GUWAHATI, April 30 � With its picturesque landscape, rich culture, heritage and a structured tourism industry, Nepal, in every way, can be an apt international tourism destination for the people of North East. With increasing volume of tourists from the country, the Nepal Tourism Board has planned to promote its tourism potentials in India.
With the tag line �Naturally Nepal � Once is not enough,� the NTB members along with representatives from tours and travels, and hoteliers are on promotional tours in the cities of Guwahati, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.
Commemorating this year as �Visit Lumbini Year � 2012,� the NBT has planned to attract the world tourists to the Lord Buddha�s birthplace and promoting the message of peace and unity.
Addressing a press conference here, Mani Raj Lamichhane, manager of tourism product and resource development, today said that the tourists from India constitute one third of the total tourists of the country.
NTB has planned to promote destinations including Kathmandu, Pokhra, Chitwan, Lumbini, Manakmana and Muktinath and hill stations including Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Daman, Bandipur and Tansen in Indian market. Soft adventure activities such as white-water rafting, biking, fishing, rock climbing, paragliding, ultra light aircraft and bungee jumping can also be enjoyed in Nepal.
�Nepal has always been popular with Indian, as a recreational, shopping and pilgrimage destination. Moreover, the country is a prominent pilgrimage destinations among the Hindus of the world and thousand of devotees of Lord Shiva throng Nepal specially during Mahashivaratri to pay homage to Pashupatinath,� he added.
With no visa requirement, good air connectivity with almost 76 flights per week to India, easy access by road, year round pleasant weather, favourable exchange rate for India currency are some of the major factors that contribute to Nepal�s popularity as a favourite holiday destination amongst Indians.
�In 2011, Nepal received 1, 45,338 tourists from India by air, which is 39.1 per cent more than 2010. In April this year, Nepal received 16,234 tourists from India, which is 68.6 per cent more than last year in the same period.
�Nepal is also a good shopping destination with good woodwork, textiles like pashmina and wollens, masks, jewelry and electronics etc., on offer. Since Indian currency has more value than its Nepali equivalent, shopping is a very pleasant experience for Indians in Nepal. The Indian Rs 100 is equal to Nepalese Rs 160,� he added.
