Sunday, September 19, 2010
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| Red Rose Apartment Hotel |
The hotel industry in Nepal, which had suffered much during the decade-long insurgency, is back in full shape. The industry started recovering with the start of the peace process in the country in 2006. More international airlines began flying to the country bringing in more visitors from across the world and also spurred domestic tourism. The increasing movement of tourists encouraged hotelier to invest more. But they cautiously waited for the initial few years and waited for the ripe moment. The declaration of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) opened the floodgates and entrepreneurs are investing on hotels not only in the capital but all over the country.
The decade-long insurgency was harsh for the Nepal tourism industry and it was even cruel for the hotel industry. Nepali tourism industry passed through one of the worst recessions in its history of five decades. The deteriorating security situation in the country during the period not only led to the decline in tourist arrival but also triggered curtailing of price rates, displacement of trained hands, and closure of travel trade enterprises. Hotels, having big investments and often on bank loans, were the first ones to resort to price undercutting. Even five star hotels started selling their rooms at a very low rate. Such was the scale of price undercutting that some tour operators even say that five star hotels even robbed Thamel-based lodge owners of their business.
According to Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), the apex body of hotels in Nepal, there were 11 four star hotels in the country in 2003 AD. These four star hotels were providing 987 rooms per night. But with the closure of four four-star hotels and upgrading of two four-star hotels into five-star category, the number of rooms available in the four-star category has reduced to just 430 rooms per night. Because of the recession, the tourism industry lost more than 500 rooms per night in four-star category.
But the end of conflict and declaration of the year-long tourism promotional campaign has encouraged investors and more and more people are investing in hotel business. According to Tourism Industry Division under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), 38 new hotels were registered in the capital in fiscal year 2009/10. According to the Tourism Industry Division, a total of 736 hotels have been registered across the country, including 422 in the capital alone. Of them 10 are five-star hotel -- eight in the capital and two -- in Pokhara and two with four-star rating. Similarly, there are 17 three-star hotels, 31 two-star hotels, 37 one-star hotels and 639 tourist standard hotels. These hotels produce 14,272 rooms per night. Private sector has invested about Rs 150 billion in the hotel industry, according to HAN. Two new four-star hotels in the capital:
Two new four-star hotels are beginning operation in the Valley right on the eve of Nepal Tourism Year 2011. Implementing Expert Group (IEG) – the investment group of businessmen and professionals involved in international trade – is preparing for the grand opening Red Rose Apartment Hotel at Pulchowk and Airport Hotel near Tribhuvan International Airport in December. The group is spending more than Rs 1 billion in the two projects. This is the biggest investment in Nepali hotel industry after the Hotel Hyatt Regency more than a decade ago.
Airport Hotel, which is located just in front the Golden Gate of Tribhuvan International Airport, will have 55 rooms in five floors. The hotel plans to cater people traveling to and from Tribhuvan International Airport. Similarly, Red Rose Apartment Hotel at Pulchowk will have 11 apartments and 30 rooms upon completion. The hotel aims to cater travelers needing accommodation for more than a week. The group is also planning to establish exotic restaurants and shopping areas in both the hotels.
Article @ http://imagenepal.com.np/TNDcovst.html
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Visa Information:
Planning a trip to Nepal is not as easy as planning a vacation in Hawaii or Europe. Nepal is one of the most distant destinations on Earth if you are starting your trip from North America, and it takes almost 2 days just to get there. A trip to this Himalayan kingdom requires a great deal of advance planning. You should set aside plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your journey is as enjoyable as possible.
When should I go? How do I get there? What do I need to pack? Where should I stay? What kind of restaurants are there? What should I see?
The single-most-important thing to know about flying to Nepal is that with relatively few flights into the country, seats book up months in advance during the peak trekking seasons. Try to make reservations at least 6 months in advance, especially if you want to fly on Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines. By July or August, you'll find that nearly every flight into the country during this period is wait-listed. Royal Nepal Airlines, which is infamously unreliable, is usually the last airline to fill up.
There are no direct flights from the United States to Nepal, so unless you fly Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Pakistan International Airlines, you're going to have to change airlines somewhere en route, usually in London or Delhi if you are eastbound or in Bangkok or Singapore if you are westbound. You'll also have to spend a night somewhere en route-Bangkok, Singapore, Karachi, and Delhi are the usual overnight stops.
If you are traveling through Delhi, it's a good idea to have an Indian visa, even if you aren't planning to leave the airport. We've had reports of people being refused onward passage because they didn't have a visa, even though they were only transiting through the airport.
Entry: Tourist entry visa can be obtained for the following duration from Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:
• Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
• Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
• Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
• Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
• Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
• Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
• Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
• Gaddachauki, Mahendranagarv(Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)
Visa Facility | Duration | Fees |
Multiple Entry | 15 Days | US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency |
Multiple Entry | 30 Days | US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency |
Multiple Entry | 90 Days | US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency |
Tourist Visa Extension:
Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day.
Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January - December).
Gratis (Free) Visa: Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.
Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal
Transit Visa: Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal's immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency.
Download Your Visa Form Here
Download Your Visa Form Here
Friday, May 28, 2010
Planning a trip to Nepal is not as easy as planning a vacation in Hawaii or Europe. Nepal is one of the most distant destinations on Earth if you are starting your trip from North America, and it takes almost 2 days just to get there. A trip to this Himalayan kingdom requires a great deal of advance planning. You should set aside plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your journey is as enjoyable as possible.
When should I go? How do I get there? What do I need to pack? Where should I stay? What kind of restaurants are there? What should I see? These are some of the questions that this section will answer.
When should I go? How do I get there? What do I need to pack? Where should I stay? What kind of restaurants are there? What should I see? These are some of the questions that this section will answer.
The single-most-important thing to know about flying to Nepal is that with relatively few flights into the country, seats book up months in advance during the peak trekking seasons. Try to make reservations at least 6 months in advance, especially if you want to fly on Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines. By July or August, you'll find that nearly every flight into the country during this period is wait-listed. Royal Nepal Airlines, which is infamously unreliable, is usually the last airline to fill up.
There are no direct flights from the United States to Nepal, so unless you fly Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Pakistan International Airlines, you're going to have to change airlines somewhere en route, usually in London or Delhi if you are eastbound or in Bangkok or Singapore if you are westbound. You'll also have to spend a night somewhere en route-Bangkok, Singapore, Karachi, and Delhi are the usual overnight stops.
There are no direct flights from the United States to Nepal, so unless you fly Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Pakistan International Airlines, you're going to have to change airlines somewhere en route, usually in London or Delhi if you are eastbound or in Bangkok or Singapore if you are westbound. You'll also have to spend a night somewhere en route-Bangkok, Singapore, Karachi, and Delhi are the usual overnight stops.
If you are traveling through Delhi, it's a good idea to have an Indian visa, even if you aren't planning to leave the airport. We've had reports of people being refused onward passage because they didn't have a visa, even though they were only transiting through the airport.
Security.Nepal is generally very safe with one of the lowest crime rates of all countries. Travel with children in Nepal, yet with a bit of planning it is remarkably hassle free Shopping. Despite Nepal's lack of raw materials, shopping here is quite advanced. Curio arts, Garment and Carpets are head the export list. Nepal's carpet industries are world renowned. Currency.The unit of the Nepalese Currency is the Rupee. Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 denominations. Banks.Banks are open between 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P M. from Sunday to Friday. They are closed on Saturdays and other holidays. Credit Cards.Major credit cards are widely accepted in Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels, restaurants and shops. Currency Exchange.There are plenty of Currency Exchange Counters in Kathmandu and Pokhara ATM’s.Visitors can withdraw money through Visa /Master Card from the different ATM machines at several locations in Kathmandu and Pohkara. Electricity 220 Volts, 50 Hz
For Detail Information: Click here
Saturday, February 27, 2010
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today officially launched the national campaign, ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’ during a huge gala at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. Lets come “Together for tourism” the PM said, urging all to join hands for the most anticipated national campaign NTY 2011 that could “trigger the economic revolution”.The PM inaugurated the campaign by lighting the peace torch at 3:00 pm at Nepal Army Pavilion. The centrally located peace torch that measures eight feet was first lighted at Eternal Peace Flame in Lumbini Sacred Garden by Olympian Bimala Rana Magar on February 21 and was brought to Kathmandu on February 24.
Representatives from political parties, tourism, economic sector, private sector, sports, entertainment and ethnic communities participated in the rally and the inaugural ceremony. Along with the PM, 18 political parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN UML, UCPN-Maoist, RPP and representatives from FNCCI, NCC, HAN, NATTA, FCAN, NRNA, BAN showed their commitment by pledging to make the campaign a big success and avoid any kind of bandh or strike in 2011 to maintain peace and security.
To show their commitment towards the national campaign’s official launch, up to 40,000 people from different walks of life participated in rallies from City Hall, Lainchour Scout, Academy Hall, Stadium and Basantpur Durbar square to converge at Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the PM said tourism was the only sector that could increase employment opportunities and earn more foreign currency.
“NTY 2011 can revive the nation and help rebrand its image in the international arena,” he said. Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sarat Singh Bhandari lauded the overwhelming response of the private sector to promote NTY 2011 and insisted on maintaining peace and stability while the national campaign was on.
Yogendra Shakya, programme implementation committee national coordinator, hoped that the national campaign would be helpful enough to rebrand Nepal as a peaceful country. Billed as the most ambitious national project, NTY 2011 targets to attract one million tourists.
Article By: Eliza Manandhar
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