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American trekker still missing; family pleas for
help to find her
Friday, 12 August 2011
The 21-yr-old trekker had checked into Langtang
National Park on April 20. She was last spotted on
30 April near Lama Hotel, according to locals.
At a press meet organized by Trekking Agencies'
Association of Nepal (TAAN) on Friday, Aubrey's
father Paul said they've decided to continue search
for Aubrey as they have found some missing links in
the incident.
"I have found the locals nervous. I believe they
know something about my daughter but are not willing
to share," TAAN quoted Paul as saying in a press
statement.
"I believe she is being held somewhere. She is in
big trouble," Paul said.
The Saccos have also requested Nepal Police, Nepal
Army, TAAN, Department of National Parks and
Wildlife Reserve, local administration and all
concerned for further investigation into the issue.
Speaking at the meet, a representative of US Embassy
in Kathmandu said, the case will remain open as long
as the Saccos want.
They have also announced a cash reward of Rs 2
million for anyone who gives information on the
whereabouts of the missing trekker.
Tourist flow increase in July 2011
August 10, 2011
Tourist arrivals to Nepal via air in the month of
July increased by 20 percent compared to the same
period last year. According to the Immigration
Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), a
total of 35,212 visited the country in July. With
the completion of seven months of 2011, total
arrivals have crossed 280,000 which is 40 percent of
the Nepal Tourism Year´s (NTY) 2011 target.
Nepal is planning to welcome 700,000 visitors via
air and 300,000 visitors through land routes during
the year. Figures show arrivals from South Asian
region have gained an overall positive growth of
21.7 percent. Number of Indian tourists increased by
24.5 percent, Pakistani by 58 percent, and Sri
Lankan by 70.8 percent during this period. However,
arrivals from Bangladesh declined by 11.2 percent.
Visitor arrivals from Asia, excluding South Asian
market, recorded a growth of 56.6 percent. China,
another major source market, recorded a phenomenal
growth of 127 percent in tourist arrivals in July.
Similarly, visitor arrivals from Malaysia, Singapore
and South Korea increased by 18.9, 36 and 23.9
percent respectively. However, arrivals from Europe
dropped by 5.6 percent during the month compared to
July, 2010, due to fall in arrivals from Germany
(43.3 percent), the Netherlands (24.1 percent) and
Spain (21.1 percent). UK, France, and Belgium
recorded positive growth of 7.1 percent, 4.7 percent
and 31.4 percent respectively. Arrivals from US and
Australia increased by 16.8 percent and 32 percent.
TAAN's 13th Eco-Trekking Workshop in Sukute,
Sindhupalchok
August 10, 2011
Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) is
organizing the 13th Eco-Trekking Workshop at Sukute
Beach Resort on the banks of the Bhotekoshi River in
Sindhupalchok district from August 12-14. Around 60
participants from different member agencies of TAAN
are expected to participate in the three-day event
being organized with the theme of 'Promoting
Responsible Tourism in Destinations'. The workshop
will center on eco-tourism, developing corporate
culture, responsible tourism, trade unionism, flora
and fauna and field-based practical for eco-tourism,
according to Bachhu Narayan Shrestha, first
vice-president of TAAN.
The main objective of the workshop is to enhance
professionalism among trekking workers in TAAN
member agencies.
Nepali civil servants set a new record by
conquering Mount Everest
May 20, 2011
In a historic achievement, nine civil servants from
Nepal have conquered the world’s tallest Mount
Everest on Wednesday. The all-civil-servant Mt
Everest expedition team put the Nepali national flag
and a flag of Nepal Tourism Year as they reached the
summit of 8,848 meter tall peak. This is the first
time civil servants from Nepal have conquered the
Mount Everest.
According to Tourism Ministry officials, the civil
servant expedition team was divided into two groups.
While a group of five members and five support staff
first reached the top at 5:45 am four other members
and 10 support staff followed them an hour later.
Those making it to the top of the Mount Everest on
Wednesday include computer engineer at the Tourism
Ministry Santa Kumar Maharjan, surveyor at the
National Land Use Project Khim Lal Gautam, non-gazetted
first class officer at the Ministry of Information
and Communications Tulsi Ram Bhandari, non-gazetted
second class officer at the Ministry of General
Administration Subir Shrestha and non-gazetted
second class officer at the Tourism Ministry Hari
Dhakal summitted in the first lot.
Likewise, section officer at the Ministry of General
Administration Surath Pokharel, section officer at
the Ministry of General Administration Hari Prasad
Guragain, non-gazetted first class office at the
Tourism Ministry Gyanendra Kumar Shrestha and
computer operator at the Ministry of Education Padam
Bahadur Bhandari reached the top later.
Altogether 15 civil servants had left for Everest
Base Camp early last month with an ambitious goal to
reach to the top of the Everest. While five members
abandoned the plan due to illness team leader Lila
Mani Poudel had returned to Kathmandu on Sunday
after being recalled by the government following his
appointment as home secretary.
The government had earmarked NRS 3 crore for the
expedition and waived the fee for the climbing
permit. It is expected that the civil-servant Mount
Everest expedition will also help to promote
adventure tourism in the country. Nepal is currently
celebrating Visit Nepal Year 2011 with an objective
to bring in more than 1 million tourists in the
country. |
