Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 12:

Times for Nepali tourism sector have indeed been changing. Quietly but decidedly, ‘outbound tourism’ has come of age in Nepal.

A fact apparent in the large response by government as well as private sector participants from neighbouring South Asian countries to the NAATA Travel Mart being organised in Kathmandu.

Manoharan, director, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB), a leading participant in the travel mart, explaining his country’s perspective said, “We want to establish direct and personal contacts with Nepali travel agents and tour operators, in order to tap the growing Nepali outbound tourism”.

In 2001, 4,000 tourists from Nepal visited Malaysia. The number went up to 8,588 in 2004, which was a 43 per cent rise over the tourist numbers in 2003.

An estimated 20,000 tourists from Nepal go to Thailand annually for leisure activities and some to avail medical facilities, informed Manoharan.

Surely, a number Malaysia finds interesting enough to pitch in its stake.

With increasing air connectivity and decreasing fares, a new generation of travellers, is raring to travel abroad.

“The establishment of Malaysian embassy has made it easier for travelers from Nepal to get visa quickly and economically,” said Manoharan. Tying up with local players in Nepal, like Cosmic Air, has given Malaysian tourism a new flexibility to draw in Nepali tourists, he added.

In consultation with local partners, MTPB has devised a number of attractive travel packages to lure travellers from Nepal. The keenness is apparent from the fact that apart from the government MTPB, five Malaysian travel agents and two hoteliers are also participating in the NAATA travel mart.

MTPB is also planning to offer 10 to 15 per cent discount on its travel packages during the fair.