Kathmandu, May 10: Mr Kedar B. Mathema, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Japan inaugurated the first meeting of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) sales mission in Tokyo Monday.
The sales mission is the first of its kind organised by Nepal in Japan.
The meeting was attended by over hundred senior journalists and representatives of tourism and travel trade agencies.
Speaking on the occasion ambassador Mathema highlighted the impressive achievement of the tourism industry of Nepal in recent years and stressed the need to publicise the joy and comfort Nepal offers to visitors of all ages.
Mr Pradeep Raj Pandey, chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board made a presentation on Nepal as a destination in which he highlighted tourism trends in Nepal as well as the diverse attractions that Nepal offers to visitors.
Mr Pandey also answered several queries asked by the participants.
Later the door prizes sponsored by RNAC and other participating hotels in Nepal was awarded to the winners of the lucky draw during the reception which followed the meeting.
Participants of the Nepal under the leadership of Nepal Toursim Board were Royal Nepal Airlines, C & K Travels & Tours, Hotel Haatiban Resort & Balloon Sunrise, Hotel Holiday Taj, Hotel Phewa Prince, Hotel Radisson, the Fulbari Resort & SPA Hotel, the Hungry Eye and Image Nepal.
Representative of Nepal Tourism Board Pankaj S. Rana coordinated the show on behalf of NTB.
Japan is the second largest tourist generating market for Nepal.
In 1998, 30,658 Japanese tourists visited the country (by air only). The year 1999 saw an increase of 5.45% over the previous year’s figure reaching 32,328 (by air only).
Nepal is becoming popular among Japanese tourist because of its astonishing diversity of sightseeing attractions, well-preserved flora and fauna, and adventure and photography opportunities found nowhere on earth.
In view of these facts, the first Nepal sales mission will play an important role in attracting tour operators and tourists and garnering publicity for Nepal.
The second meeting of the sales mission was held at Fukuoka Tuesday.
Two more meetings are scheduled to be held at Nagoya and Osaka on May 10 and 11 respectively.