2nd December: Electronic ticketing to be launched in Myanmar

As of December 1, authorized travel agents in Myanmar will be able to issue electronic tickets on behalf of Malaysia Airlines, hence enabling tremendous improvements in the efficiency of their sales & ticketing process. Abacus International, Asia Pacific’s leading revenue partner for airlines, has announced that it will be the first GDS to exclusively launch electronic ticketing with Malaysia Airlines in Myanmar through its unique electronic transitional automated ticketing platform (eTAT).

1st December: Bardiya National Park hosts the International Elephant Polo competition

The 28th International Elephant Polo competition, organized by World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA), Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge and supported by Bardia National Park, commenced on November 30, 2009 at Thakurdwar of Bardia National Park, Nepal. National and international participants from Nepal, UK, USA, Hong Kong, Scotland and Singapore are participating in the week long tournament that ends on December 5, 2009.

30th November: Borderlands PDP organized a Leadership Development Program for the students of the British School

A Leadership Development Program was organized for Grade 6 students of the British School from November 23-27, 2009 at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. A total of 13 students and 3 teachers participated in the five days program. To make the experiential learning more effective, the ...More

29th November: World Bank Nepal takes part in a Staff Retreat Program

Borderlands PDP organized a Staff Retreat Program for the staff of World Bank Nepal from November 22-25, 2009 at Mirabel Resort...More

27th November: Accor UK renews its contract with ABC Connection

Accor UK renewed its contract with ABC Connection for three years following a review of its sales & marketing strategy. Accor UK is a leading hospitality group while ABC Connection is an online publisher. With the renewal of the contract, descriptions & images of Accor UK’s Sofitel, Novotel & Mercure branded properties, plus several Ibis hotels will be promoted directly to leading booking agents, travel management companies, corporate travel managers & online hotel & venue guides via ABC’s network of distribution partners.

26th November: Nature-treks.com organizes the Gokyo Valley and Everest Base Camp Adventure

Nature-treks.com organized the Gokyo Valley and Everest Base Camp Adventure, the ultimate adventure in Nepal, from November 3 to 19, 2009 for a group of 6 English people. The main highlights...More

25th November: NBTA Foundation releases result of 2009 Travel Management Compensation & Benefits Survey

The NBTA Foundation, educational and research foundation of National Business Travel Association (NBTA), released the results of 2009 Travel Management Compensation and Benefits Survey. The survey shows that the average base salary of respondents increased by 2.1% in 2009 while the total compensation declined by 5.6% in 2009 compared to that of 2008. The report is based on the responses of 274 corporate travel and meeting managers working in the United States and Canada.

24th November: New daily service on Mumbai-Kathmandu sector to operate soon

Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, is all set to introduce its new daily flights on Mumbai-Kathmandu sector effective December 2, 2009. The airline currently operates two daily flights on the Delhi-Kathmandu sector or fourteen weekly frequencies. This new addition is expected to boost the trade relation between the two countries.

23rd November: Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2009

Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2009 voted the 21C Museum Hotel as the ‘number one hotel in the United States and number six hotel in the world’. In addition to award winning restaurant and décor, the 90-room boutique hotel, also dubbed as the ‘art gallery with rooms’, shows a contemporary art exhibition from living artists throughout the reception area, making it America’s only museum dedicated solely to the art of the 21st century. The current exhibition, ‘Creating Identity’, showcases work from emerging and well known international artists.

22nd November: Borderlands PDP organized a Team Building Event for Nepal National Football Team

Borderlands PDP organized a Team Building Event for the Nepal National Football Team on November 20, 2009. A total of 30 participants...More

19th November: Stockholm- Arlanda Airport is awarded the Airport Carbon Accreditation

Stockholm- Arlanda is the first airport to become Airport Carbon Accredited for Carbon Neutrality. The ‘Neutrality’ level of accreditation recognizes that the airport has achieved a 50% reduction in its carbon emission over the last 3 years. Following the launch of ACI Europe’s Airport Carbon Accreditation in June 2009, LFV’s Stockholm- Arlanda Airport has become the first airport to receive the highest possible accreditation status for their outstanding effort to lower their impact on climate change.

