Kathmandu, April 3

There is subtle yet noticeable change in Nepal Tourism Board’s (NTB’s) efforts to boost the number of summer tourists to Nepal. The change is in the form of its new-found focus on using information technology tools to generate more tourists for Nepal.

NTB has set April 19 as the deadline before it prepares all its IT tools, when it is going to launch its new product branded ‘Naturally Nepal: Once is not enough’ in New Delhi, following its unveiling on March 5 in Nepal and March 11 in Berlin. Giving information about the plans, Tek Bahadur Dangi, told The Himalayan Times, NTB is preparing to reach out to prospective tourists to Nepal through the web. For this, it is updating its webesite, creating numerous links to all the websites related to airlines and hotels that are willing to join hands in NTB’s efforts by preparing special summer packages to boost tourist numbers.

NTB is also planning a massive campaign in the print media in India and some reputed Indian web sites, which can offer information or links to related websites on Nepali tourism.

Responding to queries on the choice of Delhi for the unveiling of the new NTB product ‘Naturally Nepal: Once is not enough’, Dangi said, “60 per cent of all tourists that come from India to Nepal originate in Delhi, as it is the largest out-bound train point in India. It is not only Delhi, but its neighbouring areas too that generate large number of tourists.”

However before NTB unveils its new product in Delhi, it would have to help finalise the special discount packages with various airlines and the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN). Dangi describes the response from both airlines and HAN as ‘extremely positive’ to the formulation of special summer packages.

Giving a glimpse of the plans, Dangi said that almost all the airlines that fly between India and Nepal have been approached by NTB to offer a ‘buy three get one free’ ticket scheme for mid-April to mid-July period.

The airlines include Indian Airlines, RNAC, Cosmic, Jet Airways and Sahara. Talking to The Himalayan Times, Peter Luethi, chief operating officer of Jet Airways (India) confirmed his company’s interest in the proposals made by NTB. He said, “This is indeed an innovative idea, something in which, we would be certainly interested in.”

As an incentive to the airlines, NTB would be mentioning the partner airlines in the official promotional material distributed by NTB. Dangi said, “We would also be seeking some financial support from these airlines to help NTB prepare better promotional campaigns of Nepali tourist destinations abroad. This would be a win-win situation for all of us.”

NTB has also requested HAN to work out ‘very special’ packages for tourists, individuals as well as group visitors, during this summer period. A proposal on HAN is supposed to be working positively right now.