two VDCs do not have to pay more than Rs 65 to travel on the cable car.
The company also gives grants of Rs 500,000 to Manakamana VDC and Rs 250,000 to Darhechowk VDC every year. Moreover, it has made sure that 90 percent of the total 110 staffs are locals.
"Besides, we have also teamed up with locals and Manakamana Development Committee to promote historical sites such as Bakreshwor Mahadev and Lakhan Thapa Cave, located in the vicinity of Manakamana temple." The company feels that it would be able to give more to the local communities, if locals there take more concrete initiatives to develop Manakamana as a tourist spot.
"Currently, most of the visitors are pilgrims, who visit the place for short period of time, i.e. couple of hours. But, if we can develop it as a tourist spot, more people would come to the place to spend their vacation. If their length of stay increases, their spending would also increase. This will ultimately open new avenues for locals planning to do business and further keep the local economy robust," Manandhar said.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
National park revenues dwindle
National park revenues dwindle
eKantipur.com, 15-Jun-2007
BY PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE
Government revenue from major jungle safaris of the country declined by 18 percent in the first eight months, despite double-digit growth in the number of incoming tourists.
A data complied by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has reckoned that three major national parks collected Rs 24.72 million during the period, down from Rs 30.19 millions recorded in the same period last year.
Chitwan National Park (CNP), Bardia National Park (BNP) and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) are the three major national parks in the country.
According to the department, CNP collected Rs 22.08 million in the period and the amount was 22 percent less than last year's collection. However, BNP pocketed Rs 1.85 million, which was 26 percent more than the revenue collected in same period last year. Similar is the story for SWR, which collected Rs 0.78 million as revenue during the period and the amount was almost double the collection recorded in the corresponding period last year.
Of the total revenue collection, almost 90 percent was contributed by CNP, which hosts around 80 percent of tourists enjoying jungle safari.
The popular tourist hangouts witnessed upward in tourist arrivals with the number of tourists increasing to 48,310 as compared to 40,789 of same period last year, despite the fall in revenue collection.
Of the total tourists arriving in these areas, large chunk visited CNP, the most popular wildlife safari destination in last eight months with the numbers reaching at 45,856 while 2,298 and 166 tourists visited BNP and SWR respectively.
Concerned officials attribute mismatch between tourist arrivals and revenue to irregularity in collection of revenues from revenues heads, which are not directly related to tourist arrivals.
“Some heads of revenue have no relation with tourist arrivals," said Shiva Raj Bhatta, ex-warden of CNP and BNP, adding, “Some seasonal revenues vary from month to month and recovery of outstandings of previous years may have affected revenue amount which do not have co-relation with the tourist arrivals.”
Moreover, some of the tourists who pay entry fees to parks prefer visiting community forests to the parks.
The community forests which are emerging as alternative to the parks are also contributing to reduction of park revenue, say park officials.
Tourists with travel package or Fit Individual Travelers (FIT) visit the destinations for wildlife safari activities that include elephant ride, canoe ride, jungle driving, jungle walk, bird watching among others.
Over a decade long conflict had marred tourist arrivals and subsequent revenue collection in those areas.
eKantipur.com, 15-Jun-2007
BY PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE
Government revenue from major jungle safaris of the country declined by 18 percent in the first eight months, despite double-digit growth in the number of incoming tourists.
A data complied by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has reckoned that three major national parks collected Rs 24.72 million during the period, down from Rs 30.19 millions recorded in the same period last year.
Chitwan National Park (CNP), Bardia National Park (BNP) and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) are the three major national parks in the country.
According to the department, CNP collected Rs 22.08 million in the period and the amount was 22 percent less than last year's collection. However, BNP pocketed Rs 1.85 million, which was 26 percent more than the revenue collected in same period last year. Similar is the story for SWR, which collected Rs 0.78 million as revenue during the period and the amount was almost double the collection recorded in the corresponding period last year.
Of the total revenue collection, almost 90 percent was contributed by CNP, which hosts around 80 percent of tourists enjoying jungle safari.
The popular tourist hangouts witnessed upward in tourist arrivals with the number of tourists increasing to 48,310 as compared to 40,789 of same period last year, despite the fall in revenue collection.
Of the total tourists arriving in these areas, large chunk visited CNP, the most popular wildlife safari destination in last eight months with the numbers reaching at 45,856 while 2,298 and 166 tourists visited BNP and SWR respectively.