18th November: Dusit International announces plans to expand to China

Dusit Thani Sanya, property of Dusit International- one of Asia’s leading international hotel chains, announces plans to expand to China. Located at Ziangshui Bay, east Hainan Island, the resort will start its operation in December 2010. The resort has 160 luxurious guestrooms, 22 villas & one Presidential Suite in addition to excellent meeting facilities, gym, three restaurants & the award winning Devarana Spa. The resort boasts spectacular views of the ocean & the coastline.

17th November: Nepal made its presence felt at WTM 2009

Nepal successfully participated in the 30th World Travel Market (WTM 2009) held from November 9-12, 2009 in London. Nepal’s participation in the fair was organized by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in which a total of 27 Nepalese travel trade companies participated. Nepal’s stand was customized to disseminate relevant information regarding Nepal Tourism Year 2011. NTB also organized a special Nepal presentation program on November 10 amid more than 50 tour operators & media.

12th November: 3rd Nepal Tourism Fair in the offing

The 3rd Nepal Tourism Fair will be held from November 23-25, 2009 at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu. The three-day long fair, organized by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), aims at popularising travel in Nepal among national and international tourists. The fair, ahead of Nepal Tourism Year 2011, is expected to boost the flow of tourists to Nepal in addition to positively influencing the tourism industry.

11th November: Borderlands Staff Take Part in a Training Program

A day-long Staff Training Program was organized for the staff of the Borderlands Group (Borderlands Resort, Borderlands PDP, Ultimate Descents Nepal and Nature-treks.com) on November 10, 2009 at Hotel Marshyangdi...More

9th November: Nepal makes it to National Geographic’s ‘Best New Trips for 2010’

National Geographic’s ‘Best New Trips for 2010’, published in November 2009, includes our beautiful country Nepal by featuring the hike to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital in the Everest region. 25 different trips from various countries including: Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Canada, France, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, U.S and Tonga etc. have been featured.
Recently, Nepal also made it to Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2010’ list.

8th November: UNICEF takes part in the Borderlands Team Building Program

Six staff from UNICEF- Nepal took part in a Team Building Event organized from November 4-6, 2009 at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. The program, organized by the Borderlands PDP, included some Team Building games and initiatives in addition to fun activities like: mountain biking from Tibet border to the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort, canyoning, and rafting in the Bhote Koshi River etc. The three-day long program focused on enhancing trust, improving leadership, planning and communication among the participants. More

6th November: Sri Lankan winners at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort

4 winners of a program of Sri Lankan FM are at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort, Nepal on a 7 days tour. The tour, starting October 29, 2009, has been sponsored by Borderlands Sri Lanka. The main highlights of the tour are: stay at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort, rock climbing, rafting, hiking, canyoning and Tibet Border visit.

5th November: Continental Airlines launches three new routes from Houston

Continental Airlines, the world’s fifth largest airlines, has launched daily non-stop flights to three new routes from its Houston hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The new destinations are: Frankfurt Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Edmonton International Airport. This addition enhances connecting opportunities with Star Alliance member carriers. The airline is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

4th November: Portugal wins the ‘Travel Agents Choice Award’

The coveted 2009 ‘Travel Agents Choice Award in the category of Short Haul Destinations- Golf Holidays’ has been awarded to Portugal in recognition of the country’s top-of-the-range golfing facilities and superb tourist offerings. The awards, voted by UK travel agents, will be presented at World Travel Market scheduled to be held on November 9, 2009. Portugal hosts the Portugal Masters, one of the most important Golf tournaments in the PGA European Tour.

3rd November: Trip Advisor to acquire Kuxun.cn

TripAdvisor, an operating company of Expedia Inc., announced that it has signed a transaction to acquire Kuxun.cn, the second largest online travel-related website in China. This acquisition will make TripAdvisor one of the leading online travel-related media and search businesses in China. Following the completion of the acquisition, it is anticipated that Kuxun.cn will continue to operate out of Beijing as a standalone entity led by the current management team reporting directly to the CEO of TripAdvisor.

