“Nepal: A Body & Soul Destination” Highlighted at UK PromotionSunday, November 20th, 2016

LONDON, United Kingdom, Nov. 12, 2016 – Nepal Tourism Board organized Nepal’s participation at World Travel Market ((WTM ) from Nov. 7 -9, 2016, with a contingent of more than 24 travel trade representatives from Nepal as a part of tourism promotion in the UK. Furthermore, it accomplished Destination Showcase in London and Sales Mission in Manchester and New Castle on Nov 9, 10 and 14, respectively. UK tourism promotion initiative was headed by the Hon’ble Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Jiwan Bahadur Shahi.

The programs coincided at a time when 200 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and UK (1816-2016), fast recovery of tourism post earthquake and the recent visit of Prince Harry to Nepal which has added impetus for tourism revival.

Speaking on the occasion of Destination Showcase (Nov 9) for international trade NTB CEO Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi emphasized that, “Nepal is a healing destination packed with natural wonder coupled with pleasant weather and brilliant sunshine.” He also made a courtesy call to PATA Chairman Mr. Andrew Jones and attended the PATA conference on crisis management for tourism destination which is very applicable and relevant for a country like Nepal.

NTB CEO also met with UNWTO General Secretary Dr. Taleb Rifai and personally invited him to visit Nepal while seeking recovery assistance, quality enhancement, development of trained human resources and capacity development of Nepal’s tourism industry. In response, Dr. Rifai has consented to visit Nepal during Everest Day celebration on May 29, 2017.

Minister of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation Mr. Jiwan Bahadur Shahi participated at the Ministerial Conference where mostly ministers of participating countries had taken part. Speaking at a program in Manchester Sales Mission Minister Shahi said that, “Nepal is targeting to bring 50 thousand visitors to Nepal from the UK by the end of 2018.”

Realizing the importance of digital marketing he also led the meeting with Tripadvisor team, one of world’s largest online marketing portals of the world, to explore marketing of Nepal for greater outreach.

Ambassador of Nepal to the UK Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi at a program held at the Embassy on Nov 9 said, “Within a short span of few kilometers Nepal offers a myriad of attraction that no country offers which makes Nepal special and emphasized the cooperation of UK-based trade to support for tourism promotion between the two countries.” The Embassy is also working to install Shiva Linga at a Pashupatinath Temple in London for the promotion of cultural and pilgrimage tourism.

Emphasizing on the segmentation, NTB Official Mr. Bimal Kadel said, “Nepal is suitable for all segments and added that The Everest symbolizes the physical adventure and Lumbini signifies the journey of internal transformation and self discovery reiterating the fact that Nepal is both a body and soul experiencing destination.”

During the exhibition, NTB officials interacted with National Geographic team, BBC Wildlife journalists, bloggers, advertising companies, film makers and a series of people while trying to explore the possibilities of taking Nepal’s tourism products to the world.

To attract more visitors, Nepal stall had also arranged for musical program. The Gurkha piper performed the musical program at WTM and Nepal Embassy, while Nepal stall awarded dozens of door prizes, screened videos and visual presentation as a communicative persuasive tool for destination publicity.

Nepal’s tourism is growing under the shadow of the Himalayas and fostering on the hospitable nature of the Nepali people. UK is the largest source market for Nepal generating more than 35 thousand tourists per year to Nepal and WTM is the second largest tourism fair next to ITB Berlin.

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