Post Earthquake Nepal Tourism Promotion Program

Post date: Aug 5, 2016 10:15:42 AM

The Nepal Tourism Promotion Programme was organised by the Embassy of Nepal, London in co-operation with The Nepal Ireland Society on 13th July 2015 at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Ireland. The event was to encourage the flow of tourism after the devastating earthquake which struck Nepal in April 2015. The key purpose of the programme was to promote tourism in Nepal and convey the important message: “Nepal is still safe to visit”.

Chargé d’ Affaires a. i. Mr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri commenced the programme with a welcome speech in which he addressed that almost 85% of tourist areas and attractions in Nepal are still safe to visit and most of UNESCO monuments and sites have already been reopened for tourists. Mr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri, on behalf of the Government and the people of Nepal, expressed his gratitude towards the government of Ireland for their donations and support after Nepal’s distressing earthquake. He also requested for the government of Ireland to lift restrictions from their travel advisories to visit Nepal. Mr. Chhetri further requested that the government of Ireland and Irish media outlets to express Nepal’s status as safe for holidays and visits.

Former Minister Joe Costello TD expressed his sincere sympathy towards the devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal. He stated that he would convey the programme’s important message to the government of Ireland in order to help Nepal’s rehabilitation efforts. Mr. Costello also expressed his interest in shaping stronger social, political, and economic relations between Ireland and Nepal by establishing all party parliamentary group for Nepali citizens residing in Ireland. Afterwards the president of Nepal Ireland Society, Mr. Deepesh Man Shakya, also shed light on the pre and post earthquake scenario of tourism in Nepal. Mountain climber Paul Devaney shared his magnificent experience of his recent visit to Nepal. Mr. Devaney insisted that Nepal is a country that one should visit at least once in their lifetime.

Irish Labour Party politician, former member of Dublin City Council, and former Lord Mayor of Dublin Ms. Emer Costello alongside Councillor Greg Kelly voiced their interest in Nepal and assured Mr. Chettri that they will do what they can to support Nepal’s tourism industry.

115 guests attended the Nepal Tourism Promotion Programme. Among the guests were Councillor of Dublin City, former Minister and former Mayor of Dublin, travel entrepreneurs, travel agencies, tour operators, travel writers, Friends of Nepal, mountain climbers, and Nepalese people living in Ireland.

The programme ended with a Q&A interaction and a note of thanks by Mr. Babukaji Dongol.

Another purpose of the visit was for Mr. Babukaji Dongol to collect the MRP application forms from the Nepalese residents in Ireland. This was a great opportunity for Mr. Chhetri to interact with the Nepalese community in Ireland and discuss if there were any problems they were facing in Ireland.

During this visit to Ireland Chargé d' Affaires a. i. Mr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri attended the National Day of Commemoration which was held at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin on 12 July 2015. He also attended the National day luncheon hosted in honour of the foreign dignitaries by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Charles Flanagan TD. This was held after Dublin Castel visit.

Similarly on 13 July 2015 Mr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Third Secretary Mr. Babukaji Dongol and Mr. Deepesh Man Shakya, a representative of Nepal Ireland Society, attended a meeting with Ms. Maeve Collins, the Regional Director of Asia Pacific Unit at Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. During the meeting they discussed the bilateral relation between Nepal and Ireland, trade and investment and the possibility of high level visits to Nepal. The shared interest was in strengthening and broadening the relations between the two countries. Mr. Chhetri also proposed a formation of a consultation mechanism, and Ms. Collins suggested a Double Tax Avoidance treaty for the benefit of both the local Nepalese and Irish citizens in Ireland.

On this visit to Ireland Chargé d' Affaires a. i. Mr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri was accompanied by Third Secretary Mr. Babukaji Dongol.