2nd November: October sees an increase in Tourist arrivals

Visitor arrivals in Nepal by air in October 2009 saw an increase by 10.8% as compared to the same period last year. According to the figures released by the Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, India & China saw an increase in tourist arrivals by 20.1% & 116.4% respectively. Overall, the Asian segment registered a positive growth of 41.2%. Pakistan & Sri Lanka registered a positive growth whereas arrivals from Bangladesh declined. The increase in arrivals from France, UK, Germany, Italy & the Netherlands contributed to an overall increase of 9.9% in the European market whereas, Switzerland, Spain & Belgium declined. Australia, New Zealand, Canada & USA also registered a growth in the number of arrivals during October.

1st November: UFTAA Congress to be held in November

The 43rd UFTAA Congress & 3rd NATTA Himalayan Intl. Travel Mart 2009 is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu with the theme of ‘Sustainability, Networking and Profitability’. The UFTAA World Congress will be held from November 20-23, 2009 followed by the 3rd NATTA Himalayan Intl. Travel Mart from November 23-25, 2009. The event, co-organized by Nepal Tourism Board & Nepal Airlines Corporation, is expected to see participants from over 80 countries. For details, please log on to: www.uftaanepal.com

30th October: New record set for skydiving

Jumping from a height of 21,000 feet onto a plateau near Mt. Everest, Indian Air Force’s wing commander Jai Kishan, tandem master Tom Noonan of the US and Wendy Smith of New Zealand set a new skydiving record on October 28, 2009. They flew on Fishtail Air’s AS 350 B3 chopper and set the record by successfully landing at the Gorak Shep, Kala Patthar plateau. The event was organized by Explore Himalaya.

29th October: UDN organizes rafting trips

Ultimate Descents Nepal (UDN), Nepal’s premier rafting company, organized various multi-day rafting trips for its clients. A rafting trip was organized from October 22-30, 2009 for 9 pax in the Karnali River, Nepal’s mightiest and pristine river that descends through the Himalayas in a series of magnificent gorges.
Another rafting trip was organized in the Tamur River from October 19-28, 2009 for 9 pax. The Tamur River, in the eastern part of Nepal, is an excellent combination of one of the best short Himalayan treks, amazing mountain views of the eastern Himalayan range including Mt. Kanchanjunga and Mt. Makalu and an exhilarating river expedition.

28th October: Nepal set to participate in WTM- 2009

Nepal Tourism Board in coordination with 27 private travel companies from Nepal will be participating in WTM- 2009, an annual mega travel mart. The event is scheduled to be held at ExCel, Docklands in London, U.K. from November 9-12, 2009. During the mart, Nepal will focus on generating interest among the east-bound travel trade & potential tourists in Britain & surrounding region towards the upcoming Nepal Tourism Year 2011. Information & queries on Nepal will be addressed at the Nepal Pavilion at stand AS 4000.

27th October: Nature-treks.com offers the trek to the magnificent Mt. Everest Base Camp!

Nature-treks.com/ Himalayas welcomes you to participate in the amazing Mt. Everest Base Camp trek which takes you through the colorful and interesting Sherpa community to the world’s highest peak. Mt. Everest, 8,848 meters, is the mighty More

26th October: Accor’s super sale starts October 27, 2009

Accor announced the ultimate end of year bonus that offers one million rooms across the Asia Pacific region at bargain rates. The super sale starts October 27-29, 2009 for stays during the period December 1, 2009 - February 28, 2010. The super sale offers savings of up to 60%. Over 240 hotels are participating in the sale with rooms priced from US $ 51 per night. Resorts in some of Asia’s most popular leisure destinations and vibrant city hotels are available in most countries throughout the region.

25th October: VIE Hotel Bangkok chosen as ‘Bangkok’s Best Newcomer’

The first design hotel of MGallery in Asia, VIE Hotel Bangkok, has received ‘Wotif.com Best Newcomer in Bangkok’ award at the Wotif Group’s annual appreciation hotel awards held recently in Bangkok. The hotel bagged the award as it had generated the most sales & revenue through the popular accommodation site- Wotif.com during the past year. VIE defines a new style of travel & leisure through the world class vision of the French architectural team & a myriad of guest experiences.

23rd October: Monarch strengthens its network

Monarch, the award winning low fare airlines, has added new routes to its existing network. Effective October 20, up to two flights a week is in operation to Gran Canaria from Birmingham, London Gatwick and Manchester and from October 21, flights to Fuerteventura has been launched from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester. This addition brings the total number of destinations served by the airline to 15. In addition to flights, Monarch also offers a range of great value holidays, car hire, accommodation options and travel insurance.

