Visit Lumbini Year promotion

The Nepali Embassy in London organised a programme to commemorate the successful conclusion of ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’ and welcome ‘Lumbini Year 2012’ on Tuesday.

The event, aimed to highlight various facets of Nepal’s tourism, fundamentally focussed on the archaeological significance of Lord Buddha’s birth place Kapilbastu in Lumbini and the newly launched Great Himalaya Trail. The evening commenced with a multimedia presentation, courtesy of the Nepal Tourism Board, to give a glimpses of Nepal’s rich culture, tradition and history. It was followed by the ambassador Dr Suresh C Chalise’s welcome address coupled with a brief presentation on ‘Nepal: a suitable destination for Europeans and North Americans’.

Chalise, through diagrammatic presentation, shed light on how Nepal’s small topography makes it suitable for the tourists during their average week-long holiday. “Nepal offers all facets of tourism and her tourist destinations, which are well connected by airs and roads, are easily accessible from the capital city of Kathmandu and yet within short span of time,” he said, highlighting on the key aspects of tourism in Nepal including adventure, pleasure, archaeological.

The second guest speakers were a pair of adventure enthusiasts whose works in Nepal late back to the early 70’s. Bob Gibbons and Sian Pritchard-Jones, from Expedition World, which is a British Travel Company that operates various treks to the most remote parts of Nepal, gave a visual treat to the guests with their beautiful pictures of Nepal ranging nearly 40 years.

Meanwhile, minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista Magar has emphasised the importance of tourism for the economy and development.

Addressing a press conference during the 46th ITB Berlin in Germany, he also highlighted Visit Lumbini Year 2012 (VLY) and Great Himalaya Trail (GHT), which were actively promoted at the fair.

The ITB, the world’s biggest travel trade show, had a total of 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries representing every aspect of the value-added chain of the tourism industry.

On the occasion, Nepali ambassador to Germany Suresh Pradhan highlighted the tourism attractions of Nepal and thanked Germany for its contribution to Nepal’s economic, social and education sectors.

Senior director of Nepal Tourism Board Nandini Lahe Thapa urged global media and trade members to actively support VLY and GHT campaign, whereas Great Himalaya Trail Development Programme marketing adviser of SNV Nepal Stephanie Grosser made an extensive presentation on GHT.

source: The Himalayan Times, 14 March 2012