Concerned officials attribute mismatch between tourist arrivals and revenue to irregularity in collection of revenues from revenues heads, which are not directly related to tourist arrivals.
“Some heads of revenue have no relation with tourist arrivals," said Shiva Raj Bhatta, ex-warden of CNP and BNP, adding, “Some seasonal revenues vary from month to month and recovery of outstandings of previous years may have affected revenue amount which do not have co-relation with the tourist arrivals.”
Moreover, some of the tourists who pay entry fees to parks prefer visiting community forests to the parks.
The community forests which are emerging as alternative to the parks are also contributing to reduction of park revenue, say park officials.
Tourists with travel package or Fit Individual Travelers (FIT) visit the destinations for wildlife safari activities that include elephant ride, canoe ride, jungle driving, jungle walk, bird watching among others.
Over a decade long conflict had marred tourist arrivals and subsequent revenue collection in those areas.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Nepal, Hong Kong review air service
Nepal, Hong Kong review air service
eKantipur.com, 24-May-07
Nepal has reviewed air service agreement (ASA) with Hong Kong at a two-day bilateral aviation meeting that concluded there on Wednesday.
The review, which allows 14 passenger flights each week from each destination, is aimed at clearing the way for new airlines to conduct flights between Kathmandu and the Chinese special administrative region.
As of now, both Nepal and Hong Kong are enjoying facility of operating flights having up to 900 air seats per week.
“Beside, the ASA review permits unlimited number of air cargo flights between the two destinations,” said Dinesh Hari Adhikari, joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA).
Currently, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is the only airline operating flights to Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific has already announced that it would start flights from Hong Kong to Kathmandu. But, it has not disclosed when those will commence.
“With the review in the ASA, airlines from Nepal and Hong Kong may serve five intermediate and five beyond points without fifth freedom rights,” said Adhikari.
Madhav Prasad Ghimire, secretary at the MoCTCA led the Nepali delegation during the meeting while Albert Tang, principal assistant secretary at Economic Development and Labor Bureau headed the Hong Kong delegation.
He said the ASA review with Hong Kong was necessary to pave the way for additional flights from new private airlines in Nepal. “Of the total 900 weekly seats available for Nepal, the national flag carrier uses 600 seats. So, there were no adequate air seats for other private airlines,” he said.
Nepal has signed ASAs with nearly three dozen countries. However, it has direct flights with only around a dozen countries.
eKantipur.com, 24-May-07
Nepal has reviewed air service agreement (ASA) with Hong Kong at a two-day bilateral aviation meeting that concluded there on Wednesday.
The review, which allows 14 passenger flights each week from each destination, is aimed at clearing the way for new airlines to conduct flights between Kathmandu and the Chinese special administrative region.
As of now, both Nepal and Hong Kong are enjoying facility of operating flights having up to 900 air seats per week.
“Beside, the ASA review permits unlimited number of air cargo flights between the two destinations,” said Dinesh Hari Adhikari, joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA).
Currently, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is the only airline operating flights to Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific has already announced that it would start flights from Hong Kong to Kathmandu. But, it has not disclosed when those will commence.
“With the review in the ASA, airlines from Nepal and Hong Kong may serve five intermediate and five beyond points without fifth freedom rights,” said Adhikari.
Madhav Prasad Ghimire, secretary at the MoCTCA led the Nepali delegation during the meeting while Albert Tang, principal assistant secretary at Economic Development and Labor Bureau headed the Hong Kong delegation.
He said the ASA review with Hong Kong was necessary to pave the way for additional flights from new private airlines in Nepal. “Of the total 900 weekly seats available for Nepal, the national flag carrier uses 600 seats. So, there were no adequate air seats for other private airlines,” he said.
Nepal has signed ASAs with nearly three dozen countries. However, it has direct flights with only around a dozen countries.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Direct flight to Europe from Nepal suspended
Direct flight to Europe from Nepal suspended
Xinhua, 17-May-07
Austrian Airlines, the only airlines that directly links Nepal with Europe suspends its regular schedule flight from Thursday, local newspaper The Rising Nepal reported Thursday.
Austrian Airlines had taken this decision months ago mainly due to negative rate of return from Vienna-Kathmandu flight.
According to Bharat Basnet, general sales agent of Austrian Airlines to Nepal,
relatively higher price of aviation fuel, landing costs and other charges were responsible for the rise in the cost of operation in this sector.
The suspension of flights would cost more to Nepalese tourism industry, said Basnet while adding "It will have a multiplier plus multi-pronged effects."