22nd October: UDN organizes Seti Kayak Clinic

Ultimate Descents Nepal (UDN), Nepal’s premier rafting organization with years of experience in hospitality as well as in Nepal’s whitewater, organized a Kayak Clinic on the Seti River for a group of 8 people from October 17- 20, 2009. The clinic was a huge success and the participants enjoyed the trip immensely. The Seti River is one of the most beautiful and pristine rivers in the Himalayas with dense remote jungle, exquisite white sandy beaches and Class II-III whitewater runs, perfect for beginner kayakers. UDN runs a series of Kayak Clinics each season on the Seti River. These introductory courses are designed for those with little or no previous kayaking experience. Throughout the 4-day clinic, one will cover all the basic skills including paddle strokes, Eskimo rolls, Eskimo rescues and the art of reading whitewater.

21st October: Winners of the 2009 SportsTravel Awards announced

SportsTravel magazine announced the winners of the 2009 SportsTravel Awards at the TEAMS 2009 Conference & Expo held from October 13-17 in New Orleans. The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho won the top prize as the Sports Event of the Year. TEAMS (Travel, Events and Management in Sports) is the world’s largest gathering of event organizers & travel planners from the sports industry & was named one of the 50 fastest growing trade shows across all categories by Tradeshow Week magazine for the fifth time.

20th October: FITUR will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2010

The 2010 edition will mark the International Tourism Trade Fair’s (FITUR) 30th anniversary. Organized by IFEMA, the fair will carry the slogan ‘FITUR- a 30 year commitment to tourism’ & will be held from January 20-24. The trade fair is the Spanish tourism industry’s principal meeting place that has become an international benchmark & is ranked among the world’s top three trade fairs. More than 170 countries and regions will be participating in the fair. InvestTour program & FITUR Green are some of the fair’s new highlights.

16th October: Tihar being celebrated in the country

The first day of Tihar, the festival of lights, is being celebrated throughout the country with much fanfare. Bhai Tika, the last day of the festival, falls on October 19, 2009 and on this day, sisters put Tika on their brother’s forehead wishing a long life for their brothers. The five day long festival also witnesses people worshipping the Crow, Dog, Cow and Goddess Lakshmi.

15th October: BlackAtlas.com to be launched

BlackAtlas.com, developed by American Airlines in partnership with Burrell Communications & Juxt Interactive, is a first-of-its-kind site that will soon be launched & will connect the African-American travelers. The site combines the best features of a travel site with the power of social networking to create a dynamic online community for travelers to share experiences unique to the black community. Initial site content will be divided into destination/city-specific & category-specific information, such as travel tips, restaurants, nightlife, culture, arts etc.

14th October: Passenger traffic in European Airports decreases

The ACI Europe Airport Traffic report for August 2009 shows a decrease by 4.5% in the overall passenger traffic at the European airports as compared to August 2008. In August 2009, the overall freight traffic in the European airports also decreased by 11.7% as compared to the same period last year. The ‘ACI Europe Airport Traffic Report- August 2009’ includes 108 airports in total.

13th October: Team Building Event organized for Freiberg/ Namaste Nepal

Borderlands PDP organized a Team Building Event for team Freiberg/ Namaste Nepal from October 5-10, 2009. The event was organized so that 23 students from Freiberg More

12th October: The 21st ‘Enjoy England for Excellence 2010 Awards’ ceremony to be held in Brighton

Brighton has been chosen as the host of the 21st ‘Enjoy England for Excellence 2010 Awards’ ceremony to be held on April 23, 2010. This annual national tourism award is the most prestigious event in the English tourism calendar. The prominent awards ceremony will be split between two of Brighton’s renowned venues beginning with the reception at the state-of-the-art Brighton Art Gallery & Museum followed by the awards ceremony at the Brighton Dome.

11th October: Bogota Marriott Hotel starts its operation

The first Marriott branded property in Colombia, the Bogota Marriott Hotel, celebrated its grand opening amidst the presence of the President of Columbia and the Chairman/ CEO of Marriott International, Inc. The hotel, which is adjacent to a modern office tower, has 239 rooms and has a fully equipped business center with wi-fi connection in each guest room including the public area in addition to other amenities and facilities.

