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2006 declared South Asian Tourism Year

The 53-point SAARC declaration, adopted at the end of the 13th SAARC summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in November, has declared 2006 as South Asian Tourism Year. It also decided on a SAARC Cultural Center in Kandy, Sri Lanka at the earliest. SAARC is also to study India's proposal for daily air services by designated airlines on a reciprocal basis - without prejudices to existing rights - to all SAARC countries.

The SAARC leaders have reiterated their commitment to the realization of a South Asian Economic Union (SAEU). The declaration said the launching of the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) regime from January 1, 2006 would be a milestone towards forming such a union.

SAARC, or the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka with Afghanistan entering the forum as its newest member. The summit leaders also agreed to request China and Japan to join SAARC as observers.

Meanwhile, the commerce ministers have been directed to hold consultations on the sidelines of the sixth WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Hong Kong, China in December 2005 to evolve a common SAARC position on issues regarding common trade concerns.

India's forex earnings up 21%

Foreign tourist arrivals in India from January-October 2005 registered an increase of 14.2%. During the 10 months, 2,963,587 foreign tourists visited the country, while the number was 2,594,241 during the corresponding period the previous year. There were 321,980 arrivals in October and 262,925 in September.

Foreign exchange earnings also recorded a growth of 21.7% during January-October. Tourism brought in US$ 4,646 million to the national coffers during the 10-month period. Earnings for October amounted to US$ 485 million. The figure for September was US$ 420 million.

Cultural fest to showcase Gurung culture

A weeklong Tamu Cultural Festival is being held in December at Besi Sahar in Lamjung, the place of origin of the Gurungs of Gurkha fame in north central Nepal.

According to the organizers, the festival will help promote rural tourism and preserve the rich cultural heritage, traditional customs, language and religion of the Gurung community. The proceeds of the festival will go to establishing a Gurung cultural museum and cultural study center at Besi Sahar on the Annapurna Circuit trekking route.

The festival will include cultural shows, food festival, agricultural exposition and an exhibition of homemade articles and clothes. Among others, it will feature such elements of cultural heritage as the Ghatu, Ghyabri, Sorathi, Chudka, Serka and Pachyu Lama dances. A series of interactions on protecting Gurung culture and tourism development are also on the cards.

Apart from tourists, the festival holds special significance for the Gurungs who live in Nepal and abroad, many of whom serve in the British and Indian armies.

Gems add sparkle to Nepal’s tourism

Gems mined in the Nepal Himalaya are a major shopping attraction for tourists. To showcase these stones, Nepal Rocks and Minerals Association (NRMA) organized a three-day exhibition in Kathmandu in November.

Besides precious and semi-precious stones, the exhibition also had varied exotic rocks and minerals on display. A rare phosphate mineral called hambergite from Taplejung, the shaligram from the Kali Gandaki, tourmaline from Manang weighing 1,800 gm and jasper, or the priest stone, used for guarding against evil, were some of the main attractions of the first national Nepal Rocks and Mineral Fair.

"Nepal is a paradise for gem and mineral collectors and geologists, and its stones are known for their rich luster and unique specimen when compared to those from Brazil, Africa and Madagascar," said the NRMA Vice President Udaya Man Tamrakar.

Many stones including the ruby, aquamarine, black and green tourmaline, quartz and "healing stones" are mined in the high mountains of Nepal. Ruby and sapphire are found in the Ganesh Himal region, aquamarine in Jajarkot, Lamjung, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung. Tourmaline is found in Jajarkot, Manang, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung; amethyst in Dhading; garnet in Sankhuwasabha, Dhading and Taplejung; amazonite in Sankhuwasabha and quartz in Dhading, Gorkha, Jajarkot, Sindhupalchok and Taplejung. Many lesser-known gems are also found in Nepal.

Accreditation system for adventure operators

In order to ensure very high safety standards in adventure tourism activities, the Indian government has proposed accreditation for adventure tour operators.

Initially, the guidelines are being suggested for mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, mountain biking, river running, scuba diving, parasailing, paragliding and bungee jumping.

According to these guidelines, the chief guide of a mountaineering expedition should possess an "A" grade advanced mountaineering course certificate and experience of five climbing expeditions above 6,000 m. Advance arrangements must be made by the operator for evacuation and assistance.

Regarding river rafting, the guidelines suggest that an operator should arrange at least two additional craft on the water and do a familiarization run in advance. Similarly, in case of bungee jumping, all parts of the jump line must be duplicated.


NEW BOOKS

This work of fiction is a tale of Darjeeling's everyplace and its everyperson - from Serbu Jong, a rich Lepcha landowner, who is said to have first invited the Kiranti and Khas people to settle there, to the inhabitants in the 1980's. The complex story, with its irresistible characters and set against the backdrop of the hill station, is also a contemplation on postcolonial displacement of its people.

EveryPlace: EveryPerson
A Himalayan Tale from Darjeeling
by Peter J. Karthak
Published by: Vajra Publications, Kathmandu
Pages: 263
ISBN: 99946-644-0-9

In June 2004, some 200 devotees traveled to Rakshas Taal, or Demon Lake, at the lap of holy Mt. Kailash and near the holy lake of Manasarovar in Tibet to listen to the sermons on the Hindu epic Ramakatha delivered by spiritual preacher Pujya Shri Morari Bapu. The richly illustrated book is an account of the pilgrimage to these divine destinations, whose religious significance apart, are known for their unparalleled natural beauty.

Divine Destination
A Pilgrimage to the Rakshas Taal, Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
by Hari Man Lama
Published by: Incentive Group of
Companies, Kathmandu
Pages: 104 with illustrations
ISBN: 99946-34-82-8

WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT!

NEPAL

AIR NEPAL INTERNATIONAL
www.airnepalinternational.com

COSMIC AIR
www.cosmicair.com

DHARMA ADVENTURES
www.DharmaAdventures.com

HOTEL YAK & YETI
www.yakandyeti.com

HOTEL YANKI
www.yanki.com.np
www.hotelyanki.com

INTERNATIONAL GUEST HOUSE
www.intguesthouse.com
www.ighouse.com

ITNTI
www.thisiskathmandu.com
MERCANTILE COMMUNICATIONS
www.mos.com.np
www.nepalnews.com

NEPAL TOURISM BOARD
www.welcomenepal.com

SILKWAY FREIGHT &
COURIER SERVICE (P) LTD.
www.silkwayexpress.com

SHANGRI-LA FREIGHT (P.) LTD.
INTER CONTINENTAL LOGISTICS (P.) LTD.
www.shangri-lafreight.com
www.visitnepal.com/shangfreight

TIBET GUEST HOUSE
www.tibetguesthouse.com

SIKKIM

TOURISM DEPARTMENT
www.sikkim.nic.in
www.sikkiminfo.com
www.sikkimindia.com
TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOCIATION OF SIKKIM (TAAS)
www.taasindia.com

DARJEELING

TOURISM DEPARTMENT
DARJEELING GORKHA HILL COUNCIL
www.darjeelingtourism.com

ELGIN HOTELS
www.elginhotels.com

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

TOURISM DEPARTMENT
www.arunachaltourism.com

MEGHALAYA

THE DIRECTORATE OF TOURISM
GOVERNMENT OF MEGHALAYA
www.meghalaya.nic.in