KATHMANDU: The team of French and Swiss individuals that came to Kathmandu on Wednesday evening in a motor rally visited Lumbini on Thursday and left for Mumbai yesterday.

A convoy of 22 classic Citroen automobile made it from Beijing to Kathmandu in nine days. The 30-year-old cars managed to scale mountainous regions of Tibet after winding their way through China’s Yunnan province.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is expecting an auto-rickshaw rally from Goa of India next week. It is looking to encourage tourism rallies with the intention of promoting tourism in Nepal in a big way.

After four rallies using Nepal as their destination, the group of French and Swiss nationals made Kathmandu their destination in their rally from Beijing to Mumbai.

“We have already had four rallies come in this year and are expecting a few more by the end of the year, including one auto rickshaw rally from Goa next week,” said NTB media consultant Sharad Pradhan.

NTB is looking to support many more road trip rallies coming into the country to further tourism for the year 2011, where the board is including rallies of various kinds as a part of their attraction for Nepal Tourism year 2011.

“It’s a very great way of promoting a destination, when groups such as these come into the country. Word of mouth is more effective than any other kind of promotion,” added Pradhan.

NTB is looking at 2011 in a big way as it has been designated the year for tourism in Nepal. “By supporting these rallies we are expecting many visitors in 2011. The fact that people involved in these rallies make Nepal a destination on their route map is a big deal in itself,” said Pradhan.