Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)
The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is the national mountaineering association of Nepal. This association was founded in the year 1973 with its main objectives aiming to promote the mountaineering activities in the Himalayan region, to safeguard the interest and to upgrade the professional and mountaineering skill of Nepalese mountaineers, to popularize mountaineering activities among Nepalese students and youths, to create awareness both in national and international level to preserve the beauty of Himalayan region for future generations.
The NMA is the founder member of Union of Asian Alpine Association (UAAA) and also an active member of the Union of International Alpine Association (UIAA) to help carry out its objectives, the Government of Nepal has authorized the Nepal Mountaineering Association to issue permit for 33 peaks in the Khumbu, Langtang, Annapurna and Manang area. Donation in cash and kind, membership fees from general member and professional members also form the NMA fund.
For More Information: www.nma.com.np
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 was 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: http://www.hotelassociation.org.np/
Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (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 down river 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: http://www.raftingassociation.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; 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: http://www.natta.org.np/
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN)
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) was formed and registered in the Kathmandu CDO Office in 1979 by a handful of trekking agents who realized that it was time to assemble and create an umbrella organization; under which they could work together to meet their common goals and also assist the government by providing suggestions to make trekking business revenue generating industry and also provide employment opportunity to the locals. Such a body was necessary for many reasons. The need for such a body was felt very much, which could undertake the major responsibilities to develop and promote adventure tourism in the country. It was also essential to play a significant, conducive role to mitigate mountain environmental stress.
Since its establishment, the number of trekking agencies has been increasing as well as the number of members of the association. TAAN limited its membership only to Nepalese trekking agents at its initial phase. Nevertheless, it opened its associate membership to foreign organizations to broaden the scope of the Association.
TAAN members (nearly 300 general members and 12 associate members) meet annually 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 with trekking. TAAN has Nine Sub-Committees, which assist to meet its objectives. It also organizes workshops to make trekking agents aware of the rising pollution in trekking routes and other problems encountered by the trekkers and trekking agents. The executive body, which is elected every two years, has 6 office bearers, 8 Executive Members, 1 immediate Past President, 1 Chapter Representative and 3 Nominate Executive Member/s.
For More Information: http://www.taan.org.np/