KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: Writing a 35-page project report on tourism potentials and challenges of the Changu Narayan area, one of the most attractive World Heritage Sites in Bhaktapur, and presenting it in slides and pictures, Brookfield International College (BIC) won a purse of Rs. 5,000, trophy, medals and certificate of appreciation.

V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School was second besting four other competitors. In their reports the BIC, V. S. Niketan, Kathmandu Don Bosco and Himalayan White College students explored the historical and environmental mien of the historical site in Bhaktapur which was included in the list of World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO in 1969.

Of the 16 colleges, which applied for participation, six colleges – host BIC, VS Niketan, Himalayan White House, Kathmandu Don Bosco, New Summit and Raktakali – were selected for the report writing competition, and were sent to observe and study the site last month. All these colleges have launched travel and tourism in their academic curricula. The BIC has been organising the contest since 2001 with a view to making the college level students, who take up hotel management and travel and tourism as major subjects, explore the potentials of historical sites for attracting tourists.

“As such academic programmes help develop the creative aspects of students, the College is committed to organise such events in the future also,” said coordinator of the competition and principal of BIC Gopal Krishna Shrestha during the prize distribution ceremony. “It was a life time experience – going for field work, talking to people, collecting facts, and writing them in the form of a book and present it before a gathering including a panel of judges who are experts in the country’s travel and tourism industry,” said Tara Poudel, a participant from Himalayan White House College.

Executive director of Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management Meena Khanal distributed the prizes to the winning students and said that the students needed to be exposed to the realities of tourism industry.