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World Tourism Day 2014: Celebrating Tourism and Community Development

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World Tourism Day 2014: Celebrating Tourism and Community Development

  • ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    This trek is the one of best views of annapurna range, nilgiri , Dhaulagiri , Tukuche peak , Dhampus peak , Hiunchuli ,Machhapuchhre , Gangapurna, Lamjung Himal other many more greatest views of mountains you never seen before.
  • KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    Many Hindus from round the globe are dreaming to take a holy bath at least once in their life time in the sacred Damodar-Kund
  • 08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    Sagamartha (Everest) Base Camp trek takes us into one of the most spectacular regions of Nepal where the Sherpa culture thrives amongst the highest peaks in the world.
  • KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash (6714m) is the most sacred mountain in Asia.
  • KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash, the sacred mountain and the abode of the Hindu god Shiva is one of the world's greatest pilgrimage destinations especially for Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and others.
  • MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    Muktinath is one of the most ancient Hindu temples of God Vishnu.

‘Tourism and Community Development’ is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD). The theme underscores the potential of tourism to promote opportunities for communities around the world, as well as the role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable tourism development. The official celebrations will be hosted by Mexico in the city of Guadalajara (27 September 2014). World Tourism Day 2014

This year’s WTD theme is ideally timed to contribute to the debate on tourism’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN development blueprint after 2015, which places a high priority on local participation.

“Each time we travel, use local transport at a destination or buy products from a local market, we are contributing to a long value chain that creates jobs, provides livelihoods, empowers local communities, and ultimately brings in new opportunities for a better future”, says UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, in his official WTD message. “Tourism can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance. At the same time, there can be no real tourism development if such development damages in any way the values and the culture of host communities or if the socio-economic benefits generated by the tourism sector do not trickle down to the community level”, he added.

world_tourism_day

The official celebrations to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, include a high-level Think Tank bringing together Ministers, development experts and key tourism representatives to address the relevance of a community based tourism approach as conducive to sustainable development. The Think Tank will be moderated by news anchor Gabriela Frías of CNN International, the WTD 2014 global media partner.

Source: http://wtd.unwto.org/

Paragliding business reaches its peak

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Paragliding business reaches its peak

  • ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    This trek is the one of best views of annapurna range, nilgiri , Dhaulagiri , Tukuche peak , Dhampus peak , Hiunchuli ,Machhapuchhre , Gangapurna, Lamjung Himal other many more greatest views of mountains you never seen before.
  • KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    Many Hindus from round the globe are dreaming to take a holy bath at least once in their life time in the sacred Damodar-Kund
  • 08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    Sagamartha (Everest) Base Camp trek takes us into one of the most spectacular regions of Nepal where the Sherpa culture thrives amongst the highest peaks in the world.
  • KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash (6714m) is the most sacred mountain in Asia.
  • KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash, the sacred mountain and the abode of the Hindu god Shiva is one of the world's greatest pilgrimage destinations especially for Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and others.
  • MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    Muktinath is one of the most ancient Hindu temples of God Vishnu.

KATHMANDU, Nepal–    Even though June-August is apparently an off season for tourism business, paragliding companies in Pokhara are having hard time arranging flight for foreign tourists. Almost all the paragliding companies in Pokhara are reportedly booked for a week. Until few years back, there was a slim movement of paragliding activities in tourist hub city forcing the pilots to stay on leave.

paragliding-nepal

However, this is not the case this year. According to paragliding operators, the paragliding business reached its peak since a couple of weeks. It is likely to see huge footfalls at least for three weeks as most of the companies are already booked for the period.

“The demand is so high that only those tourists, who have booked three weeks ago, can enjoy paragliding,” Sano Babu Sunuwar, manager of Flying Himalayan Paragliding was quoted by today’s broadsheet daily. Most of the tourists are drawn towards parasailing as other adventure activities like trekking and rafting are generally not possible during monsoon season. Some paragliding operators are also facing shortage of flights as most of the foreign pilots go on holiday. Some companies are also complaining against the new provision that prohibits pilots from operating more than three flights a day.

paragliding-nepal-2

At present, around 100 tandem pilots, including 30 foreign pilots, are carrying out paragliding in Pokhara. There are 18 paragliding companies in Pokhara. In the meantime, the number of Chinese tourists in Pokhara has increased significantly over the past couple of months.  The paragliding companies are reportedly having difficult to arrange flights for them .

