“Nepal, Back on Top of the World” at PTM 2015, Bangalore, IndiaMonday, December 28th, 2015
Nepal Tourism Board in coordination with Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) participated in the 38th PATA Travel Mart 2015 at the Bangalore International Convention Centre (BIEC), Bangalore, India, along with 09 leading travel trade companies from Nepal from Sept. 06-08, 2015.
Nepal was effectively able to use the platform of PATA’s signature event to reach out to its high-end market and clientele and was highly successful sending out the message that “all is well”, that life is back to normal in Nepal and that Nepal is “Back on Top of the World”. The Mart provided an ideal platform for the meet of upmarket buyer-seller delegates approximately 1,100 in number, from around 61 countries.
While conducting various sessions of media briefings, press and travel agents meets in Bangalore, NTB was able to capitalize on the opportunity to interact for clearing hesitations and considerations on Nepal, on post-earthquake tourism scenario, giving also the most sought, updated information on various rebuilding and revival of tourism activities of Nepal.
The engaging and friendly ambience at the PATA Travel Mart provided high quality buyer-seller interactions. Officials from the Government Department of Tourism, NTB, PATA Nepal Chapter and the private sector, continuously met with NTOs, tour operators, media houses, and potential clients. Tourism Minister of Karnataka Mr. R.V. Deshpande, Chairman of PATA Mr. Kevin Murphy and Vice Chairman of PATA Mr. Andrew Jones also visited the Nepal Stall and inquired about the status of Nepal tourism in the present context also pledging strong support for Nepal’s tourism revival.
The program was inaugurated earlier on Sept. 6, 2015, in the presence of Chief Minister of the State of Karnataka Mr. Siddaramaiah, and various high-level officials from PATA, the Government of India as well as Karnataka Tourism.
Private sector participants at the PTM 2015 were: Incentive Travels, Shangrila Hotel, Soaltee Crown Plaza, TWX holidays – SDU, Asian Bhrikuti Holidays, Explore Himalayas, Yeti Travels, Rama Tours and KGH Group.
Media Briefing of Nepal Tourism Board at PTM 2015
A media briefing on Nepal tourism was also held on Sept. 8, 2015, at the Mart venue, presided by the Director General of the Department of Tourism of the Government of Nepal, Mr. Gobinda Bahadur Karki, Officiating Director of Nepal Tourism Board, Mrs. Ujjwala Dali and President of TWX Holidays, Mr. Sanjay Mathema, in attendance by PATA Chairman Mr. Kevin Murphy and Vice Chairman Mr. Andrew Jones.
At the meet, DG of the Department of Tourism gave information about the Government initiatives and policy level interventions in the tourism of Nepal sector post earthquake, while Mrs. Dali, Officiating Director of NTB briefed the press on Nepal’s tourism context post 25/4, with visual reassurance that the tourism infrastructure in Nepal is in place to receive tourists coming autumn season and Nepal’s tourism industry is back to business. Similarly Mr. Mathema gave an insight from the private sector perspective.
Agents Meet of Nepal Airlines
Earlier, on Sept. 7, 2015, Bangalore travel agents’ meet was held by Nepal Airlines in central Bangalore. During the event, DG Mr. Karki appreciated the role of NAC in Nepal’s tourism promotion while Mrs. Dali from NTB elaborated on the role of the national flag carrier in the tourism promotion of Nepal. Similarly, Mr. Pandey from PATA was positive about the initiatives of the NAC and wished it success in all future endeavours.
Nepal Back: On Top of the World, Nepal Night
With the aim of meeting PATA delegates, media and tour operators from across the globe and send home the message about Nepal’s tourism recovery, Nepal organized Nepal Evening program at Taj Vivanta, Bangalore on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. The program was attended by: Indian tour operators, travel agents and media; PATA delegates and board members; and Government/private sector officials and media representatives from Nepal.
At the program Tokens of Appreciation were presented to PATA Vice Chairman Mr. Andrew Jones and Crisis Expert Mr. Bert van Walbeek, by the Director General of the Department of Tourism from the Government of Nepal Mr. Gobinda Bahadur Karki. Mr. Jones and Mr.Walbeek were appreciated for their role in the tourism crisis management and recovery of Nepal, steering the tourism industry of Nepal towards finding a solution to resume tourism activities post 25/4
Sponsored by the Nepal Airlines Corporation, a lucky draw was conducted and two winners were awarded Kathmandu-Bangalore-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Bangkok-Kathmandu flights. Other highlights of the program were: cultural dances by an artist group from Nepal, and audio visual presentation of Nepal before and after the earthquake.
At the program, Officiating Director of Nepal Tourism Board Mrs. Ujjwala Dali, spoke about the role of NTB in the promotion and positive information dissemination of Nepal post 25/4. According to Ms. Dali, 30-40 fairs and several sales missions and road shows are in the pipeline for the year 2015-16, to reach out to the maximum number of potential tourists and Nepal sellers across the globe to revive Nepal’s tourism.
DG of the Department of Tourism Mr. Karki, Chairman of PATA Mr. Kevin Murphy, Director – Commercial of NAC Mr. SarojKasaju, Padma Award receiver and tourism veteran from India Mr. Indra Sharma, and Chairman of the PATA-Nepal Chapter Mr. Suman Pandey, also briefed the audience on the present tourism scenario of Nepal, detailing on Government initiatives, promotional endeavors and PATA’s role in the tourism recovery of Nepal.
Press Meet at Bangalore Press Club
Earlier in the day, the Nepal delegation had a press briefing with local journalists at the Press Club of Bangalore, where tourism updates were given and question-answer round followed. Cultural performance was well covered and appreciated by the local print and electronic media.
Both programs were held successful in reaching out to media for confidence building of Nepal’s destination image through resourceful communication and branding.
