Pata Nepal targets 215k Chinese tourists

The Pacific Asia Travel Association’s Nepal Chapter, in association with other pvt. sector players, has adopted an ambitious target of attracting 215,000 Chinese tourists in Nepal in 2015. Pata Nepal targets 215k Chinese tourists

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Published at : March 22, 2015

Updated at : March 22, 2015 09:43

Kathmandu

The Pacific Asia Travel Association’s (Pata) Nepal Chapter, in association with other private sector players, has adopted an ambitious target of attracting 215,000 Chinese tourists in Nepal in 2015.

China has already become the second largest source market for Nepal’s tourism after India. While the overall tourist arrivals by air dropped in 2014, arrivals from China soared 17.86 percent to 71,107.

Pata President Suman Pandey said a massive promotional campaign would be launched in various Chinese cities. “The private sector is ready and we expect facilitation from the government to meet the target,” he said, addressing the 39th annual general meeting of Pata on Friday.

The target is achievable if the increased flight frequency from China to Nepal is considered, Pandey said, adding due to poor air connectivity in the past years, Nepal had not been able to attract a significant number of Chinese visitors.

Currently, three Chinese airlines—Air China, China Eastern and China Southern—operate 35 weekly scheduled flights to Nepal. Two more—Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines and Nepal-based Himalaya Airlines—plan to launch the services soon.

Sichuan plans to connect the Kathmandu airport by early April, while Himalaya will connect Lhasa soon. Nepal Airlines also plans to connect China. With this, the number of Nepal-China flights is likely to jump to 50 per week.

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the increased Chinese movement to Nepal suggests the northern neighbour would soon surpass India as the top source market. “We already have 125,000 Chinese tourists and the number is growing at a faster rate.”

Pandey re-elected to top post

The 39th annual general meeting of Pata unanimously elected a new executive committee under the Chairmanship of Suman Pandey, who was re-elected. Nandini Lahe Thapa of Nepal Tourism Board and Saroj Kumar Kasaju of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) were elected first and second vice-presidents, respectively. Hariman Lama of Incentives Tours and Travels has been elected secretary and Pamfa Dhamala of Langtang RI Trekking and Expedition has been named treasurer. Bibhuti Chand Thakur, Shiva Dhakal, Sunil Sakya, Marcus Cotton, Sanjay Mathema and Pawan Tuladhar are members of the new committee.