Tourist arrival to Nepal by air touches an all-time high

As many as 412,446 tourists visited Nepal by air in the last 11 months, revealed a Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) data. This is the first instance that the country received such a huge number of tourists since 1999.

Annual figures in the last eleven years have never been as high. Around 421,243 tourists had visited Nepal by air in 1999. However, the total number of tourists by the end of November was only 387,747.

Although the year 1999 saw an all-time high number of air visitors, tourism entrepreneurs say the year 2010 will set yet another record surpassing the 1999 records. It means that at least 9,000 tourists must visit Nepal by air in December to overcome the 11-year-old record. Last December, the country had received 31,396 air tourists.

“We are expecting that tourists’ movement will set a new record this year,” said Aditya Baral, spokesperson for NTB. Arrivals by air in November reached 48,331, 21.5 percent more than that in the same month last year. Total number of air arrivals till November last year was 347, 316. According to NTB, in November, South Asian region posted a growth of 55.5 percent, with Bangladesh-80.7 percent, India-52.9 percent, Pakistan-6.6 percent and Sri Lanka-44.2 percent.

Visitor arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) also saw a growth of 8.8 percent, with Japan-14.5 percent, Malaysia-16.4 percent, and South Korea-44.9 percent and Thailand-154.3 percent.

However, arrivals from China and Singapore registered negative growths of 3.8 percent and 5.5 percent respectively.

Europe registered an overall growth of 8.6 percent. Arrivals from France, Germany, Italy, Netherl-ands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK upped by 8.3 percent, 25.7 percent, 3.2 percent, 9.1 percent, 1.5 percent, 16.8 percent 13.4 percent, and 4.9 percent respectively. Arrivals from Australia and New Zealand upped by 10.8 percent and 30.2 percent respectively. Similarly, the USA and Canada have registered growth of 39.2 percent and 31.5 percent respectively.

Nepal had marked 1998 as Visit Nepal Year to disseminate positive image of Nepal for tourism. With this move, the year 1999 witnessed the highest visitors. However, the numbers started decreasing gradually after 1999. Due to the decade-long conflict, tourist arrivals saw ups and downs.

“The political commitment made by the parties not to launch strikes in 2011 is the positive message,” said Baral. NTB’s promotion in the international level, private sector’s participation and marketing for NTY-2011 and increased international airlines movement has boosted arrivals in Nepal.

With the growth in tourist arrivals, international airlines have launched new services in Nepal. Only 12 international airlines had been providing service during the conflict, where as the number of airlines has doubled now.

Thai Airways to support Nepal Tourism Year 2011

Thai Airways will support Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 through special packages and other activities to make the tourism year campaign next year a big success. “We will work together with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), travel and tourism industry of Nepal,” said Chantouch Srinilta, Thai Airways’ general manager for Nepal and Bhutan, today.

The airline is celebrating 42th anniversary in Nepal while 2010 is the Golden Jubilee year of the airline’s inception. This year has great importance to us both in terms of establishment of Thai Airways and its operation in Nepal, he said.

The airline had started flight between Bangkok and Kathmandu in 1968 and the first flight landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport on December 4.

Thai is operating a daily flight between Bangkok and Kathmandu from October 1997, and three new flights are added in 2008 in view of growing number of passengers. Since Thai has a wide network, its support will be beneficial to NTY to attract more tourists, said Nandini Lahe Thapa, Director of NTB.

As per the understanding between Thai Airways and NTB, the later will coordinate between Thai Air and tour operators to promote Nepal as major tourist destination. NTB will play the role of a facilitator only, she said.

JSB Financial Tower to become the tallest building in Kathmandu

The JSB Financial Tower in Kamaladi will be the tallest building in Kathmandu when completed. Developed by Krishi Premura Properties, the 17-storey commercial complex will have a total area of 170,000 sq ft.

The building is situated at Kamaladi, one of the capital’s prime commercial locations, and is divided into three blocks—retail outlets, commercial spaces and penthouses.

The first three floors of the tower will house retail outlets, nine floors will be set aside for offices of banks, financial institutions and multi-nationals. The top five floors will contain penthouse apartments.

“The retail outlets will feature high-end brands,” said Pravin Naulakha, manager of the JSB Financial Tower.

The JSB Financial Tower stands apart for two reasons—location and design. It is coming up in a leading commercial location containing banks and financial institutions. With the Kamaladi-Durbar Marg area turning into a financial hub of the capital, the tower has targeted banks and financial institutions as its prospective tenants.

Designed by architect Debesh Raj Bhattarai, the tower will provide the entire range of financial services under one roof. “It will be an eye-opener for Nepal,”

said Bhattarai. “It’s a contemporary design which we see abroad.” Emphasis has been given to green energy in the building, he added.

All the five penthouses have been designed with spacious living and dining rooms, common bathrooms, spacious bedrooms with attached changing rooms, attached bathrooms in each bedroom and a Jacuzzi in the master bedroom.

The tower, according to architect Bhattarai, will have three-layer basement parking space which can accommodate more than 200 vehicles. The tower is equipped with high-speed wireless and optical fibre connection ideal for video conferencing and high data transmission. There will be four passenger elevators in the tower.

Formal bookings for the tower will start within a month, said Naulakha. The tower is expected to be completed within two years from the start of construction. According to Naulakha, Rasuwa Construction Co. is the main contractor of the Rs 800 million project.

CITYCENTRE Shopping Mall

Nepal Life Insurance Company (NLIC) commenced operation of NLIC City Center, a commercial mall built by the company at Kamalpokhari.

The Shopping Complex stands five storeys high, is fully air-conditioned, and has a multiplex cinema, supermarket and a wide range of international brands.

The mall of international standard has 125 showrooms and retail outlets of popular international branded commodities, says a press release. It also houses 15 restaurants and offers separate playing areas for children.

Speaking on the occasion, senior officials of NLIC said that the company would develop more commercial complexes in the city with due permission of the Insurance Board for generating sound returns for its policy-holders and investors.

The company says such projects would also contribute to consumerism, tourism and employment creations.

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