| Nepal has targeted northern neighbor China as a | | | | Though, targeted number of Chinese tourist may |
| second largest significant market for its tourism | | | | wish to visit Nepal there are only four international |
| industry after southern neighbor India. | | | | airlines-China Southern, China Eastern, Air China and |
| Nepal has projected China as its second largest | | | | Dragon Air, operating their flight connection to Nepal |
| market, at the time when country has launched a | | | | with Chinese cities. |
| national tourism campaign "Nepal Tourism Year-2011 | | | | Not only Chinese tourists but also estimated one |
| (NTY)" to attract more than one million tourists in an | | | | million tourist arrivals will be hard to manage if the |
| international level. | | | | country failed to pre-arrange strategy. Out of one |
| Officials at Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said that they | | | | million tourists, Nepal has set to receive 700,000 by |
| have outlined India and China a significant market due | | | | air whereas 300,000 from land. |
| to their booming economy and closeness with Nepal. | | | | According to Yogendra Shakya, national coordinator |
| At the time Nepal is preparing to greet one million | | | | of NTY working committee, the committee is |
| international tourists in the country, it is also mulling | | | | working on calculating whether these aforesaid airlines |
| plans to allure 101,324 Chinese outbound tourists | | | | are capable to meet target of one million tourists or |
| whereas it has estimated to welcome 262,588 | | | | not? |
| tourists from India in the year 2011. | | | | Focused on Chinese market he said, "We are thinking |
| When asked, based on which factor NTB projected | | | | of launching promotional activities to only those cities |
| to greet more than double number of tourists within | | | | where there is direct air connectivity. First, we will |
| a year, Kashi Raj Bhandari pointed out at growing | | | | find out our capability and then only move ahead for |
| economy possessed by China and living standard of | | | | promotional activities in China," he added. |
| Chinese people. | | | | The possibility of disseminating advertisements |
| "Owing to increasing trend of Chinese tourist arrivals, | | | | relevant to NTY in local Chinese media is high. |
| we sense that there is a great potentiality for Nepal | | | | Meanwhile, Bhola Bikram Thapa, coordinator of airlines |
| to lure more Chinese outbound tourists in coming | | | | and air connectivity for NTY informed that at |
| years," Bhandari, Director of Research, Planning and | | | | present based on 35,000 Chinese tourist arrivals, |
| Monitoring desk at NTB told Xinhua on Tuesday. | | | | around 91 Chinese people per aircraft land in Nepal. |
| "In context of China, Nepal began its work from zero | | | | However, these airlines hold maximum capacity of |
| and the consequence is that at present China has | | | | carrying 60,000 people in Nepal in a year. |
| become second largest tourist market for Nepal after | | | | "But carrying 101,324 number of customers at |
| India," he added. | | | | current strength is almost impossible," said Thapa, |
| Chinese outbound tourists began to visit Nepal when | | | | adding that to meet target number of tourists at |
| Nepal was commended as an Approved Destination | | | | current strength, 274 people per day should land |
| Status by National Tourism Administration of the | | | | Nepal. |
| People's Republic of China. Nepal and China both side | | | | Thapa emphasized the need of promotion and |
| inked the Memorandum of Understanding on | | | | homework to increase resource to meet targeted |
| implementation plan for outbound travel by Chinese | | | | numbers of tourists without hassle. |
| citizens to Nepal on April 16, 2001. | | | | According to experts, the key hurdle regarding |
| According to Bhandari, at present, more than 35,000 | | | | Chinese tourists is air connectivity. "All the airlines |
| Chinese tourists visit Nepal annually, if country pays a | | | | operating to connect Chinese cities with Nepal are |
| little more attention to the strategic plan, then the | | | | Chinese private airlines. If our own airline Nepal Airline |
| number could be 100,000 within a year," he added. | | | | will resume direct flight from Nepal to China we can |
| Comparing with Western and European tourist | | | | transport more people." NTB official said. |
| market, he said, " These markets are saturated | | | | Nepal Airlines used to operate direct air flight from |
| whereas Chinese market is in upward trend which | | | | Kathmandu to Shanghai but halted its operation due |
| gives positive glimpse of escalating market in future. " | | | | to technical reasons some seven years ago. |
| Nevetheless, greeting 101,324 Chinese tourists within | | | | Although, Nepal-China friendly relationship are |
| a year is not an easy task for Nepal. The main | | | | reiterated time and again from both countries but |
| hurdles to this counts accessibility, capability and | | | | they have failed to realize there is no connection |
| promotion. | | | | between their capital cities. |