9th October: Dolce La Hulpe Brussells introduces online group reservation system

Dolce La Hulpe Brussells has become the first European hotel to offer the world’s leading online group reservation system, a web-based solution for managing group hotel reservations. The system allows the hotel to offer its group guests access to real-time event information with speed & security. This four star hotel is the first hotel, resort & conference destination in Belgium specifically designed to host conferences, meetings & special events.

8th October: Jet Airways connects Bangkok and the Buddhist Circuit

Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, has launched flights that will connect the Thai capital Bangkok with two important Indian cities (Gaya and Varanasi) on the famed Buddhist Circuit. The twice weekly flight on Tuesdays and Fridays, which will allow people from the South Asian region to visit the famed Buddhist pilgrimage sites, commenced from October 6, 2009.

7th October: Ultimate Descents Nepal organizes trekking and rafting trips

Ultimate Descents Nepal (www.udnepal.com), a composite of the Borderlands Group organized rafting trips in various rivers during the last week including a trip from October 1-8 at the Sun Koshi River. Similarly, the Kali Gandaki rafting trip was organized from October 5-6, 2009. In addition, Ghorepani- Poonhill trekking was also organized for clients from October 3-7, 2009 and 6-10, 2009.

6th October: Nepal to be directly connected with Europe

As per the Air Service Agreement between Nepal and the European Union, ArkeFly, a Dutch Airline, is all set to start direct flights from Netherlands to Kathmandu from October 7, 2009. The flight will reconnect Nepal with Europe, by air, after five years. Initially, there will be just 1 flight per week. The new air service is expected to boost the Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

5th October: Gulf Air increases the baggage allowance

Effective October 1, 2009, Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has increased its free checked baggage allowance in all the three classes. Gulf Air First, Business and Economy class baggage allowances has been increased to 50 kgs, 40 kgs and 30 kgs respectively. This is 10 kgs more than the standard allowance provided by most airlines worldwide. Gold and Silver members of Gulf Air are also entitled to an additional baggage allowance of 15 kgs and 20 kgs respectively.

4th October: Italy voted ‘Favorite European Country for a Longer Holiday’

Italy has successfully bagged the top place at the prestigious ‘Sunday Times Travel Magazine Travel Awards 2009’ in the category ‘Favorite European Country for a Longer Holiday’. Greece and Spain took the 2nd & 3rd place respectively. The Sunday Times Travel Magazine is one of the most important travel magazines in the UK and its awards are given to the best of the best in travel industry. The winners are voted by the magazine’s readers who complete a questionnaire every year.

2nd October: Sicily voted the ‘Best Destination in the World’

PATA marked World Tourism Day 2009 by renewing its commitment to promote sustainable tourism & corporate social responsibility. The unanimously adopted ‘Charter of Sustainability & Social Responsibility’ received approval on September 27 during a PATA Board of Directors meeting in China. The charter states that ‘PATA will by example & facilitation provide leadership towards the achievement of environmental & economic sustainability, cultural preservation & social responsibility by the tourism & travel industry in Asia Pacific’ among other things. .

29th September: Singapore Changi Airport is named ‘Best Airport’

Because of Changi Airport’s excellence in airport facilities and services, Singapore Changi Airport has been voted the ‘Best Airport in the World’ by readers of Business Traveller (UK edition), a leading global travel publication. The airport has won the award for 22 years in a row since it first won the accolade in 1988.

25th September: ‘Fulpati’ being observed in the country’

Fulpati, the 7th day of Navaratri is being observed throughout the country on September 25, 2009 amidst religious ceremonies & festivities. Traditionally, Fulpati, the procession bearing Jamara & other necessary items for tika is carried on foot from Gorkha to Dading district from where 6 Brahmins carry it to Jamal, Kathmandu. From Jamal, the Fulpati filled with holy water, banana stalks, Jamara & sugarcane tied with a red cloth is carried to the Dashain Ghar in Hanumandhoka.

