Nepali woman mountaineers aim higher

Ten Nepali woman mountaineers, who created history last May by climbing Mt Everest, plan to summit all the highest peaks of seven continents by 2010. They disclosed their mission at a press meet organised at Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on March 6.
The women will embark on their journey -- Himalayan Women to Seven Summit – with the slogan ‘inviting change, inviting the world’. They aim to climb all the highest peaks in seven continents – Mt Elbrus in Europe, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania, Kosciuszko in Australia, Vinson Massif in Antartica, Aconcagus in South America and Mt McKinley in North America. They have already climbed Mt Everest, the tallest peak in Asia and also in the world, through First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition in 2008.
“Our team of young women is set to climb the highest mountain in each continent in the years 2009-2010,” Shailee Basnet, a member of the expedition, told the press meet.
Speaking on the occasion chief executive officer of NTB Prachanda Man Shrestha said the young women’s mission would draw global attention to women’s and youths’ empowerment. “This will encourage more women and youngsters in the world to live out their dreamsn and hence show that women and yhouths can make a difference,” he shared. Shrestha also said the effort would support Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign, as it will help promote Nepal.
The team will also conduct promotional events in Russia, Tanzania, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Australia, Argentina and USA during their journey.
The team consists of Asha Kumari Singh, Nawang Phuti Sherpa, Pema Diki Sherpa, Nim Doma Sherpa, Usha Bista, Shailee Basnet, Maya Gurung, Chunu Shrestha, Pujan Acharya and Susmita Maskey.
The first women to climb all the seven summits is Junko Tabei of Japan. Lakpa Rita Sherpa is the only Nepali to have achieved the rare feat so far.

Souce: http://gokyotreksnepal.com/news.php?newsid=238

NATHM enters 37 years of service

Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation on March 26 observed its 36th founding day. Addressing a program organized to mark its anniversary, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami said the government was mulling over establishing a tourism industry to support the tourism industry. “The government has prioritized the tourism industry. We feel that the role of institutions will be important in our mission,” she added. Established as Hotel Management and Tourism Training Centre in 1972, NATHM has been running academic and training courses to produce skilled hands for the tourism industry. NATHM has been imparting periodic trainings on different aspects of tourism sector to more than 1500 people every year.

Suurce: http://gokyotreksnepal.com/news.php?newsid=240

Govt endorses Tourism Policy 2065

The government has endorsed the eagerly-awaited Tourism Policy 2065. Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami informed a press meet held on March 26 that a cabinet meeting held on March 25 had approved the policy. The policy has addressed pertinent issues like rural tourism, eco-tourism, agro-based tourism, adventure tourism, education tourism and health tourism and has prioritized the insurance of tourism entrepreneurs, Yami said. “The policy aims to diversity our tourism products and services and take tourism to new areas,” she added. She also informed that the meeting of Tourism Council would convene after the Prime Minister returns from his Europe visit. The Prime Minister-headed Tourism Council is regarded as the high-level body for the tourism sector. “We are preparing to operate the Tribhuvan International Airport round the clock keeping in view the Nepal Tourism Year 2011,” Yami said, adding that the government will also encourage more international airlines to fly to Nepal, add more trolleys at the TIA and revise the air service agreement with Qatar and India.

Source: http://gokyotreksnepal.com/news.php?newsid=241

Ministry forms task force for one-door implementation of TIMS

Ministry for Tourism and Civil Aviation has formed a six-member task force to study and suggest measures to implement "Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS)" on a one-door basis through Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN).Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ms Hisila Yami formed the task force after meeting with the delegation of TAAN on TIMS and other issues in the trekking sector. The task force has RB Pakhrin, Jyoti Adhikari, Ishwor Poudel, Dr Gyanendra Ratna Tuladhar, Ranjan Krishna Aryal and Purushottam Poudel as members. The task force has been mandated to recommend measures for the one-door implementation of TIMS through TAAN. Along with TAAN, Nepal Tourism Board has also been distributing TIMS cards for trekkers. The delegation demanded the Ministry to implement TIMS on a one-door basis through TAAN by April 26. "We are positive that the Ministry will implement TIMS on a one-door basis through TAAN," said TAAN general secretary Nabaraj Dahal, who was also in the delegation. The delegation also urged the Ministry to resolve the issue of bank guarantee. TAAN has proposed the Ministry to cancel the bank guarantee system and form a Consumers Protection Fund worth US $ 100,000 to ensure quality service for trekkers. TAAN president Jyoti Adhikari, general secretary Nabaraj Dahal and executive members Rishi Prasad Nepal and Khum Bahadur Subedi represented TAAN in the delegation. Nabaraj Kafle, TIMS officer at TAAN, was also present on the delegation.

For the news in details: http://gokyotreksnepal.com/news.php?

Nepal News: Nepal favorite place for Lonely Planet founder

Co-founder of Lonely Planet guide book Tony Wheeler has named Nepal as his favorite place, according to a new book from the National Geographic. The book—My Favorite Places on Earth -- had asked international celebrities, including Wheeler, to name their favorite places on earth, and Wheeler said he liked Nepal the most. In an interview with Wanderlust Travel magazine in 2003, Wheeler had said Nepal was one of the few places he would love to come back again and again.

Nepal 10th Open Paragliding Championship from Jan 19

Western Regional Chapter of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) is organizing Nepal 10th Open Paragliding Championship from January 19-21 in Pokhara. The gliders will take off from Sarangkot and will land in Lakeside.
More than 100 gliders, both from Nepal and foreign countries, are expected to participate in one of the most popular adventure events in Pokhara.
The gliders will compete in six different events. The best gliders will be awarded with cash prize, trophies and letters of appreciation.
Along with paragliding, cultural events like Dohori songs, traditional dances and processions will be another attraction of the event.
TAAN Pokhara Chapter experts more than 40,000 spectators to take part in the event. source by www.adinfonepal.com www.sundarnepal.com www.gokyotrekking.com.np www.gokyotreks.com.np

Pokhara street festival kicks off

The five-day 10th Pokhara Street Festival kicked off in Lakeside, Pokhara, on December 28. The festival is being organised for the last ten years to promote Pokhara as a happening destination for New Year celebrations for both domestic and international visitors. Minister for Water Resources Bishnu Poudel inaugurated the festival after a procession of tourism entrepreneurs led by an elephant brought from Chitwan reached Fishtail gate from Hallanchowk. The Pokhara chapter of Restaurant Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN) has been organizing the festival with the slogan of ‘Eat in the street, dance in the street and enjoy in the street’. Apart from the food stalls of popular restaurants in Pokhara, the festival also showcases different cultural performances of Gurung, Magar, Kirant, Tibetan, Tharu and other communities. Similarly, folk-dohori songs and live band presentation are the other attractions of the street festival. Source by: www.gokyotreks.com.np or www.ammarguni.com.np or www.gokyotrekking.com.np