Meanwhile, not only is the Nepal Airlines Corporation losing its regular income of nearly 12,000 U.S. dollars from ground-handling service at the moment, this would also cost the government and Nepali Oil Corporation substantial amount of revenue from sales and taxes.
More importantly, the country will lose the quality tourists from the United States of America (USA) and central European countries, said Basnet.
Meanwhile, the tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers also opined that the suspension of Austrian Airlines flights was a great setback to Nepal's tourism industry.
Xinhua, 17-May-07
Austrian Airlines, the only airlines that directly links Nepal with Europe suspends its regular schedule flight from Thursday, local newspaper The Rising Nepal reported Thursday.
Austrian Airlines had taken this decision months ago mainly due to negative rate of return from Vienna-Kathmandu flight.
According to Bharat Basnet, general sales agent of Austrian Airlines to Nepal,
relatively higher price of aviation fuel, landing costs and other charges were responsible for the rise in the cost of operation in this sector.
The suspension of flights would cost more to Nepalese tourism industry, said Basnet while adding "It will have a multiplier plus multi-pronged effects."
Meanwhile, not only is the Nepal Airlines Corporation losing its regular income of nearly 12,000 U.S. dollars from ground-handling service at the moment, this would also cost the government and Nepali Oil Corporation substantial amount of revenue from sales and taxes.
More importantly, the country will lose the quality tourists from the United States of America (USA) and central European countries, said Basnet.
Meanwhile, the tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers also opined that the suspension of Austrian Airlines flights was a great setback to Nepal's tourism industry.
Nepal Airlines: Revamp or close down
Nepal Airlines: Revamp or close down
eKantipur.com, 16-May-07
BY KRISHNA REGMI
There is a demand of air seats from passengers as well as supply of aircraft from manufacturers, yet fleet expansion of troubled national flag carrier has always been a pipedream.
Purchasing aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is like a political hot potato because of the previous controversial deals, in which power players lined their pockets.
Since the early 1990s, there were efforts to buy aircraft, but all of them ended just by forming a committee and submitting reports. It has been a routine for years: when a new minister at the Ministry Civil Aviation assumes office, he makes a loud proclamation to buy aircraft and constitute a committee. Still, the ill-fated NAC continues to languish with only a pair of over two-decade old aircraft.
Look at the one episode in a series of dramas that were staged in the past. In 1993, the corporation transferred over a dozen pilots from domestic sector to international to fly 'soon-to-arrive aircraft'. Even after 14 years no one knows what happened to the plan and why the new aircraft never showed up.
Its not that business opportunities are slim. In fact, NAC has immense potentials as indicated by facts that international airlines flying to Nepal are packed. In addition, many aspirant tourists are unable to travel just because they don't get air seats.
Arranging necessary financial resource is not a big deal as well. Financial institutions have already expressed their willingness to extend loans to purchase aircraft.
Because of the inefficient management and lack of commitment of successive tourism ministers, NAC is not only fighting the battle of its very existence but the whole tourism industry has also become a victim.
“Concerned NAC officials fear that they may be left out on the share of commissions. So they obstruct every effort to acquire aircraft,” said an official at the MoCTCA.
He said that the inefficient and incompetent management is the single biggest hurdle to NAC's fleet expansion.
The financial regulations of NAC endow its management full authority to execute all tasks pertaining to aircraft purchase, including preparation of a report on aircraft selection.
Around three years ago, then management tabled a proposal to the board to buy two Boeing-737 aircraft. “But, the board remained indecisive for months, as they were not sure about continuity of their tenures. They chose not to take risks by getting involved in the aircraft deal,” said the employee. “The lobby from rival Airbus agent might have also worked.”
The ministers also do not bother until they have a chance to install their staunch supporters to the top position at NAC, he said. He said there needs a greater reform on the management and most of its employees should be relieved of their jobs through volunteer retirement scheme to clear the way for aircraft purchase.
eKantipur.com, 16-May-07
BY KRISHNA REGMI
There is a demand of air seats from passengers as well as supply of aircraft from manufacturers, yet fleet expansion of troubled national flag carrier has always been a pipedream.
Purchasing aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is like a political hot potato because of the previous controversial deals, in which power players lined their pockets.
Since the early 1990s, there were efforts to buy aircraft, but all of them ended just by forming a committee and submitting reports. It has been a routine for years: when a new minister at the Ministry Civil Aviation assumes office, he makes a loud proclamation to buy aircraft and constitute a committee. Still, the ill-fated NAC continues to languish with only a pair of over two-decade old aircraft.
