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Two ancient courtyards in Hanumandhoka Durbar opened for public |
The Hanumandhoka Durbar Museum Development Committee has opened two ancient courtyards, Mohankali Chowk and Sundari Chowk, in the Hanumandhoka Durbar in Kathmandu for the public, coinciding with the New Year 2012.
Hundreds of Nepali and foreign visitors flocked to the ancient courtyards as they were opened for the public on Sunday.
The Mohankali Chowk was built during the rule of then king Pratap Malla where important meetings would be held. It has intricate woodcarvings and stone carvings. Similarly, the Sundari Chowk also has artistic wooden and stone carving.
The committee said the ancient courtyards were opened for the public to make them aware of their importance.
The Hanumandhoka Durbar square is one of the eight places in the country listed under the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites.
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| Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), January 2012 |
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Visitor arrivals by Air 2011-2012 |
January 2012 - Robust growth continues
International tourist arrivals to Nepal are on track to reach new milestone in 2012. The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that the tourist arrivals reached 42,031 with 27.7% of robust growth in January this year compared to the same month last year.
All regions have shown positive growths in the first month of 2012. India which constitutes the major market of Nepal, has recorded positive growth of 29.2%. In the SAARC region, arrivals from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have registered positive growth by 34.4% and 112.5% respectively. However, the arrivals from Pakistan declined by 29.6%. In aggregate, the South Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 27.7%.
Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have also recorded positive growth of 42% in aggregate with all markets showing improved performance except Malaysia. The visitor's arrivals from China have increased significantly by 107%. Similarly, the arrivals from Japan, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea have also increased by 6.4%, 5.2%, 8.4%, and 7.9% respectively. Malaysia registered negative growth of 13.5% in January 2012 compared to the same month in 2011.
An overall positive growth of 22.8% has been observed from the European markets with arrivals from major generating markets such as the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland up by 4.7%, 27.9%, 88.1% and 132.4% respectively. However, the arrivals from Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden have declined by 3.8%, 9.7% and 59.9% respectively compared to the same month last year.
Tourist arrivals from Australia, Canada and USA have also registered growths of 8.6%, 27.8%,and 7.7% respectively. A negative growth of 12.2% was recorded from the New Zealand in January 2012 compared to January 2011.
Nepal has enjoyed a continuous positive growth in the international visitor arrivals since June 2009 and the trend continues in year 2012 too. These figures reflect rising confidence amidst international visitors and tour operators .
A total of 52,617 foreign tourists departed from TIA in January 2012. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 82,897 while 67,194 Nepalese departed from TIA in January 2012.
December 2011- Year 2011 wraps up with Sustained Growth
The year 2011 has concluded with positive notes both in terms of total visitor arrivals for the month of December and also for the whole year. The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that visitor arrivals in the month of December 2011, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 20.4% to 43,721. Also, the total number of visitor arrivals in aggregate (Jan-Dec, 2011), compared to same period in 2010, have increased by 21.4% to 544,985. Nepal received 96,216 more visitors in same period (Jan-Dec) of 2010.
In December 2011, arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia) have recorded positive growth of 31.5% in aggregate with China (107.7%) , Japan (8.1%) andSouth Korea ( 17.8%). However, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have registered negative growth of 8.5%, 11.9%, and 20.7% respectively compared to the same month last year.
In the SAARC region, arrivals from India have grown by 26.1% but arrivals from Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have declined by 19.2% , 29% and 40.7% respectively in December 2011. In aggregate the South Asian segment has registered a positive growth of 13.3% in the month of December and 30.1% in the year 2011.
An overall positive growth of 21.7 % has been observed from the European markets in the month of December 2011 and 11.2% in the year 2011. Arrivals from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain are up by 12.3%, 23.5%, 13.6%, 22.1%, 50.7% and 74.4% respectively. However, the Netherlands , Austria and Poland have posted a negative growth of 4.2%, 45.7% and 20% respectively .
Tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA have also registered remarkable growth of 9.5%, 25.4%, 22.5% and 23.8% respectively in December 2011 compared to 2010.
The total number of visitor arrivals by land till November 2011 is 174,612. With this the number of visitors visiting Nepal in 2011 has totaled 719,547 (The arrival by land for month of December 2011 is not included).
A total of 50,840 foreign tourists departed from TIA in December 2011. The number of Nepalese arrivals stood at 60,466 while 65,247 Nepalese departed from TIA in December 2011.
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| Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), January 2012 |
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The Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal |
The new long-distance walking trail links established treks in the Annapurna and Everest regions with exciting new trekking destinations in Nepal's high mountains
The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is one of the longest and highest trekking trails in the world. The 1,700-kilometre route connects popular treks in the Annapurna and Everest regions with exciting new trekking destinations in the West and East of Nepal. Walking along the GHT, tourists can now cross the complete Himalayan range in Nepal, exploring remote and fascinating travel destinations, each featuring a unique blend of spectacular scenery and long-preserved cultures. The GHT starts in the district of Taplejung in Nepal's East and ends in Humla and Darchula in the Far West of the country, close to the Indian and Chinese borders.