23rd September: Sicily voted the ‘Best Destination in the World’

Conde Nast Traveller readers have voted Sicily as the ‘Best Destination in the World’ as they were very much impressed by Sicily’s climate, food, people and hospitality. The island was able to secure 1st place in The World’s Top 100, beating countries like The Maldives and Barbados. Similarly, for the 2nd time in 3 years, the readers have voted thinkSicily as one of the Top 10 Villa Rental Companies in the world.

22nd September: Peace rally organized to mark World Peace Day

A peace rally was organized on September 21, 2009 to mark the World Peace Day. The rally, organized by National Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres & Associations of Nepal, commenced from Bhrikuti Mandap & passed through Shahid Gate, New Road, Shanti Batika, Bagbazaar & Putalisadak before converging at the starting point. UNESCO representatives, students, Kollywood artistes were among some of the people who inaugurated the ceremony.

21st September: NCL all set to use all-electronic cruise documents

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is all set to convert to an electronic documentation process for cruise bookings departing after December 11, 2009. The eDocs will be available to download up to 60 days prior to sailing for all NCL reservations paid in full starting October 12, 2009. NCL’s eDocs include a welcome aboard letter, cruise ticket, printable electronic luggage tags & where applicable, airline e-ticket, post-cruise hotel vouchers & pre/post-cruise transfer vouchers. 

20th September: Mero Mobile celebrated its 4th Anniversary with the Borderlands Group

A Staff Retreat was organized on September 18, 2009 for the employees of Mero Mobile to celebrate Mero Mobile’s 4th anniversary. The event was organized by the Borderlands PDP and was held at Gallaudi, Trishuli. More

18th September: Wizz Air to rescue passengers left stranded by SkyEurope

Wizz Air, the largest low fare-low cost airline in Central & Eastern Europe provided re-routing alternatives to passengers affected by the collapse of SkyEurope. The airlines offered a special rescue package of EUR 30, all inclusive one way fare, to passengers who hold a valid SkyEurope booking for travel between September 1, 2009 & March 26, 2010 on flights from Prague & Budapest.

17th September: LDP organized for the students of Malpi International School

The Borderlands PDP organized a 4-days excursion for grade four students of Malpi International School from September 9-12, 2009. A total of 30 More

16th September: The Borderlands PDP organized a program for UN-OHCHR

An Office Retreat Program/ Team Building Event was organized by the Borderlands PDP for the staffs of United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN-OHCHR) from September 14-15, 2009 at the Gokarna Forest Resort. The two-day long program comprised of various icebreaking activities and trust exercises in addition to team building activities and saw participation from more than 100 participants. More

13th September: LDP organized for Students of Malpi International School

The Borderlands PDP organized a Leadership Development Program for Grade 4 students of Malpi International School from September 9-12, 2009. Organized at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort, the 4-day program also included overnight camping. Abseiling rock climbing, talent show and hiking were some of the highlights of the program.

11th September: Nepal - India has a revised Air Service Agreement (ASA)

A Memorandum of Understanding between Nepal & India, for a revised ASA & a technical accord, which follows International Civil Aviation Organization’s norms, was signed in New Delhi on September 10, 2009. The revised ASA increases the weekly seat capacity to 30,000 & Nepal is granted 3 new points including: Dehradun, Gorakhpur & Bagdogra while India gets Pokhara, Lumbini, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Janakpur, Dhangadi and Bhairahawa.

10th September: Business Travel Coalition and FlyersRights.org join hands

Business Travel Coalition (BTC) joined with FlyersRights.org in order to advocate passenger rights legislation. BTC released survey results & analysis that underscore a seachange in thinking among participants in the travel industry business. 82% of travel industry professionals & business travelers support the legislative language that includes an option for passengers to disembark after 3 hours of onboard delay for domestic U.S flights, should the captain decide that it is reasonable & safe to do so.

Qatar is said to host the two major meetings of the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in April. According to the Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions authority, the ‘Qatar Summit on Addressing the Human Resource Challenge for Tourism’ will be held from April 21-22, 2009 followed by the ‘32nd Commission for the Middle East of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’ on April 23, 2009.

