Tourism Related Organizations of Nepal

Tourism Related Organizations of Nepal

Introduction

For any industry or discipline to develop, an organization is an essential pre-requisite as it plays a vital role in its proper planning, development and growth. The aim of the organization is to deploy into working functions or purposes so as to move efficiently to obtain a desired result from their combined effort. Members of an organisation with a similar discipline thus make a combined effort to develop their discipline.

In the field of tourism, organizations emerged with the objective of developing and promoting the area of tourism. The nationals and interna­tional tourism organizations have played a significant role in strengthen­ing the industry. Various national and international organizations in the field of tourism are in operation today. Some of these organizations are specifically linked with the development and promotion of tourism and others deal with the co-ordination and control of a group of subsidiary services such as accommodation, catering, travel agency etc.

The history of co-operative endeavor in tourism can be traced back to the year 1908. Three countries – France, Spain and Portugal felt the need for pooling their interest of promoting tourism and founded the ‘Franco Hispano Portuguese Federation of Tourist association’. This might perhaps be considered as the first international tourist organization. Although started in a modest way and limited to a small region in Europe, this association made a beginning in co-operative endeavour in the field of tourism and paved the way for such future initiatives on a very large scale.

Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation (MOCTCA)

Tourism reaches into the varied aspects of Nepalese life and its benefits are encompassed by diverse sectors directly and indirectly. It generates employment opportunities and helps in the promotion and conservation of the art and culture. The tourism industry is one of the foreign currency earners in the country and thus makes a significant contribution to the economy. Government of Nepal has been actively promoting tourism in Nepal and has always encouraged the private sector for their involvement and participation. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation (MOTCA) gives equal importance to conservation of natural, cultural and human resources.

Ministry of Tourism first came into existence in 2035 BS (1978 AD). In 2039 (1982 AD), Civil Aviation was also merged into the Ministry of Tourism and it became the Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation. In 2057 (2000 AD), Cultural sector was also integrated in the Ministry and called the Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation (MOCTCA). In August 31, 2008 (B.S. 2065-5-15) the ministry was divided into two ministries, i.e. Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and Ministry of Culture and State Restructuring. The name of the ministry became the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOTCA). The cultural sector has been integrated with the tourism and civil aviation on May 18, 2012 (2069-02-05 BS). The name of the ministry has now become the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Functions of MOTCA:

• Coordinate with various national and international organization for development and promotion of tourism.
• Preservation of heritage and culture of country and various ethnic groups.
• Promote the tourism industry of Nepal.
• To do research and studies for development and policy planning.
• To develop the infrastructure of the nation for tourism promotion.
• Control, monitor and evaluate the activities of public and private organization which is working in the field of tourism.
• Formulate and implementation of policies, programs and rules and regulations as well as their timely implementation.
• Construction, renovation, preservation and advancement of airports and other respective transportation.

Nepal Tourism Boards (NTB)

Nepal Tourism Board is a national organization established in 1998 by an act of Parliament in the form of partnership between the Government of Nepal and private sector tourism industry to develop and market Nepal as an attractive tourist destination. The Board provides platform for vision-drawn leadership for Nepal’s tourism sector by integrating Government commitment with the dynamism of private sector.

NTB is promoting Nepal in the domestic and international market and is working toward repositioning the image of the country. It also aims to regulate product development activities. Fund for NTB is collected in the form of Tourist Service Fee from departing foreign passengers at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, thus keeping it financially independent. The Board chaired by the Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation consists of 11 board members with Five Government representatives, five private sector representatives and the Chief Executive Officer.

“NATURALLY NEPAL, Once is not enough” is the tourism brand of Nepal.”Naturally Nepal” is a simple expression that repackages the Nepal brand in a positive light. “Once is not Enough” not only accurately captures the tourist’s emotions at the airport’s departure gate but also serves as a decision tool that enables the Nepali tourism industry individually and collectively to focus both on consumer retention and acquisition.

