PHAP launches 'Chaliye Pokhara' campaign

Pokhara: In a bid to attract more Indian tourists, Pashchimanchal Hotel Association Pokhara (PHAP) has launched “Chaliye Pokhara” - a promotional campaign.

As part of the campaign, tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara will visit Indian tourism entrepreneurs in northern Indian cities, including Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Kanpur.

Moreover, tourism entrepreneurs are offering up to 30 percent discount on accommodation and 10 percent discount on foods for Indian tourists till September 2013.

PHAP President Biplab Paudel said the meeting with tourism entrepreneurs of India was going to play an important role in tourism promotion.

Paudel said the association was expecting up to 20 percent rise in the arrival of Indian tourists after the campaign. Excluding the number of Indian tourist visiting Muktinath via Pokhara, the annual number of Indian tourist visiting the country crosses over 50,000.

“Indian tourists have been visiting Pokhara but we need to attract more Indian tourists during the lean season,” said Paudel.

The entrepreneurs are also hopeful that the campaign will exert pressure on airline companies to operate direct flights from Pokhara to Lucknow. Although the private carrier Buddha Air was planning to operate flight in this sector the plan couldn´t materialize due to technical problems.

source: republica,1 July 2012