10th April: Wheeler nominates Nepal as his favorite place

According to a new book from the National Geographic, Tony Wheeler, the Co-founder of the Lonely Planet, has named Nepal as his favorite place in the world. Wheeler, when asked to name his preferred place on earth by the book, ‘My Favorite Places on Earth’, said that Nepal was his favorite destination. In an interview with the Wanderlust Travel Magazine in 2003, Wheeler said that Nepal is one of the few places he would love to come back again and again. This remark is expected to have a positive impact on the Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

9th April: WWF Nepal and Nepal Tourism Board signs MOU

In a bid to boost tourism and conservation efforts, the Nepal Tourism Board and World Wildlife Fund Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on April 1, 2009. The agreement, effective for five years starting April 3, includes the following major outlines: developing and promoting Nepal as a sustainable tourism destination worldwide by developing clear linkages between nature conservation and tourism, developing tourism-related products in areas within Nepal, adapting to and mitigating climate change in Nepal and developing joint programs and activities in line with the imperatives of the national campaign- the Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

6th April: Tourist arrivals in the month of March 2009

The number of tourist arrivals, by air only, in the month of March 2009 fell by 17.6% as compared to March 2008. The figures released by the Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport revealed that Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Singapore registered positive growth of 12.3%, 29.6%, 132.3% and 50.2% respectively. However, arrivals from Asian countries that declined are: India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and China which fell by 24.7%, 6.3%, 19%, 34.2%, 7.1% and 0.8% respectively. The European and the Oceania markets registered a negative growth of 19.8% and 11.6% respectively. The arrivals from Canada and the United States of America also declined by 9% and 10.5% respectively.

3rd April: ‘Chaite Dasain’ being celebrated today

‘Chaite Dasain’, an imperative festival of the Nepalese people is being celebrated today, April 3, 2009. Legend has it that the most important and grand festival of the Nepalese people, Bijaya Dasami (Dasain), used to be celebrated on this day. However, because the people had an upset stomach due to the rejoicing and the festivities as they feasted on spicy food during the warm month of Chaitra, the celebration is now shifted to exactly six months later. Nonetheless, we can still witness the same religious fervor and the celebrations during ‘Chaite Dasain’.

1st April: Hotels to get diesel at subsidized rates

Speaking during a press meet organized on March 26, 2009, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Hisila Yami informed all that the hotels would get diesel at subsidized rates that would be at par with the other manufacturing industries. In a bid to provide relief to the hoteliers, the government made the decision to exempt Rs 10 per liter in the price of diesel. The Minister also informed that the minimum electricity fee for the hotels would also be exempted.

31th March: Tourism Policy 2065 endorsed

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Hisila Yami announced that the Government has endorsed the Tourism Policy 2065 which aims to diversify Nepalese tourism and take it to greater heights. The policy addresses issues like adventure tourism, rural tourism, agro-based tourism, eco tourism, education tourism and health tourism and gives priority to the insurance of tourism entrepreneurs. The Minister also said that efforts are underway to operate the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) round the clock, encourage more airlines to fly to Nepal, revise the air service agreement with Qatar and India and to add more trolleys at TIA.

30th March: Icelandair announces flights to Seattle

The Icelandic flag carrier, Icelandair, announced that scheduled flights from London Heathrow to Seattle- Tacoma International will start July 22, 2009. There will be four flights a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays using the 183-seat Boeing 757 offering Saga Business Class, Economy Comfort Class and Economy Class. The flights will connect via Reykjavik so that the passengers will have the option to stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare.

29th March: BRAZIL TO HOST WTTC

Brazil will be hosting the 9th World Tourism Forum of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), one of the most important tourism events worldwide, from May 14-18, 2009 in Florianopolis. The partnership between the Brazilian Tourism Board and WTTC aims to carry out a high standard global event in a bid to gather the industry leaders, national and international, to discuss ways of overcoming the sluggish economy and to reach an outstanding position in the recovery of the world economies. Brazil was selected to host this event during the World Travel Market held in London in 2008.

27th March: WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2009 IN THE OFFING

Rated as the travel industry’s ‘Oscars’, the World Travel Awards 2009 Tour will start off in May 2009 with the Africa ceremony in Durban, South Africa followed by USA, Australia, China, Portugal, Brazil and Dubai. The Tour will have a grand finale in November in London and a special winners’ dinner in Johannesburg. This year's WTA is more important than ever before as the winners will demonstrate what it truly takes to make a difference and will act as beacons of hope for the rest of the industry.