Look at the one episode in a series of dramas that were staged in the past. In 1993, the corporation transferred over a dozen pilots from domestic sector to international to fly 'soon-to-arrive aircraft'. Even after 14 years no one knows what happened to the plan and why the new aircraft never showed up.
Its not that business opportunities are slim. In fact, NAC has immense potentials as indicated by facts that international airlines flying to Nepal are packed. In addition, many aspirant tourists are unable to travel just because they don't get air seats.
Arranging necessary financial resource is not a big deal as well. Financial institutions have already expressed their willingness to extend loans to purchase aircraft.
Because of the inefficient management and lack of commitment of successive tourism ministers, NAC is not only fighting the battle of its very existence but the whole tourism industry has also become a victim.
“Concerned NAC officials fear that they may be left out on the share of commissions. So they obstruct every effort to acquire aircraft,” said an official at the MoCTCA.
He said that the inefficient and incompetent management is the single biggest hurdle to NAC's fleet expansion.
The financial regulations of NAC endow its management full authority to execute all tasks pertaining to aircraft purchase, including preparation of a report on aircraft selection.
Around three years ago, then management tabled a proposal to the board to buy two Boeing-737 aircraft. “But, the board remained indecisive for months, as they were not sure about continuity of their tenures. They chose not to take risks by getting involved in the aircraft deal,” said the employee. “The lobby from rival Airbus agent might have also worked.”
The ministers also do not bother until they have a chance to install their staunch supporters to the top position at NAC, he said. He said there needs a greater reform on the management and most of its employees should be relieved of their jobs through volunteer retirement scheme to clear the way for aircraft purchase.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Tourist arrival increases by 78.8 percent
Tourist arrival increases by 78.8 percent
Nepalnews.com, 4-May-07
The positive trend in international visitors’ arrival in Nepal continued in the month of April as well.
According to the statistics released by the Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, arrival of the tourists via air route increased by a whopping 78.8% in the month of April 2007.
A total of 33,024 visitors came to Nepal during the period, which is a record high for the number of international visitors entering Nepal by air route in the month of April since 2002.
The arrival of Indian tourists, the largest market, increased by 110% as compared to the same period last year.
Arrival of tourists from the SAARC segment grew tremendously during the period. Arrivals from Asian continent grew by 137.4% during the period.
European arrivals secured one-third-market share during the month, with encouraging growth from major generating markets like UK by 44.5%, France by 58.4% and Germany by 83.6%.
The number of Austrian tourists declined marginally by 7.5%, while rest of the European markets showed a sharp upward trend like Italy by 73.4%, the Netherlands by 62.3%, and Spain by 9.9%.
The Australian market too increased by 32.7% while USA registered a sharp increment of 92.6% during April.
"The demand for Nepal as preferred destination has lately improved by many fold mainly due to two major reasons; the enhanced destination image resulting from peace and stability within the country, and a slightly better air connectivity,” a news release issued by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said.
The NTB, however said that shortage of air seats continued to hamper further growth as industry sources complained that many groups had to be cancelled due to lack of air seats.
Nepalnews.com, 4-May-07
The positive trend in international visitors’ arrival in Nepal continued in the month of April as well.
According to the statistics released by the Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, arrival of the tourists via air route increased by a whopping 78.8% in the month of April 2007.
A total of 33,024 visitors came to Nepal during the period, which is a record high for the number of international visitors entering Nepal by air route in the month of April since 2002.
The arrival of Indian tourists, the largest market, increased by 110% as compared to the same period last year.
Arrival of tourists from the SAARC segment grew tremendously during the period. Arrivals from Asian continent grew by 137.4% during the period.
European arrivals secured one-third-market share during the month, with encouraging growth from major generating markets like UK by 44.5%, France by 58.4% and Germany by 83.6%.
The number of Austrian tourists declined marginally by 7.5%, while rest of the European markets showed a sharp upward trend like Italy by 73.4%, the Netherlands by 62.3%, and Spain by 9.9%.
The Australian market too increased by 32.7% while USA registered a sharp increment of 92.6% during April.
"The demand for Nepal as preferred destination has lately improved by many fold mainly due to two major reasons; the enhanced destination image resulting from peace and stability within the country, and a slightly better air connectivity,” a news release issued by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said.
The NTB, however said that shortage of air seats continued to hamper further growth as industry sources complained that many groups had to be cancelled due to lack of air seats.
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