Online Newsletter

TAAN newsletter April - September issue
Sunday October 10 2004

Message from the president

It is my utmost pleasure in informing all that the recent problem between the Nepal communist Party Maoist and the Industrialist of Nepal have come to an amicable understanding and the 47 industries, which were shut down have all resumed its operations. The industries are now operating smoothly. The hotels which were shut down have also resumed its operations and are running smoothly. All the misunderstandings have been cleared and things have totally returned to normalcy.

The returning of the normalcy in the country has brought up some good prospects for the Tourism Entrepreneurs of Nepal. International airliners like Austrian Air and Jet Airways, Sahara Air of India have already started its operations to Kathmandu, Nepal. The Phuket Air of Thailand, GMG Airlines of Bangladesh are soon starting its operations to Kathmandu and similarly Philipines Air and China Air is also on the list of starting its operation to Kathmandu. Likewise, the Nepalese domestic airliners Cosmic Air and Air Shangrilla are also starting its international flights and a new Nepalese airliner Air Nepal International is also starting its international operations soon. They all have received the Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from his Majesty’s Government of Nepal (Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal) and are on the process of operating its international flights.

Tourism in Nepal has always been safe despite the Maoist movements. The Maoist have never attacked or harmed any tourists visiting any parts of Nepal. There is not even a single report of Maoist harming or attacking tourist. Time and again they have been saying that they will not be harming any tourists coming to Nepal. These assurances from the Maoist side, the Government’s efforts in safeguarding the tourists and more importantly the role of the private sectors have led the inflow of tourists in Nepal to rise in the recent past. No doubt, Nepal still is ranked as one of the top tourism destination in the world. Therefore, I, on behalf of all the members of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) would like to request all, who are visiting Nepal, to go ahead with your schedules and not to cancel their trips as Nepal is quite safe and if you are planning to visit Nepal, please do so, we will be more than happy to welcome you and take good care of you here in Nepal.

But, however, I would like to advise all the tourists coming to Nepal to trek or travel only through the government registered trekking and travel companies for further assurance of your safety.

The confidence of the National and the International Airliners to operate in Nepal is a sign that Nepal is returning back to normalcy and tourism is picking up its pace. Once again I would like to assure all that Nepal is fully capable of hosting all the tourism activities as it has been doing in the past and I am very much hopeful that Nepalese tourism will do much better in future.

And finally, I would like to thank the press and publicity Subcommittee and to all those for putting all their hardwork in bringing out this issue.

Warm regards,

Deepak Mahat
President

From the Co-ordinator’s Desk

Though late, we feel great to be amongst you once again with the 2nd edition of the TAAN’s Newsletter.

The present situation of the country has been a big setback for all of us, there are however, some signs of hopes at the other end of the tunnel, more international Airliners are coming Nepal and the Nepalese airliners are also operating in the international front is an example of things returning back to normalcy in Nepal. It is certainly a big relief for all the Tourism Entrepreneurs of the country. We wish all the airliners a very long lasting success.

Last but not the least, I, on behalf of all the members of the Press and Publicity Subcommittee would like to wish all a very happy a prosperous Dashain. May Goddess Durga bring peace, happiness ad prosperity to all of us.

Nawang D. Sherpa
Co-ordinator
TAAN Press and Publicity Sub-committee

1st Thuraya- TAAN Mountain Bike Championhsip:

Trekking Agent Association of Nepal (TAAN) in partnership with Nepal Mountain Bike Association (NMBA), Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee (BTDC), Tourism Development Committee, Kavre organized the 1st Thuraya-TAAN Mountain Bike Championship on Saturday, 5th June 2004, coinciding with the World Environment Day. The event was supported by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the sponsor of the event was Constellation P. Ltd, authorized distributor of Thuraya Satellite Phones for the Kingdom of Nepal.

The day also marked the World Environment Day, and an afforestation program was organized at the TAAN Forest, Kashi Bhangjang, where over 2000 saplings were planted. More than 200 TAAN members had participated in this afforestation program. All mountain Bike Championship Participants, Special Invitees, the Local Villagers and others had also participated in the afforestation program. Afforestation program is organized by the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal every year to mark the day.

The 1st Thuraya-TAAN Mountain Bike Championship was organized with objectives of promoting Mountain Biking as one of the new Tourism product in the country and to promote the beautiful Kashi Bhangjyang of Nala VDC as one of the major tourism destination of the country.

The event organized was one of the largest of its kinds organized in the country, where over 100 cyclists had participated in the event and about 20 expatriates staying in the country had participated in the country and had competed in the four categories:

a. Open Category
b. Junior category
c. Women’s Category
d. Master

A total of 17 KM were covered by the Championship and the routes used were Bhaktapur Durbar Square-Datatraya-Bhaktapur East Gate-Sanga Height-Nala Bazaar-TAAN Forest.

All the participants were given certificates and the winners of the championship were presented with trophies by the chief Guest, Mr. Shankar Prasad Koirala, Joint Secrtary Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviations, Mr. Tek Bahadur Dangi, CEO, NTB, Mr. R.P Pant, Past President, TAAN, Mr. Sanatan Gajurel, Manager, Constellation P. Ltd. and Mr. Pasang D. Sherpa, Advisor, TAAN and Mr. Chhimmi Gurung, President, NMBA.

The winners of all the four categories are as follows:

POSITION	NAME	COUNTRY	R. #	TIME
1^st	SURESH KUMAR DULAL	NEP	01	47.27.30
2^nd	ASHOK UPRETI	NEP	03	48.43.10
3^rd	RAJENDRA KHADKA	NEP	04	49.13.05

JUNIOR

S.N	NAME	COUNTRY	R. #	TIME
1^st	HERMAN THAPA	NEP	84	51.30.15
2^nd	PHILIMON AUTI	FRA	102	57.10.25
3^rd	JAKE SZYMANSKI	USA	88	01.00.30

MASTER

S.N	NAME	COUNTRY	R. #	TIME
1^st	SONAM GURUNG	NEP	105	00.58.49
2^nd	JOHN BATTAN	USA	35	00.59.36
3^rd	MICHAEL SZYMANSKI	USA	106	01.09.45

WOMEN

S.N	NAME	COUNTRY	R. #	TIME
1^st	TINA	ARGENTINA	111	01.03.32
2^nd	NIRJALA TAMRAKAR	NEP	108	01.11.51
3^rd	MANITA SHAHI	NEP	113	01.17.23