Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 12:

With objectives of promoting the tourism industry in Nepal and offer a platform to participants from neighbouring countries to explore the Nepali tourist market, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents with support from the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation (MoCTCA), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) is organising the first NATTA Travel Mart – 2005 at Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC) in Kathmandu on May 13-14.

Crown Prince Paras is scheduled to inaugurate the NATTA Travel Mart along with the 15th national convention of NATTA on May 13.

Uday Nanaakkara, chairman of the Universal Federation of Travel Agents’ Association (UFTAA) will present the keynote address on the occasion.

“Repositioning Nepal’s image by providing first-hand information to international travel trade entrepreneurs is the prime objective of the event,” said Arjun Prasad Sharma, vice-president of NATTA and convenor of the event.

The event, the first of its kind in Nepal, would have more than 170 international representatives from India, China, Tibet, Laos, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, UAE, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Phi-lippines, Korea and Hong Kong and above 160 domestic tour and travel operators.

The event would also be participated by presidents of National Association of Travel and Tour Agents, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Association of Bangladesh Travel Agents (ABTA), Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), Laos Travel Agents Association (LTAA), chief executive officer of National Association of Travel Agents of Singapore (NATAS) and director of China Tibet Tourism Bureau (CTTB) as guests of honours.

A total of 39 stalls have been installed at BICC. In addition to the NATTA members, about 50 other participants are taking part in the event and the 15th national convention.

Huge discount on air flights and hotel reservations are being offered at the event. Registration for such offers could be made at stalls of corresponding companies on May 14.