Launching of Nepal brand has been done for the five business reasons:

• More compelling repackage the diverse, existing product offering
• More tourists increase the number of tourists visiting Nepal
• More money increase the revenues to the nation
• More focus align NTB’s stakeholders and the Nepali tourist industry to a common future
• More consistency define branding guidelines and investment vehicles

Brand Nepal is also promoted as “the next generation mountain destination for weekend breaks, adventure holidays, and life time experiences for people who live in cosmopolitan cities and travel internationally”.

Nepal Tourism Board is assigned with statutory responsibilities by the Nepal Tourism Board Act 2053 as follows:

• To develop and introduce Nepal as an attractive tourist destination in the international marketplace.
• To promote the tourism industry in the country while working for the conservation of natural, environmental and cultural resources.
• To work towards increasing the gross domestic products and foreign exchange income by means of promoting the tourism industry.
• To work towards increasing the employment opportunities in the same industry.
• To develop Nepal as a secure, dependable as well as an attractive travel destination by establishing a respectable travel trade community.
• To work towards providing quality service to the tourists visiting Nepal.
• To study the bottlenecks in the tourism sector by means of conducting research and getting some important measures adopted to address the problems.
• To promote and develop institutions for the promotion of tourism industry.

The Act also defines the Board’s ancillary responsibilities, which allow the Board to undertake a wide range of developmental functions within Nepal and marketing activities both in Nepal and overseas. These responsibilities also stress the Board’s consultative and advisory functions.

The Executive Committee of Nepal Tourism Board comprises 11 members including Chairman, who is the Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA). Out of 11 members, five members represent various government bodies and five represent private sector who are nominated by Government of Nepal to serve the Board for the period of 3 years.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board serves as a Member Secretary to the Board. NTB also has the provision of Observers in the EC. Representatives from Tourism Industry Division(MoTCA), Nepal Airlines Corporation and National Trust for Nature Conservation are currently serving as Observers in the EC.

Functions of NTB

• Formulation  and implementation of necessary programme
• Coordination and cooperation with stakeholders
• Protection, promotion and conservation
• Motivation, Facilitation and suggestion
• Organize seminar and conference
• Research and studies
• Promotion of Tourism Industry

Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN)

Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) was established in the year 1966, when it had just eight hotels and all of them were situated in Kathmandu itself. In the first ten years of its existence, due to the early stage of the industrial age as well as the membership being extremely homogenous, the Hotel Association of Nepal was able to make its mark on the governmental regulatory and social upgrading aspects of tourism.

Furthermore, HAN was able to project itself as a leader in the decision making process pertaining to tourism. No aspects of tourism policies and their implementation could avoid the forceful imprint of HAN. The hotel industry at that time was perhaps one of the most successful industries in the scenario for hardly any other industry existed.

The period of 1970 to early 1980 was prolific year for tourism growth and its spread. It was in this period that all categories of star rated hotels grew not only within the confines of Kathmandu but it also spread its wings beyond the valley such as Pokhara, Chitwan and other districts of this valley itself. Till then tourism was still within the confines of sustainability and hotels helped in the growth of other segments of the tourism industry. Travel and trekking agents became more professional and their size of the market and its returns grew in manageable levels.

The 1980’s ushered in the idea of a borderless world and as such trade and commerce began to flow from one part of the world to the next. The tourism industry, the very heart of the concept of borderless economy, obviously began to get its full share of benefit. On the other hand, the concept of international standards made the need for international network of marketing. For More Information:

Mission
HAN’s mission is to facilitate the full potential of Nepal’s hotel and tourism industry by raising concerted voice to make conducive environment for the growth of this sector. HAN aims at serving its members by fulfilling their needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner.

Vision
HAN envisions itself to become the national driving force to achieve world-class vibrant hotel industry with the private sector leadership, which will fuel the country’s development.

Objective
HAN objective is to protect and promote our member hoteliers so they can prosper and progress. HAN emphasis lies in the adaptability and creativity in the hospitality industry, which ensures not just adapting change but anticipating change and in essence to forge its way to a global market.

