The agreement, which is valid for five years, has been signed at a time when the country is observing Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011. During the year, there has been a robust growth in arrivals of Chinese tourists. [break]
President of HAN Prasidha B. Pandey and CHA President HAN Ming signed the agreement in the capital on the final day of the three-day World Congress of International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) on Wednesday.
HAN president Pandey said the objective of the agreement is to promote tourism and hotel-restaurant industry in the two countries as well as to work together in developing and implementing programs and projects related to tourism and hotel-restaurant industry in Nepal and China.
CHA President Ming expressed commitments to support HAN by organizing training, workshop, seminar and promotional activities for tourism development.
According to MoU, HAN and CHA will provide materials related to tourism promotion, especially related with hotel for distribution to agencies, tour operators, travel agents and individual tourists. "HAN and CHA will work as facilitator for one another on any activities related to tourism promotion," the agreement stated.
More than 200 participants from about 35 countries across the globe participated in IHRA World Congress. The event featured discussion and seminar on a number of issues including redefining excellence in standards for the hospitality industry, new trends in hospitality, and Nepal tourism investment and realities.
During the discussion, speakers underlined the fact that ongoing crisis in the hospitality industry is because of the government and the public sector. Speakers said the nation is suffering from malfunctioning of the public sector, which is imposing higher taxes and VAT.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, IHRA President Dr. Ghassan Aidi said, "It is now your turn to convince them (international participants) to invest here and prove." He expressed hope that the program was a success in bringing a positive impact to Nepal´s image and more tourists in the coming years.
A postal stamp in commemoration of IHRA World Congress priced Rs 1.75 was launched at the closing ceremony. IHRA is a global business organization, which represents hospitality industry worldwide.
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