According to the latest data issued by the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, the number of Chinese tourists increased by 10 percent in June compared to same month last year.

Tourism entrepreneurs say around 90 percent of Chinese tourists visiting Pokhara wish to enjoy paragliding flight.

Source: NepalMountainsnews.com

S Asian countries keen to close in on wildlife crime

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S Asian countries keen to close in on wildlife crime
  • ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    This trek is the one of best views of annapurna range, nilgiri , Dhaulagiri , Tukuche peak , Dhampus peak , Hiunchuli ,Machhapuchhre , Gangapurna, Lamjung Himal other many more greatest views of mountains you never seen before.
  • KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    Many Hindus from round the globe are dreaming to take a holy bath at least once in their life time in the sacred Damodar-Kund
  • 08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    Sagamartha (Everest) Base Camp trek takes us into one of the most spectacular regions of Nepal where the Sherpa culture thrives amongst the highest peaks in the world.
  • KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash (6714m) is the most sacred mountain in Asia.
  • KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash, the sacred mountain and the abode of the Hindu god Shiva is one of the world's greatest pilgrimage destinations especially for Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and others.
  • MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    Muktinath is one of the most ancient Hindu temples of God Vishnu.

South Asian law enforcement agencies have sought strong collaboration among member countries working to combat wildlife crime and vowed to streamline and standardize the legal policies of their respective countries. Concluding a three-day second annual conference of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) on Friday, the participants from member countries also endorsed its statute, but could not finalize a proposed action plan to combat wildlife crime in the region. Megh Bahadur Pandey, director general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), who is also chief enforcement coordinator of SAWEN, said the members will recommend policies to their respective governments and organizations to make SAWEN more effective.

Stop-Wildlife-Crime-SplashAnimals-WWF

“The conference strongly felt the need for intra-country law enforcement initiatives through intelligence sharing on wildlife crime,” he said.

The SAWEN meeting was a milestone in bringing South Asian law enforcement agencies under one roof to share skills and experience in the conservation of fauna and flora, according to DSP Sabin Pradhan, a participant from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police.

The meeting dwelt at length on poaching trends and illegal wildlife trade, and related threats to biodiversity within and across the countries of the region. It discussed promotion of partnership with relevant institutions for research and information sharing, training, capacity building, technical support and sharing of DNA fingerprints of the most-poached wildlife in the region.

Stop-Wildlife-Crime WWF

Over 50 participants from the governments of South Asian countries and international experts attended the meeting. SAWEN is an inter-governmental body of South Asian countries including Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAWEN was formally launched in 2011 in Bhutan. Its next meeting has been planned for 2015 in Dhaka.

Source: myrepublica.com

Tourism entrepreneurs seek change in provision

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Tourism entrepreneurs seek change in provision

  • ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK - 15 DAYS
    This trek is the one of best views of annapurna range, nilgiri , Dhaulagiri , Tukuche peak , Dhampus peak , Hiunchuli ,Machhapuchhre , Gangapurna, Lamjung Himal other many more greatest views of mountains you never seen before.
  • KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    KATHMANDU-POKHARA-CHITWAN TOUR (BY FLY/LAND)- 07 NIGHTS 08 DAYS
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    DAMODAR KUND TOUR BY HELICOPTER - 05 NIGHTS 06 DAYS
    Many Hindus from round the globe are dreaming to take a holy bath at least once in their life time in the sacred Damodar-Kund
  • 08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    08 DAYS 07 NIGHTS NEPAL TRIP: KATHMANDU 3N, CHITWAN 2N, POKHARA 2N
    Nepal, the land of splendid nature and rich culture is waiting for you exploration through its different facets.
  • EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK - 17 DAYS
    Sagamartha (Everest) Base Camp trek takes us into one of the most spectacular regions of Nepal where the Sherpa culture thrives amongst the highest peaks in the world.
  • KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA BY OVERLAND - 14 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash (6714m) is the most sacred mountain in Asia.
  • KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    KAILASH YATRA BY HELICOPTER VIA NEPALGUNJ/SIMIKOT/HILSA/TAKLAKOT - 11 DAYS
    Mt. Kailash, the sacred mountain and the abode of the Hindu god Shiva is one of the world's greatest pilgrimage destinations especially for Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and others.
  • MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    MUKTINATH TOUR BY LAND/FLIGHT
    Muktinath is one of the most ancient Hindu temples of God Vishnu.


