NTB to propose new destination :Planning to promote Nepal in BRICS

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is planning to identify Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) as an emerging tourism market for Nepal.

“We are planning to propose BRICS as a promising tourism market at the NTB board meeting,” said an official at NTB.

Among the five countries, India and China are already established tourist markets for Nepal. However, the number of tourists from the other three countries –– Brazil, Russia and South Africa –– does not have an overwhelming tourist arrival figure. Nepal hardly gets around 500–1000 tourists annually from Brazil, Russia and South Africa, claimed NTB.

Total visitor arrivals by air posted a growth of 18.5 per cent on aggregate to reach 332,472 for the period between January and July 2012, as compared to the same period the previous year, according to data compiled by Nepal Tourism Board.

Out of the total 332,472 visitors in the seven months of 2012, Indian visitors numbered 112,165, which is one third of the total tourist arrivals. In July total tourist arrivals from India increased by 24.3 per cent while total tourist arrivals from China increased by 27.2 per cent.

“We are trying to focus on these countries as they are emerging economies and can be a great tourist market,” he said. However, the NTB board meeting needs to give a positive nod for the marketing and promotion for new destinations.

The top five countries contributing to tourist arrivals in Nepal during 2011–2012 were India (20 per cent), China (8.4 per cent), Sri Lanka (8.1 per cent), USA (5.7 per cent), and UK (five per cent), states the Economic Survey 2011–12.

Meanwhile, Nepal Tourism Board is waiting for its next board meeting to forward its list of proposals regarding tourism promotion and campaigns at international destinations. “The Supreme Court has given its verdict regarding the appointment of three members of the board,” said director of planning and monitoring Kashi Raj Bhandari. It is about to be a month since the Supreme Court gave a verdict to reinstate the three members –– Pampha Dhamala, Phurba Gyalgen Sherpa and Tika Ram Sapkota. “We are waiting for a written information from the Supreme Court regarding the final verdict of the reinstatement of three new board members at NTB,” said member of NTB Dhurba Narayan Shrestha.

He also added that as soon as the NTB board gets its members, it will organise its regular board meeting and start tourism promotion and marketing.

source: The Himalayan Times,13 August 2012