Damaru Lal Bhandari

Kathmandu, April 11:

Travel trade entrepreneurs have expressed apprehension at the possibility of the international

travel operators blanking out Nepal from their brochures. The possibility can become a reality if they find that the destination is no longer attracting holiday-makers. The brochures of international travel houses are crucial in attracting holiday-makers from around the world. Conversely, attraction towards any destination is missing when it is blanked out for producing no business at all. This is because big players in Europe and Americas go by the economics of tourism. A sunny smile and simplicity are no more the passport to success. “Such being the backdrop, this is the part of the year when we ought to go around to prevail on big players to have Nepal on their menu. But none seems to pay heed,” said Basanta Mishra, a Kathmandu-based travel trade operator. He pointed out at international operators revising or rewriting brochures from March to July to prepare for the next season beginning from September.

He lamented the policy of concerned section not bothering while the Indian Airlines stopped taking a detour to Benaras. Cosmic Air, was told to take a detour to Bhairhawa if it was keen on flying to Benaras.He referred to Martinair’s course of action and the media painting a scary picture. “We must have a strategy like Sri Lanka. They are doing well despite the unrest,” Mishra suggested, even as he lashed out at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) for not living up to the expectations.” Repositioning the image as a tourist destination with government and the NTB functionaries sitting down could be the thing to do before crafting a new strategy. “What is the use if we cannot deal with hostile travel advisories from abroad? Media consultancy and public relations exercise is the need of the time,” added Mishra. However, the spokesman of Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Sharda Dhittal, denied any shortcomings in the functioning of the NTB given the resources and demarche.

“We are organising familiarisation tours for members of the press to fight that out,” he said.