Envoy calls for more flights to China
Kathmandu, Feb 3: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yang Houlan stressed the need to increase the number of flights to China and the number of Chinese speaking guides to attract more Chinese tourists to Nepal.
The recent visit to Nepal by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had helped in promote the country as a tourist destination among the Chinese visitors, he said at an interaction organized here by Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Chinese Government would help in building international airport in Pokhara and regional airport in According to the Air Service Agreement between Nepal and China, China can operate 14 flights a week. Air China operates seven flights whereas two other airlines — China Eastern and China Southern — operate four flights and three flights respectively in a week leaving room for more flights between two nations.
President of Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rajesh Kazi Shrestha emphasized on the establishment of a Nepali consulate general’s office in the major cities of China like Kunming, Guangzhou and Chengdu to help Chinese outbound tourists to acquire visas and to increase promotional activities.
Due to the rapid economic expansion of the Chinese economy, the number of Chinese outbound tourists is increasing rapidly which is expected to reach 100 million by 2015. China now has become the world’s fourth largest outbound market with a high spending capacity and with the increase in Chinese outbound tourists most of the nations are expected to benefit.
The government of the People’s Republic of China has allowed Nepal, ‘Approved Destination Status’ for outbound tourists. Nepal has also been listed by the Chinese government as the ninth outbound tourist destination.
According to Chamber, the number of outbound Chinese tourists reached 57.4 million in 2010. Nepal is often named as the most coveted destination by Chinese tourists because people of both countries share a common border and values. An increase of 63.1 per cent last year reveals that Nepal is becoming a major tourist destination for Chinese tourists. They are specifically attracted towards cultural sightseeing, shopping, casino and nightlife. They normally travel during the first weeks of May and October and during the Chinese New Year. Approximately 80 per cent of them come from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Suzhou and Guangdong.
