Tourism promoted in China

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) coordinated Nepal's participation at China Overseas Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM) at Beijing from April 18 -20, 2012, NTB said in a statement on Sunday.

The Fair was opened to only international tourism buyers and sellers and was attended by 13 Nepalis companies who found the fair to be a very promising tourism business platform.

The participation comes at a time when the arrivals of Chinese tourists have risen above 60 % and the numbers have gone to 75,000 during the year 2011.

Nepal's delegation was led by Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr. Ganesh Raj Joshi who made presentations on tourism issues and opportunities of Nepal during the inauguration of Exhibition and also during the Nepal China Sales Mission 2012 with 22 Nepalese tourism agencies in different cities like Kunming, Shanghai, Beijing and Xian coordinated by Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents (NATTA ) and supported by NT B.

The media, Chinese tour operators and Chinese provincial officials were apprised about tourism products and services of Nepal and the willingness to support and cooperate with them for the mutual benefit of tourism between the two countries.

Kathmandu is well connected to different cities of China like Kunming, Guongzhou, Lhasa and Hongkong which offer good onward connections to different parts of China. With aggressive promotion, ever since the Approved Destination Status was accorded to Nepal by China in 2001, the tourists from China are growing in numbers with further prospects.

Chinese government officials, businessmen and leisure segment are prospective segments for the Nepalese tourism market and they prefer to visit Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini and Nagarkot for a week and like to enjoy shopping Nepali handicrafts, go on a jungle safari, observe the heritage sites of Kathmandu valley and are very much impressed by the hospitality of the people. They also prefer to speak in Chinese Language and eat Chinese food while traveling. Nepalnews.com