Kathmandu, June 14:

Nepali tourism products and services were promoted at the South Korea’s leading trade show for the tourism industry- Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) held in Seoul from June 7 to 10.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in coordination with the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation and private sector took part at the 20th edition of KOTFA. The fair is the biggest of its kind in Korea with a total of 405 organisations from 50 different countries showcasing their array of tourism attractions.

About 86,000 people had visited the event. This was the first time that Nepal participated in the Korean fair, states a press release of NTB here today.

Yadav Khanal, charge de affairs at the newly opened Nepali Embassy in Sotuh Korea also visited the Nepal pavilion at KOTFA and interacted with the NTB and private sector company representatives from Nepal.

Dinesh Adhikari, joint-secretary at the MoCTCA addressed a press meet organised at KOTFA. Adhikari also highlighted on the peaceful political situation and on the unique tourism products of Nepal like Mt. Everest and birthplace of Lord Buddha, which could be a centre of attractions to many adventure and culture lovers of Korea.He elaborated on the importance given to tourism sector by the government and highlighted on the various promotional initiatives taken by NTB in the Korean market.

Nepal’s participation in KOTFA 2007 was focused on the theme of the new tourism brand- Unleash Yourself-Natural Nepal- once is not enough, and Visit Pokhara Year 2007 Campaign.

The new brand was launched internationally last year, which incorporates the entire spectrum of tourism products/services to promote and market Nepal’s tourism products in a complete package. The brand has projected, packaged and positioned Nepal’s image with a new thrust as practiced by other competing destinations.

Korea has always remained not only as a major development partner of Nepal, but is now developing as a major tourist generating market. The figures till May 2007 show a whopping 107 per cent rise in the number of the Korean tourist arrivals to Nepal compared to the same period in 2006. May 2007 alone saw a growth of 743 per cent, as compared to May 2006. Korean Air now has a direct flight to Nepal once a week, which in all probability will be increased to three times a week.