New Kangaroo Island Sip & See Day Tour from Sealink

Spoil your senses, indulge your taste buds, and get up close to the magnificent wildlife, while exploring some of Kangaroo Island’s much-loved attractions on SeaLink’s new Kangaroo Island Sip & See Day Tour. Operating every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday until March 2021, this fun-filled tour is priced from $256.00 per person, twin share.

Message from CEO, Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, Nepal Tourism Board

Dear Best Friends and Well Wishers of Nepal,

Greetings.

On behalf of the Government of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the

whole Nepalese tourism fraternity, I am pleased to write to you this

mail.  First of all, I wish all of you sound health, progress and

prosperity during this hour of crisis.

This is our distinct honour to acknowledge your support and cooperation

for the promotion of Nepal in international markets and for the

development of Nepal's tourism industry. You have always been

instrumental in establishing Nepal's rich natural and cultural products

and activities in the global tourism map. You are truly Nepal's Goodwill

Ambassadors for a long time.

Today, both you and we have been suffering from the impacts of COVID 19

pandemic which has brought the global economies to their knees. All of

us are aware that this pandemic has caused huge fatalities around the

world. Our deepest tributes go to those who lost their lives, and we

wish all infected quickest recovery.  In Nepal, the death ratio of COVID

infected people is 0.9%, while as of now, the recovery rate is remarkably

high. We hope and pray we will come out of this situation at the

earliest. Government of Nepal and other concerned authorities have been

aggressively working on keeping it under control.

  It is evident that tourism has been the hardest hit sector by this

pandemic. To set this business upright, we have to struggle hard with

all kinds of partnerships, collaborations, and cooperation. In Nepal,

Government, private sector and NTB have been working round the clock to

reopen tourism business at the earliest date. For this, Government has

issued safety Protocol and ensured its strict implementation in all

sectors, tourism, hospitality and aviation being highly prioritized. We

are gradually opening the business step by step. Since September 1st,

international flights resumed while we are planning to resume domestic

flights from this month. Government has taken all safety measures as its

top priority.

In the new normal scenario, tastes and interests of travellers are likely

to change. Safety, health security and natural setting will be their

choices. For this, you can count on Nepal because it is the country

which is largely based on Natural products. Adventure activities, which

are unique features of Nepal's tourism, will be more sought after by

travellers. Trekking, jungle safari, rafting, sustainable tourism

activities are more likely to be in the bucket list of potential

visitors. Yoga, meditation, herbal medicines, organic foods, Ayurvedic

treatments and traditional healing methods will be on a greater demand.

For all this, Nepal will be on top of the list. Even today, for instance,

high profile mountain expeditions to Mt. Lobuche and Mt. Manaslu are

being organized. Prince of Kingdom of Bahrain is leading the expedition

this month.

Due to the pandemic, most of the international events like trade fairs,

sales missions, roadshows and others have been postponed. We are

planning to participate in such international events as soon as the

situation becomes comfortable and movement becomes smooth. At this

moment, we are launching our alternative marketing campaigns through

digital marketing strategies. We are making optimum use of social media,

blogging, and other means of digital outlets. In this mission, your

engagements and supports are essential.

Nepal is the destination for all seasons and for all reasons. We will

keep in touch with you and update our status on regular basis.

Thanking you,

Dr. Dhananjay Regmi

Chief Executive Officer

Nepal Tourism Board

  Tourist Service Center, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 977-1-4256909 | FAX: 977-0-4256910 | Email: info@ntb.org.np

www.welcomenepal.com

Jimi Hendrix celebrated in Seattle 50 years on

Considered by many as “Seattle’s Son,” Jimi Hendrix was born and raised in the Emerald City and with his virtuosic guitar playing soon became a superstar and rock legend. In his brief time in the public eye from 1966-1970, he thrilled audiences with his wildly outrageous electric guitar playing, innovative, experimental sound, and unforgettable songwriting.

ATIC calls for 12-month visa extension for remaining Backpackers

The Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) has called for a 12-month visa extension for all remaining backpackers in Australia.

Australia welcomes 150,000 backpacker visitors at any time generating $3.2 billion in tourism spending in 2019. But COVID-19 has seen backpacker numbers dramatically fall by over 50%.

ATIC Executive Director Simon Westaway said with 70,000 backpackers still here the free-falling number of remaining backpackers on working holiday visas required an urgent circuit breaker.

“A one-year extension for all remaining backpackers’ visa conditions stabilises the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Program at a critical time for tourism and industry,” Mr Westaway said.

“The absence of backpackers is being harshly felt through the dual loss of usual working holidaymaker spending and dwindling seasonal workers inside many tourism businesses and towns.

“Backpackers travel extensively through Australia taking up hard-to-fill roles across key regional industries including tourism and hospitality as well as areas of agriculture and horticulture.

“The current situation sees recovering regions unable to meet returning local visitor demand in many places where numbers of local businesses do not have enough workers to cater for them.

Source: ABC

“Backpackers are highly valued and their rapid decline in number is proving particularly detrimental to regional businesses and jobs and in their efforts for recovery out of COVID.

“Tourism businesses like hostels and specialist backpacker accommodation and bus and transport offerings that specially cater for backpackers no longer greet many of these high-valued tourists.

“Without urgent Federal Government intervention, despite their existing focus on the issue, we genuinely fear the WHM Program will all but stop in its tracks by early 2021!

“This is because the response to COVID-19 has contributed to a hard-closed international border, tight caps on international arrivals and a high outflow from Australia of departing backpackers.

“ATIC believes Australia’s continual high-appeal to backpackers could easily be turned into a catalyst for future international visitor recovery and backs a fast-tracked pilot program for them.”

Mr Westaway said ATIC had outlined to the Morrison Government a multi-point plan to sustain and long-term retain the backpacker market and this closely aligned with key industry advocates.

Tourism Research Australia analysis showed backpackers pre-COVID generated 46 million visitor nights, spending $3.2 billion across all States and Territories including with high regional dispersal.