• To promote the hotel industry and to protect the lawful rights of its members.
• To create uniformity in the rules of administration and management of the hotels and other hospitality businesses.
• To raise the standard of the hospitality service by interchange of personnel, assistance in staffing of hotels through education and trainings in the fields of hotel industry.
• To investigate and inquire into all the issues and problems faced by the members.
• To develop laws related to the hospitality industry and tourism sector and raise voice against any laws detrimental to the development of this industry.
• To further international partnership and cooperation.
• To promote good relationship and understanding among the employee and employers within the industry.
• To undertake arbitration towards the settlement of disputes between: i) Members of the association ii) Members of the association and employees iii) Members and other individuals
• To promote co-operation among national, international and regional organizations related to the hospitality and tourism industry

Website: http://www.hotelassociation.org.np/

Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA)

After almost one month since the first ever government led Nepali sales mission to China returned to the country; Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) is putting an additional effort to promote Nepal in the Chinese market through its Discover Nepal-China mission. Organizing a press conference in the capital today, the Association informed that the team in the mission has incorporated most of the private sector tour entrepreneurs that have received government authority to handle Chinese tourists. “The mission would concentrate its campaign in two cities-Beijing and Shanghai,” said Joy Dewan, head of the mission and the President of NATTA.

The main concern of the mission would be about the interaction between the Chinese and Nepali tour operators that have been authorized for tour operation, he informed. Nepali entrepreneurs are waiting for a long time to see a good number of Chinese tourists since the signing of historic agreement between the Government of Nepal and China last November, which made Nepal Approved Destination Status (ADS) for Chinese tourists. The current major problems are the limited air services.

As both the Governments have principally agreed to review exiting air service agreement, the accessibility problems would be solved,” said Dewan “However, we will do our best to promote Nepal as the cultural and scenic destination”, he added. During the meet, Shi Xiang, the director of China National Tourism Office – Kathmandu informed that the Chinese Government has authorized additional 450 Chinese travel agencies to organize the tour between the two countries and handed over the list of the agencies to NATTA.

He informed that the intensive promotion is required to attract Chinese tourists to this Himalayan area. “The Mission can be successful in creating awareness in the Chinese market about the beautiful Nepali tourism products.” he said. Currently around 300 travel agencies, out of some 600 registered are in active operation in the country and the NATTA is demanding the government to authorize all these agencies to operate Chinese tourists. The mission that comprises 36 tourism entrepreneurs including three hoteliers had visited the city to Shanghai from 23 to 31 July, 2002.For More Information: Website:

The aims and objectives of associations are:

• Contribute to the healthy development of tourist industry and trade
• Develop goodwill among travel agent on all subject of common interests and welfare & protect the professional interest
• Provide cooperation and consultation to the government for the promotion of tourism in Nepal.
• Work directly and indirectly for institutional mission of all matters pertaining to interests of tourist industry & trade.
• Enthuse feeling of close coordination and professional’s ethics among all components engaged in tourist industry & trade.
• Undertake research work for promotion of tourism; obtain national and international recognitions for the associations.
• Promote and safeguard the interests of other professional’s trade and industries that are ancillary to tourism.
• Promote wide spread publicity for tourism development.

http://www.natta.org.np/

Trekking Agent Association of Nepal (TAAN)

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) is an umbrella organisation of trekking agencies and adventure tour operators in the country. TAAN was established in the year 1979 by a handful of trekking agencies, who felt the need of a forum where they could discuss the problems and issues in their business and moreover to recognise the trekking business as an industry. They also felt such a body was also needed to provide meaningful inputs to the government to formulate rules and regulations for the benefit of all. They also felt the need of a body which could undertake the major responsibilities to develop and promote adventure tourism in the country. This led to the formation of TAAN.

Ever since its inception, the member agencies have been increasing and from a handful of trekking agencies in the initial stage, it now has nearly 600 members. Though in the initial stage, TAAN confined its members to the domestic agencies only, it has opened up its membership to foreign organisations as well. It has 14 associated members now.

TAAN member agents meet every year to endorse policy guidelines, which govern the executive body. It frequently communicates with the concerned bodies of the government to simplify the procedures and solve the problems related to trekking business.

The executive body has 19 members, among which 14 are elected by general members, two are ex-officio members while three are nominated by the executive committee.

TAAN also has a chapter in Pokhara, where around 50 trekking and adventure operators, are affiliated.

