Kathmandu, December 13, 2017- Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter successfully concluded its 41st Annual General Meeting today at Shangri-la Hotel under the theme “Vision 5 Million” Tourists by 2030.
The AGM unanimously appointed the New Executive Committee with the Chairmanship of Mr. Sunil Sakya, Chairman of KGH Group of Hotel & Resorts. He replaces Mr. Suman Pandey who was elected in January 2013 and remains in the Executive Committee as an Immediate Past Chairman.
On his appointment, Mr. Sunil Sakya said “It’s an honour and I feel humbled. I feel a sense of profound gratitude and immense responsibility to be joining this office of PATA as the chairman. It’s a great honour to be given this opportunity to safeguard the legacy of this institution. PATA Nepal will continue to work with the spirit of PATA HQ and also is committed to working closely with the government, Ministry of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board and reach out to work closely with all our tourism-related associations and private sectors.”
Accordingly, the AGM elected 1st Vice Chairman -Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi (CEO at NTB), 2nd Vice Chairman- Janak Raj Kalakheti (Commercial Director-Nepal Airlines), General Secretary-Mr. Bibhuti Chand Thakur (Founder-Himalayan Holidays Trekking), Hon. Treasurer -Mr. Shiva Prasad Dhakal (MD- Royal Mountain Travel). There has been elected 4 Ex officio members including Mr. Rabindra Shrestha (Corporate Director-Nepal Airlines), Mr. Krishna Lamsal (Director- Department of Tourism), Mr. Subhash Jha (Deputy. Director- Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal). Other Executive Members include Mr. Sanjay Bhakta Mathema (President- SDU Travel), Mr. Vinaya Shakya (Travel Consultant -Tripitak Holidays), Mr. Abdullah Tuncer Kececi (General Manager- Turkish Airlines), Mr. Khem Raj Lakai (CEO-GATE College), Mr. Tika Ram Sapkota (MD- Nepal Vacation), Mr. Tashi Gurung (MD- Himalaya Kailash Travels & Tours) and Mr. Abhishek Bikram Shah (GM-Chandragiri Hills).
During the AGM, PATA Nepal Chapter also elected 7 Proxy Members to its Executive Committee including Mr. Samba Shah (CEO- Soaltee Sibikrim Hotels & Resorts), Ms. Pragya Sharma (Operating Manager- Adventure Outdoor Treks & Expedition), Ms. Manjani Shrestha (Marketing Chief- Summit Air,) Ms. Reetal Rana (MD- Mid Valley Int’l College), Mr. Ram Barakoti (Director- Nepal Social Treks & Expedition), Mr. Prabhakar Khadka (Director- Rupakot Resort), Mr. Lila Dhar Bhandari (CEO- Going Nepal).
Similarly, The AGM has also endorsed the 11 Members at PNC-Youth Forum (Main Committee) including Mr. Niroj Karmacharya, Mr. Mr. Lomash Dhamala, Mr. Bimoj Pradhan, Mr. Prem Kumar Danuwar, Ms. Ujani Khadka, Ms. Kabita Risal, Ms. Shreeyukti Shah, Mr. Sagar Nepal, Mr. Bigyan Chapagain, Mr. Pasang Syangtang, and Ms. Sarina Shrestha.
The AGM has endorsed to intiate a campaign of “Vision Five Million” with an objective to invite 5 Million Tourists in Nepal by 2030 and in the days to come shall be playing an instrumental role as a “Software Partner” to initiate dialogues with all necessary individual and organizational stakeholders in building missions from all aspects including Infrastructure, Policy reforms, Marketing and Products or Human Capital whatever or whenever seem necessary in achieving this great objective, working in full harmony with the Government, Nepal Tourism Board or any other Association, Institutions, Individuals from the private or public sector. The chapter shall also be engaging the Scholars and Research Professionals and initiate Task Forces to visualize the impact in our Economy, Social Sector and Human Development by calculating the results Post Five Million Arrivals and identify where our indicators would reach in various areas like Revenue, Foreign Currency, Employment, Cash Flow, GDP, Infrastructure Development Socio-Economic mobilization and other related facts.
During the AGM, the PATA Personality of the Year 2017 Award was presented to Mr. Karna Sakya, Founder of Sakaratmak Soch. Mr. Sakya is also the Founder of KGH Group of Hotel and Resorts and a well-known figure and activist of Nepalese Tourism.
Similarly, the Best Student Chapter of the Year 2017 was awarded to Nepal College of Travel & Tourism management for their great dedication and contribution towards PATA Nepal Student Chapter initiatives.
The outgoing chairman Mr. Suman Pandey emphasized that PATA Nepal has adopted the Philosophies of PATA International as working Guidelines, PATA Builds your Brand, PATA Builds your Business, PATA Builds your People, PATA Builds your Network, PATA Builds your Insights. He further said, “Adding PATA’s Next Generation Campaign and Digital Marketing initiatives in our mission, the team of PATA executive committee have wonderful opportunities to explore different fields of interest and cater benefits to our Tourism Industry.”
The first Vice-Chairman of PNC and CEO of NTB, Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi highlighted on the contemporary challenges and basic requirements to develop the tourism sector and said that NTB is dedicated to working together with private sectors in developing more prospective destinations and in every aspect of tourism promotion and development.
The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Yuv Raj Khatiwada (Former Vice-Chairman of National Planning Commission) highlighted on the Vision 5 million as a challenging goal but is achievable with collaborative efforts of public and private sectors as well as the changing scenario in Nepali politics towards the stable government. He also emphasized that Nepal needs the better-balanced tourists in terms of both quantity and quality. He further added that the private sectors should be more encouraged and facilitated with friendly tourism business policies and better infrastructures by the government and the private sector’s role to be enhanced in every aspect of promotion, expansion and development of tourism industry. He also appreciated the initiatives of PATA Nepal Chapter and assured to facilitate the needful support and cooperation in future to achieve the goal of Vision 5 Million.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Maheshwor Neupane (Secretary- Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation) appreciated the contribution of PATA Nepal Chapter for the promotion and development of Nepali tourism sector and said that the goal of achieving 5 million tourists is possible with collaborative works in a practical way; working in infrastructure, Air service agreements, standardization of services and friendly working policy and assured that Ministry of Tourism is eager to work together with the private sector to achieve this goal.
