Diwali Greetings!
Dashain has just bid us goodbye and Diwali is waiting around the corner. As hectic preparations are on to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, we at EH, have come up with the November issue of the EH Newsletter. This issue highlights our notable achievements in Sept- Oct 2007, as well as offers the latest information on Himalayan Tourism. After a dark spell of violence and uncertainty, we are happy to note that Nepal and the Nepal tourism industry, is on the road to recovery. There has been a surge on tourist arrivals by 32%, as recorded in the first nine months of this year. We are confident that this figure will grow in the coming months. Many international travelers who have visited Nepal this year, have found Nepal a ‘safe haven for tourists’ and have expressed their desire to revisit it. Another bit of good news is the launch of a number of international carriers (some in the pipeline) for operation in Nepal. We hope that these will make air travel, in and out of Nepal, more efficient and hassle-free. On this auspicious occasion, we take this opportunity to wish all our readers a happy and joyous Diwali.
Happy Diwali and happy reading!
Highlights
● EH Completes 10 years, Bags Award for Being the Second Highest Foreign Exchange Earner
● Suman Pandey Visiting the WTM in London, UK (12-15 Nov’07)
● EH’s Wedding Package: Organizes four Mock Marriages in October’07
● Shisapangma scaled from the South face by Koreans Mr.Kim Jae Soo and Ms.Go Mi Sun
● Two Italian groups scale Island peak and Mera peak, Jim Gill (Director of Travel Directors, Australia) makes his dream trek to kala pattar and climbs island peak, 9 danish climbers summit mera peak
● lord baden powell trek and peak: NEW trekking route and peak in langtang and ganesh himal area, EH organized THE first summit attempt and inaugural trek-Mingma and Kelsang Ties Up with EH For EH’s smooth Operation in Tibet Adventures
● EH Launches New Flight Schedule- Application Posted in EH’s Website
● Aviation News - Etihad and Silk Air Commence Services, Dragon Air on the way, Cosmic Air Resumes Operation, air nepal likely to start soon, HongKong express- waiting in the wings
● Mr.Prachanda Man Shrestha, New CEO of NTB
● NMA elected President of UAAA
● AOAN holds 9th Annual General Meeting (15th Oct’07) – Suman Pandey Elected GS of the Committee
EH Completes 10 Years, Bags Award
On Sept’07 EH celebrated its 10th anniversary. It was in a small office in Durbar Marg that EH started its operation. We began with just six members Suman (General Manager), Jeevan (DGM), Bimal (Marketing Officer), Dhruba (Accounts officer), Anu (Receptionist) and Chabe (Office boy). From the modest office at Durbar Marg, now we have moved to a much larger and spacious office premises (our own!) at 745 Amrit Marg, Thamel. There are 40 staffs working in the main office. Within a span of ten years, we have expanded our business to include subsidiary companies: Explore Himalaya Travel, Nuovo Marcopolo Restaurant, Kathmandu B&B, Yak Trekking and Mountain Gears etc. In addition, our company has also become a stakeholder in the helicopter company, “Fish Tail Air”. Over the years we have organized almost a 100 expeditions to the popular peaks lying in Nepal and Tibet, numerous treks for as many trekking groups, special events and missions. But on our road to success, we have not forgotten our commitment to the society. We have tried to give back to the community by supporting many social and community projects. The project Each One, Teach One, is one such program that EH supports. This project is primarily focused on ensuring children’s right to education and is a well-orchestrated development project to empower needy children. EHCS project has made several contributions in Nuwakot.To cite a few, the building of the science and computer lab at Bhairavi High School and the renovation of the 200 years old prayer hall of the Bhairavi temple in Nuwakot. To further this noble cause, we have received generous help from warm hearted patrons the world over. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have been involved in our community projects. (To read more, follow the link.)
As EH celebrated its 10th anniversary, the icing on the cake proved to be the award the company bagged for being the second highest foreign exchange earner (To view photos, follow this link)
Suman Pandey Scheduled to Visit WTM (12th-15th Nov) London, UK
Like the previous years, EH will be participating in the World Travel Market fair which is to be held at the Excel centre, London from 12th to 15th Nov’07. Suman Pandey, the President of Explore Himalaya will be taking part in the event. He will be there, highlighting the regular products on Himalayan tourism like, trekking tours and other adventure activities in Nepal. He has some new exciting deals lined up for this event, viz, special helicopter sightseeing tours, some new trekking products and tours in Nepal and Tibet, new concepts of motor-home tours, sky-diving in the Everest area, para-motoring in Nepal and many other adventure activities in the Himalayas. If you have any queries or are interested in the Himalayan journeys, you can personally meet up and discuss on the finer points, with Mr.Suman Pandey. He will be available at the Nepal pavilion, Booth No.5. If Nepal and Himalayan adventure is in your travel agenda, then Mr.Pandey is the man for you. If you happen to be in London this November, then please do visit the fair at Excel Centre and make it a point to drop in at Nepal Pavilion, Booth No.5.
