NATTA info centre

KATHMANDU: The umbrella organisation of Nepali tour and travel agents Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has set up a NATTA Information and Media Centre at its secretariat located at Gairidhara. The centre is expected to keep potential visitors and members well informed about various tourism activities going on. The centre is working to prepare a comprehensive tourism database, publicize tourism fairs and festivals, update the website, publish regular e-bulletin, answer queries by foreign or domestic tourists regarding tourist destinations and publicise NATTA’s future events. — HNS

Envoy urges NCC

KATHMANDU: Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Nepal’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, during a meeting with Nepal Chambers of Commerce president Surendra Bir Malakar urged for improvement in business, tourism, and investments between Nepal and Srilanka. Focusing on Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011, Malakar requested Bhattarai to promote NTY in Sri Lanka along with endorsement of Nepali leather shoes and Nepali handicraft products. — HNS

PDB’s IPOs soon

KATHMANDU: Public Development Bank (PDB) is planning to issue Rs 60 million worth primary shares next month in order to increase its paid up capital to Rs 150 million. It has posted Rs 7.5 million profit by the end of seven months of the current fiscal year and also opened its fourth branch in Biratnagar. It appointed NIDC Capital Market as its issue manager. — HNS

PATA awards

KATHMANDU: The Thailand Chapter of PATA has received The Spirit of PATA Award for its tireless work in supporting, guiding and offering counsel to the travel and tourism industry over the past 12 months in the face of a number of domestic and international challenges. The PATA Award of Excellence has been awarded to Sweden. The Swedish chapter has been extremely active in arranging educational tours to the Asia Pacific region and staging roadshows across Scandinavia and Germany. The award will be presented in Macau next month as part of the PATA Annual Meeting. — HNS