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NTB to focus on Scandinavia, CIS region in 2013

In its bid to increase tourist arrivals from new market segment, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Sunday announced that it would focus its promotional campaigns on Scandinavian and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) in 2013.

Though both the segments are considered emerging markets for Nepal, contribution from them in total tourist arrivals has remained negligible so far. Despite drop in arrivals from major segments, including South Asian and many countries from Europe in October, arrivals from most of the Scandinavian countries and CIS region were positive during the period.

The Scandinavia region includes Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and others, while the CIS region includes countries like Armenia, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

“We will now focus on Scandinavian and CIS region,” Nandini Lahe Thapa, senior director of NTB, said. “But we will continue to focus on Indian and Chinese markets, as we are yet to fully exploit the huge potential that these segments offer.”

The statistics of first ten months of 2012 shows arrivals from India and China commanded 29.3 percent and 8.6 percent share, respectively, in total tourist arrivals during the period.

Speaking at the 14th anniversary of NTB in the capital on Sunday, officiating CEO of NTB Subash Nirola said promotional campaigns carried out by the board were yielding positive results. “But the efforts of private sector for the promotion and development of tourism is not so satisfactory,” he alleged.

The financial statement of NTB presented on the occasion shows that the board spent more than Rs 93.62 million for promotional campaigns within and outside the country in fiscal year 2011/2012.

“Our promotional activities during the year included participation in various travel marts and international fairs and several advertisement campaigns,” said Thapa.

Speaking on the occasion Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Post Bahadur Bogati stressed the need to offer new destinations to tourists. “NTB along with the private sector should work on bringing tourists to new destinations, including those in Tarai and rural villages,” he said.

Bogati said it was a matter of great shame that NTB has yet to get a new CEO. “This is happening because of the lack of proper coordination among concerned officials,” the minister said, instructing board members of NTB to take the CEO selection process ahead in a fair manner.

On the occasion, NTB felicitated its Honorary PRR Dhruba KC for his contribution in promoting tourism in the United Kingdom.

source: republica,18 NOv 2012