Objectives:

• Develop and promote mountain tourism in Nepal
• Preservation of the mountain environment of Nepal.
• Promote the rights of the member trekking agencies.
• Provide meaningful inputs to Government of Nepal for the development of the industry.
• Develop linkages with the national and international organizations to promote mountain tourism.
  Conduct various trainings and educational programs to generate skilled manpower.
• Promotion of the new trekking routes.

Activities:
TAAN conducts various activities in order to meet its objectives. Some of these activities are of regular nature while some take place as and when necessary. The regular activities of the association are:

Promotional Activities:

• Organising different meetings, conferences, seminars and talk programs on tourism.
• To participate in tourism related fairs, marts and conferences within and outside the country.
• Providing meaningful inputs to the government.
• Publish various tourism related brochures, magazines etc for the promotion of the mountain tourism.
• Develop bilateral linkages with similar like-minded organization in other countries

Environmental Activities

• Create environmental awareness
• Organise various environment conservation programs

Philanthropic Activities:

• To raise and deliver funds for the victims of various natural and human calamities.

Training courses

• Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) organizes trekking guide and cook training courses in coordination with the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM).

For More Information: Website: http://www.taan.org.np/

Nepal Association of Rafting Agent (NARA)

Nepal, with its bountiful water flowing from the peaks of the Himalayas and the high passes from the Tibetan plateau, possesses some of the finest whitewater rivers in the world. Additionally, Nepal is also home to one of the strongest and largest river tourism communities in the global industry. Comprising of approximately 61 companies, Nepal’s river tourism industry employs thousands of native Nepalese and is entirely Nepali owned, operated and supplied, a fact which makes it unique among other forms of tourism development in the Himalayan area (in fact in the world) However, whitewater rafting in Nepal, well known among several specialist river running communities across the world, has had relatively little publicity and as such is an extremely valuable yet little appreciated and publicized form of sustainable development for the country of Nepal.

The Event: With this in mind, the Nepal Association of Rafting Agents in cooperation with Peak UK, one of England’s largest whitewater kayaking equipment companies, has developed a proposal for the introduction of a river running event that has the potential to stimulate interest in Nepal as a tourist destination in general and Nepal’s rivers in particular as one of the world’s premier river running tourism destinations. The Peak UK Himalayan Whitewater Challenge in Nepal is a multi-discipline one boat Event that combines extreme slalom / river running skills with downriver speed and freestyle action to find an overall whitewater champion.

This event, which will combine state of the art forms of extreme whitewater slalom, head to head down river racing and amazing displays of freestyle rodeo maneuvers into one world class competitive event. Additionally, this event will also allow for a competitive display of Nepal’s rafting history as there will be a down river raft race in which Nepal’s original Nepali raft guides, the current company owners, will guide rafts filled with their companies’ best guides in a head to head race down the Bhotekoshi river to claim the honor of ‘Top OG’ (Original Guide). As such, this event promises to be not only a world class competitive affair, but also an opportunity for Nepal to demonstrate its long standing tradition of whitewater rafting expertise among its citizens.

Event Size and Expected Economic Benefits to Nepal’s Tourism Industry. The event’s organizer expected to attract to approximately 100-150 foreign competitors and approximately 100 Nepali participants, in addition to nearly 200-250 spectators, all of whom will help spread the world of Nepal’s awesome whitewater tourism potential to those that they know aboard. Additionally, the foreign participants will all ply into Katmandu’s Tribhuban International Airport, many of Nepalese air couriers Nepal Airline and then stay in Katmandu’s hotels and guesthouse.

Where they will shop for good and eat at local restaurants, helping to bolster the country’s critical tourism industry that has taken such hard blows in 2001 due to both national and international crises. Additionally, past experience has shown that these participants will travel throughout Nepal after the events, to paddle many of Nepal’s world class rivers and as such will help to benefit other areas throughout the country economically. Further, as a by-product of the event is, publicity about Nepal as a safe and secure tourism destination will be disseminated helping to stimulate other non-whitewater bases sectors of Nepal’s tourism industry as well.

For More Information: Website: http://www.raftingassociation.org.np/

Components of tourism