PATA Nepal Chapter in collaboration with Nepal Tourism Board organized a Two-Day Human Capacity Development (HCD) Training Workshop on “The Art of Selling Destination, NEPAL – Profitable and Sustainable” on August 8-9, 2019 at GATE Vocational FAB School in Pokhara with the active and enthusiastic participation of 66 young tourism professionals and stakeholders from Pokhara.
PATA Nepal Chapter has invited Dr. Bert Van Walbeek (Managing Director from Winning Edge, Thailand) as a Resource Person (Trainer) to conduct this HCD training program which is supported by Regional Hotel Association Chitwan, GATE Vocational FAB School and Kailash Group Nepal as ‘Hospitality Partners’; as well as the ‘Airline Partner’- Buddha Air. PATA Nepal Chapter will be conducting the same training program at Jungle Safari Lodge in Chitwan on August 13-14, 2019. 
This HCD Training was organized aiming to enhance the awareness of the MICE stakeholders about Selling and Promoting, both to Special Interest Tourism (SIT) & Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibition (MICE) market segments. The 2-day workshop provided practical information and trained the participants about tailoring the Package as per the customers’ need and market segment; focusing content on destination selling profitably and sustainably with as main focus on Special Interest Tourism and MICE; enhancing the motivation and product pride for continuous attention and highest efforts of the participants; as well as providing the appropriate “DIY” follow-up documents, tools and realization schedules to consequently assist monitoring implementation and results.
“It is not the hotel, airline, restaurant, travel agent or transportation that tourists travel for; but its destination which is the first selection criterion in their travel decision. So, we have to know the art of selling destination first and working together to make the Visit Nepal Year 2020 Success” said Dr. Bert Van Walbeek.
Mr. Suresh Singh Budal, CEO of PATA Nepal Chapter extended thanks to all the participants and supportive organizations and sponsors for making this training workshop successful and invited participants to join PATA Nepal Chapter events and initiatives in the future. He informed that the training program was very important for inspiring the participants to realize about the importance of prioritizing “Destination First” in every marketing and promotional campaign prior to pitching of the products and services of specific service providers in the destination; providing them with the essential attributes and skills of sales, promotion, negotiation, proposal writing and presentation.
A joint Certification of PATA Nepal Chapter and Nepal Tourism Board was provided to each participant upon completion of the program.