POKHARA: Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara have demanded that the government ease the process of granting permission required to trek in the popular Manaslu area.

manaslu

Citing unnecessary hassles of having to make a long haul to the Capital to acquire permit for tourists, the concerned entrepreneurs have sought change in the provision so that permission can be granted from Pokhara itself.

“Though the permission per person costs Rs 2,000, more than double or triple the actual amount is spent to reach Kathmandu just to obtain it, how can such a provision encourage tourists to trek?” asked a local tourism entrepreneur.

“Most trekking agencies based in Pokhara offer trekking service to Manaslu area and it is the Manaslu Conservation Area Project under National Trust for Nature Conservation which is responsible for issuing the trekking permits, but it is intriguing that though the project’s office is based in Pokhara itself, we have to travel to the Tourism Board in Kathmandu to get permission,” lamented Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal Western Regional Association Chairperson Ramchandra Sharma, adding they have voiced their concerns to the concerned authorities many times but to no avail.

Manaslu trekking circuit which includes major destinations like Chum Valley and Larke Pass spreads over 1,663 square km in Gorkha district. It generally takes three weeks to complete the circuit. It’s also famous for a number of rare species of plants, birds and animals and also for the close-up view of mountains. Besides the amount the tourists have to post to the MCAP, there are additional charges they have to post to the immigration department on the basis of the time they want to spend on the trekking circuit.

Source: The Himalayan Times

Orientation on Ebola prevention

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KATHMANDU: With a view to spreading information about Ebola virus disease, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division has decided to begin orientation on Ebola preparedness from tomorrow. It will start from Tribhuvan International Airport.

According to the EDCD, the first orientation to be held at TIA will be attended by 40 security personnel and as many officials from the Department of Immigration. Experts from the EDCD and the World Health Organization and doctors will facilitate the orientation. “The objective the orientation is to provide knowledge to the officials and security personnel about the disease and ways to deal with Ebola suspects and patients,” said Dr Basudev Pandey, virologist at the EDCD, adding that the orientation will be conducted for hospital staff as well. The orientation has been categorized into three levels. General orientation will be for hospital staff. Doctors and nurses providing services in the ICU will go through orientation on waste management and nursing care. The laboratory staff will be oriented on collection, handling and transport of samples. “Hospital orientation is expected to start next week,” he added. The hospital orientation will begin from Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku.

Officials have also planned to conduct orientation programmers at government and private hospitals with ICU facilities in the Valley. At the hospitals, the orientation will be held on epidemiology, symptom management and infection prevention.

Dr Arjun Karki, senior physician at Patan Hospital, said, “As Ebola virus disease has become a threat worldwide, the orientation on the matter will help provide knowledge to all concerned about the disease and ways to deal with it.”

Following the health emergency declaration of the disease by the WHO, the government had set up a health desk at TIA on August 17.

The health desks at Kakarbhitta, Kanchanpur, Birgunj and Bhairahawa border points are also screening people coming to Nepal from India. Ebola virus outbreak in four West African Countries — Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone — has killed more than 1,427 people and is spreading slowly across the world.

There is no licensed specific treatment or vaccine available for the disease.

Source: The Himalayan Times

18 leopards dead in a year

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18 leopards dead in a year

KASKI, AUG 21 – In a recent tally, at least 18 leopards have been found dead in the jungles of Pokhara since the past year. The toll apparently increased since many of the injured and sick leopards could not get timely treatment. According to the District Forest Office in Kaski, the death toll is rising at an alarming rate since the district does not have a veterinary specialising on the treatment of wild animals.

leopard

“Most of these leopards were found dead at separate locations in the district,” assistant DFO Madhav Prasad Baral said, “those found injured or in a sick state died for want of treatment.” The DFO said that the 18 leopards were found dead between August 2013 and August 2014. The injured or sickly leopards are often found straying out of forests and entering human settlements in search of easy prey. Few months ago, around half a dozen leopards were found dead in the district within a week. Authorities suspected that they might have died of consuming poison.

According to the existing laws, a person found to have poached wildlife will be sentenced to two years in jail and fined Rs 10,000.

Forest officials in the district admitted that incidents of wild animals being killed by traps or by feeding them carcasses of domestic animals treated with medicines are increasing of late.

Source: ekantipur.com