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| The Great Himalaya Trail Development Programme, March 2012 |
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Bhutan, India, and Nepal agree to enhance cooperation in the Kangchenjunga Landscape |
The unique, culturally and biologically rich landscape around Mount Kangchenjunga covers parts of western Bhutan, northeastern India, and eastern Nepal and is one of several Himalayan areas where countries need to work together to conserve and manage biodiversity. In a meeting held at Gangtok in Sikkim State of India from 16 to 18 August 2012, senior officials and experts from Bhutan, India, and Nepal developed a road map for carrying out collaborative work in this area.
The Kangchenjunga landscape includes 15 protected areas. The countries agreed to work towards connecting these areas through 'biodiversity corridors' for species migration to assist adaptation to climate change; and to address problems that cross borders such as poaching, overgrazing, forest fire, and spread of livestock disease.
The consultation was organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and hosted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) in India, with support from the Forest Departments of Sikkim and West Bengal. It was attended by more than 40 representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"The challenges of biodiversity conservation and management in the landscape can only be addressed if all three countries cooperate at various levels from local to bilateral to regional", said Mr Bhim Prasad Dhungel, Minister of Tourism, Forests, Environment, and Wildlife Management of the Government of Sikkim, India. To this end, a similar collaborative initiative undertaken by ICIMOD in the Kailash Sacred Landscape could provide a model. "The work around Kailash already provides substantial scientific information to lead the process", said Dr BMS Rathore, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
The joint biodiversity conservation effort will focus on the people living in the landscape. "People in the mountains have to be compensated for their conservation efforts", emphasized Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan. Mr Krishna Acharya, Director General of the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation of the Government of Nepal, pointed out that the landscape programme must also jointly address wildlife-people conflict.
The participatory and consultative process of preparing the transboundary initiative during the next 18 months will be led by ICIMOD. The preparations will include a feasibility assessment report, a conservation strategy, and a comprehensive environmental plan, resulting in a framework for transboundary cooperation. "We are very satisfied with the progress made at this consultation", said Dr Eklabya Sharma, Director of Programme Operations at ICIMOD. "All three countries have given their full commitment for the preparatory phase of the Kangchenjunga landscape initiative".
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Visitor arrivals by Air 2012 |
Growth in International tourist arrivals continues
The upward trend which is already seen in January 2012 continues in the eight months of the year 2012 showing clearly the rising travel demand towards the destination. Nepal has enjoyed a sustained positive growth in the international visitor arrivals since June 2009.
The figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) reveal that visitor arrivals in the month of August 2012, compared to the same month last year, have increased by 2.5% to 44,571.
Almost all regions have shown positive growth in the eighth month of 2012. The arrivals from South Asian region, have gained overall positive growth of 4.2%. Visitor arrivals from Bangladesh have gained positive growth with 72.3% along with Pakistan (17%). However, arrivals from India, has recorded negative growth of 1.2 % with 14,307 visitors along with Sri Lanka (15.7%) compared to same month last year. A robust growth of 21.7% has been observed in the arrivals from the South Asian region during the first eight months of 2012, in comparison to the same period last year.
Arrivals from Asia (other than South Asia region) have also recorded positive growth of 0.6%. Visitor arrivals from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand have recorded positive growth of 10.1%, 15.5%, 18.3% and 2.4% respectively compared to the figures in August 2011.However arrivals from China and Singapore have registered negative growths of 8.3%and 5%.
An overall positive growth of 6.1% has been observed from the European markets with arrivals from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia and Sweden up by 26.3%, 104.5%, 21.6%, 0.7%, 61.6%, 20.3%, 104.9%, 22.6% and 143% respectively. However, the arrivals from Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and UK have declined by 33%, 2.6%, 15.6%, and 2.7% % respectively compared to the same month last year.
Tourist arrivals from Australia have increased by 2.7% while New Zealand, USA and Canada have decreased by 9.8%, 1.9%, and 13% respectively.
In January-August period of 2012, international tourist arrivals to Nepal have risen by 16.3 % to 377,043.
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| Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), September 2012 |
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People and tigers share the same trail in Nepal |
Tigers aren’t known for being accommodating, but a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that the carnivores in Nepal are taking the night shift to better coexist with humans.
The revelation that tigers and people are sharing exactly the same space - the same roads and trails - of Chitwan National Park flies in the face of long-held convictions in conservation circles. It also underscores how successful conservation efforts need sciences that takes into account both nature and humans.
"As our planet becomes more crowded, we need to find creative solutions that consider both human and natural systems," said Jianguo "Jack" Liu, the director of the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability at Michigan State University. "Sustainability can be achieved if we have a good understanding of the complicated connections between both worlds. We’ve found something very interesting is happening in Nepal that holds promise for both humans and nature to thrive."
Conventional conservation wisdom is that tigers need plenty of people-free space, which often leads to people being relocated or their access to resources compromised to make way for tigers.
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| Michigan State University , September 2012 |
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