Cabinet meeting in Gorakhshep on December 4

In a bid to draw world attention to the impact of climate change in the Himalayas, the government has decided to hold cabinet meeting at Gorak Shep (5170m), near the Everest Base Camp, on December 4.

Officially informing media persons about the cabinet meeting, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari said the move is aimed at expressing commitments to safeguard environmental sanctity of the Himalayas for the common interest of local and global communities.

Twenty-six ministers will fly to Gorak Shep for the special meeting. The ministers will fly to Lukla of December 3 and stay there to acclimatize to the high altitude. They will then be airlifted to Gorak Shep by four choppers.

By organizing the cabinet meet at the foothills of Mt Everest, the government aims to draw world attention ahead of the 15th Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark.

According to sources, the meeting will last for 20 minutes and will declare Gaurishankar Conservation Area and endorse Summiteers'' Summit to Save the Himalaya Campaign slated for December 11 in the Danish capital.

The ministers will be accompanied by medical team, diplomats, mountaineers and media persons. State-run Nepal Television will live broadcast the meeting.

Different private sector organizations like National Trust for Nature Conservation, Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, Everest Summiteers' Association, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Himalayan Rescue Association, Expedition Operators' Association Nepal and all domestic airlines among others are supporting the event.

Unique Adventure International to participate at WTM, London (9th - 12th November '09)

We are pleased to inform you that our company Unique Adventure International (Treks) shall be taking part at the annual international travel and tourism fair "World Travel Market" in London from 9th to 12th November 2009. We will be exhibiting our products at stand no. AS 4000.

We look forward to seeing you at WTM from 9th to 12th November. Please do inform us if you would like to set up an appointment. You can write us at info@uniquetreks.com.

TAAN formed New Executive Committee for 2009 - 2011

The election for the executive committee of the TAAN was held at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu on 28th of August, 2009. Mr. Sitaram Sapkota, Managing Director of Karyang Kurung Treks & Expedition, Inc. was elected as the president of the association. The election also voted for the members and for other positions of the executive committee. Following are the names of elected executive committee members:

As per the provision of the constitution of the association, the immediate past president Mr. Jyoti Adhikari., Team Leader of Eco Trek International and Mr. Basanta Raj Dawadi – president of TAAN Western Regional Chapter will automatically be the members of the new executive body.

Similarly, in accordance with the constitution of the TAAN, the executive committee also nominates three persons as executive committee members.

It also constituted advisory committee and Seven different departments to represent various fields to facilitate the executive committee while carrying out various activities of the association in achieving its objectives.

KMC plans to turn Thamel into a "Vehicle-free" Zone

20 May 2009: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is planning to declare the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square and Thamel as vehicle restricted zones.According to KMC the roads in these areas will be paved with stones and linked with various temples, palaces and monuments in the areas to develop it as a heritage walk. Three special parking areas near the two tourist sites will be developed to make this project successful.

Chocolate Tasting Project at Everest

18 May 2009: Belgians Louis-Philippe Loncke and his team trekked from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp for 20 days, from April till the first week of May, on a chocolate tasting project with international mountaineers and Sherpas at EBC. Their aim was to raise money for a mobile hospital in Nepal. En route they distributed 200kg of chocolates, and another 100kg when they reached EBC. According to the team members, during the next few months they will try to raise awareness on the necessity of a mobile hospital and raise funds for the project.

Govt. revises permit fee in controlled areas

In a bid to attract more trekkers in the controlled areas, the government has revised permit fee in different controlled areas of the country. The notice regarding the revision of permit fee was published in Nepal Gazette (Volume 58 No 10) and the revised permit fee will come to effect from Shrawan 1, 2065.

As per the new provision, a trekker in Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo has to pay US $ 500 or equivalent foreign currency per person for first 10 days. Likewise, fee for per extra day per person has been fixed at US $ 50 or equivalent foreign currency. Trekker in Manasulu Region needs to pay US $ 70 for a week and US $ 10 per person for each extra day during September to November. However, only US $ 50 is charged per trekker per week during December to August and additional US $ 7 per trekker per each extra day. Similarly, permit fee for Humla (Simikot-Yari) has been fixed at US $ 50 per person per week and US $ 7 per person per extra day.

Likewise, permit fee for Kanchanjunga, Lower Dolpa and Gaurishankar and Lamabagar has been fixed at US $ 10 per person per week. However, permit fee for Chekampar and Chunchet of Gorkha district (Sirdibas-Lhokpa-Chumling-Chekampar-Nile-Chule) has been fixed at US $ 35 per person for eight days during September to November and US $ 25 per person per eight days during December to August.

Similarly, the government has also revised existing tourist visa fee to be effective from Shrawan 1, 2065. As per the new fee structure, US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency is required to obtain Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 15 days. Likewise, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 100 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100.

Likewise, the government has also revised fee required to extend days of stay and visa renewal. As per the revise fee structure, Tourist Visa can be extended by paying US $ 2 or equivalent Nepalese currency per day. Likewise, Multiple Entry facility can be obtained only for the extension period by additional US $ 20 and visa fee for the extended period. Similarly, tourists can renew their visa by paying Nepalese currency equivalent to US $ 3 on the regular visa extension fee.