EH with travel directors Organizes 4 mock marriages in Oct’07
In order to popularize Nepali culture among tourists, EH in partnership with Travel Directors (Australia), has come up with a new concept of Nepali mock marriages. This event has proved to be popular among Australian couples. Till date EH has successfully planned and organized more then 15 mock marriages. This October, EH celebrated the weddings of four couples: 1. Colin and Joan MacKenzie(12th Oct) 2.Anthony and Cheryl Metcalf (17th Oct) 3.John and Barbara Mills (24th Oct) 4. Keith and Janice Lokan (31st Oct). (More on this report and pictures...)
Shisapangma scaled from the South face by Koreans Mr.Kim Jae Soo and Ms.Go Mi Sun
EH organized an expedition to Shisapangma Peak via the difficult south face in the last leg of Sept.’07.It is our pleasure to inform you that the expedition was a success. The expedition comprised of five members, two Koreans and three sherpas. (More…)
Two groups scale Island and mera peak, Jim Gill (Director of Travel Directors’, Australia) fulfills his dreAM, Climbs Island Peak
Recently EH help organize two big expeditions to Island Peak and Mera Peak. Martino Morretti led an all Italian group of 14 to Island Peak where 13 climbers reached the summit on the morning of 28th Oct’07.A group of 12 more Italians led by Alberto Zuchetti went on expedition to Mera peak. The group took an unusual route, crossing over the Amphu Lapcha pass from Chukung valley. Five members from the group reached the summit of Mera Peak on 29th Oct’ 07.Another group comprising of 9 Danish climbers climbed Mera peak on 27th Oct. Jim Gill, Director of Travel Directors, made his dream trek to the Everest Base Camp Area and climbed the Island Peak with a group of eleven. (More on the expedition reports & pictures…)
lord baden powell trek and peak: NEW trekking route and peak in langtang and ganesh himal area
The Government of Nepal has introduced a trekking route and a peak in the Ganesh Himal area and the Langtang valley, named after the founder of International Scouts Movement, Lord Baden Powell. It was a moment of great pride for scouts all over, when a group of scouts from Australia, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Nepal did the Lord Baden Powell Trek and reached the summit of the virgin peak, Lord Baden Powell Peak.
(To read more on trek report and view pictures, follow the link)
(To read more on peak report and view pictures, follow the link)
Mingma and Kelsang Enters into Partnership with EH’s Tibet Adventure Tours
From the growing popularity of destination Tibet among tourists, we have come to realize the need for more partners to ensure a smooth operation of all tours, treks and any special events operated and marketed by EH. In this connection, we have signed up two new partners Kelsang Norbu and Mingma for our Tibet operations.(More details and pictures, follow the link)
EH Launches Flight Schedule - Application Posted on EH’s Website
EH is happy to announce the posting of its new flight schedule application after successfully completing the trail period. This new schedule is now in full operation. You can check out the application page on our website. Over here, you can access information on all domestic and international flights operating in Nepal. On the domestic flight front, you can access information on the names of airlines, the flight timings and fares for domestic travel . About international flights operating to and from Nepal, you can get flight timings, fare on different classes and all related information. For information on flights operating from Europe on transit basis, we have created a separate page on Transit Details. We believe that this section will give enough information to our clients and help them in planning their flying itinerary, while traveling in and out from Nepal. (Please follow the link Domestic / International )
Aviation News
Etihad Airways has launched its flights to Kathmandu from Abu Dhabi four times a week (Sun, Mon,Wed and Thu) from Oct 28’07.The company will be operating with a double cabin Airbus A330-20 with a capacity of 262 passengers. Silk Air introduced a three times weekly services between Kathmandu and Singapore from Oct 30th 2007. Air Nepal Intl., which had halted its operation from March’06 is resuming its services from Nov’07. Dragon Air also plans to resume its services. Cosmic Air resumed its operation from Oct 17, 2007. Plans to get afloat the Hong Kong Express on the Nepali sky are also underway.
NTB Gets a New CEO
Mr.Prachanda Man Shrestha, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Supplies, has been appointed as the new CEO of Nepal Tourism Board. He replaces Subash Niraula who was working as the officiating CEO for the last one year.
NMA Elected President 0f UAAA
In the recently concluded General assembly (3-7 Oct’07) of Union of Asian Alpine association (UAAA) in Matsumoto, Japan, Nepal was elected as the President of UAAA. The UAAA is an international body that deals with environmental issues and focuses on generating awareness and educating people on mountaineering related activities. The membership of Nepal to International Federation of Sports Climbing (IFSC) was also approved by the plenary assembly on October 5 in Matsumoto. Now Nepal can participate in international sports climbing events. The other countries that got admitted to IFSC this year include Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Peru, South Africa and Cameroon.
AOAN holds 9th Annual General Meeting (15th Oct’07) – Suman Pandey Elected GS of the Committee
The ninth annual general meeting of the Airlines Operators' Association of Nepal (AOAN) has formed a new working committee with Bijaya Shrestha of Yeti Airlines as its president. The meeting has unanimously selected Rameshwor Thapa of Simrik Air and Ang Dendi Sherpa of Air Dynasty as the first and second vice-presidents and Suman Pandey of Fishtail Air as its general secretary, states AOAN press release.
Congratulations to Mr.Suman Pandey on being elected GS of AOAN!
-From EH staffers and Fishtail Air crew |