NTY successful in branding Nepal as safe destination

KATHMANDU, OCT 25: Nepal Tourism Year 2011 has become successful in establishing Nepal as a safe tourist destination, according to the industry players.

“It has helped to rebrand Nepal as a safe destination in the international market,” said president of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Arjun Prasad Sharma.

“Though it can not be claimed at present either the NTY 2011 target of hosting one million visitors will be achieved or not, the ambitious campaign of the government has, however, helped Nepal revive its image,” he said, adding that the marketing and promotion of the NTY 2011 will be helpful for the country in the long run. It has also drawn international attention to Nepal attracting a good number of tourist next years too,” according to Sharma.

The NTY 2011 has with the commitment to promote the tourism sector and help give a boost to national economy, some 19 different political parties had committed not to organise any bandh and strike programme during the tourism year.

The political parties also had given their commitment to avoid all kinds of disturbances that could affect tourism sector. “The commitment from different parties has worked well, though there were some bandhs but that did not affect tourist arrivals,” he said.

The only weakness, according to him, has become delayed busget disbursement and implementation of promotional activities. “The government delayed the budget and even after the budget, it took long to get budget due to procedural complications that hindered proper marketing and promotion of the campaign,” opined Sharma.

The government has allocated a budget of Rs 230 million for the promotion and marketing of the tourism year. “However, we being a private sector have our own business plan and the national campaign has supported us a lot, he added.

With less than three months for the completion of the campaign, Nepal Tourism Year 2011 committee has planned to announce the ‘Beginning of 2020’, yet another national campaign on December 10.

This December the committee is going to mark the successful completion of the NTY 2011 in Lumbini and announce the new campaign ‘Beginning of 2020 as a long term campaign.

Source: THT