'Chaliye Pokhara' road show a big hit in Indian cities

Lucknow: Tourism entrepreneurs from Pokhara are setting their sights on tourists from bordering Indian cities to boost their business. The Paschimanchal Hotel Association Pokhara (PHAP) in association of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) recently carried out promotion campaign ‘Chaliye Pokhara’ in Lucknow, Kanpur and Gorakhpur.

Hoteliers from Pokhara announced separate package for Indian tourists offering discounts upto 30 percent. A total of 25 hotels and their promoters from the lake city interacted with tour operators, travel agencies and hoteliers in the three Indian cities.

PHAP President Biplav Poudel said that Indian tourists would get 30 percent discount on room and 10 percent discount on food. “But, they must produce identity card that verifies Indian nationality,” said Poudel. “The offer will last till December 31, 2012.”

The PHAP has said that it would also monitor to ensure the offers’ effectiveness. “If hotels were found of breaching the discount offer, action will be taken against them,” said Hari Sharma, coordinator of the promotion campaign.

The four-day promotion campaign saw regular tourists hotels to five-star hotels rolled out discount schemes to woo Indian tourists. Hotel Barahi has introduced a package of IRs 6,666 for three-day and two-night stay at hotel and site-seeing of the nearby locations. Also on offer is a honeymoon package for IRs 14,999 for the same duration. Similary, Hotel Glacier is offering 30 percent flat discount on entire services, according to its operator Rajendra Kumar Dhakal.

Pokhara Village and Resort has announced the entire package of Sunauli-Pokhara-Muktinath-Sunauli tour at IRs 16,580 per person. It includes transportation cost, lodging and fooding and air-fare to Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara. Adam Tours and Travels has offered a Sunauli-Chitwan-Tansen-Pokhara-Manakamana tour package at IRs 21,500. The package will cost IRs 23,500 if Lumbini is included.

The initiative by the hoteliers from Pokhara were well received by tour operators in Lucknow. “Discount offered by the hotels in Pokhara is very interesting and will attract lots of tourists,” said Manish Nigjam of Ambika Travels in Lucknow.

source: The Kathmandu Post,12 July 2012