PATA Nepal Chapter organized a felicitation program on 7th September 2014 for Mr. Basant Raj Mishra, Chairman of the Temple Tiger group on being elected as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association-International during the 63rd Annual General Meeting of PATA held in Zuhai, China. This is the highest position a Nepali national has achieved till date in the International Tourism scenario.
During the program PATA Nepal Chapter handed over a cheque of Rs. 6 lakhs 1 thousand to the Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviaiton- Mr. Bhim Prasad Acharya for the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund as a token of support for the victims of the flood and landslides that have hit the people of Nepal since 2nd August 2014.The donation drive was supported by members of PATA Nepal Chapter and PATA Foundation, Bangkok.
Mr Suman Pandey, Chairman of PATA Nepal Chapter informed on the addition of a new forum- PATA Nepal Chapter- Research Pool to its existing PATA Nepal Chapter Student Forum, PATA Nepal Chapter- Youth Forum and PATA Nepal Chapter- Friends of Media. Members of the Research Pool are renowned personals from the Tourism Sector involved with established Tourism Colleges/ Universities and various research projects. Member pins were presented by the Chief Guest- Mr. Bhim Prasad Acharya and seed money was handed over to Dr. Rajiv Dahal heading the research team to support the Forum in its initial phase. In line with the campaign “PATA Next Generation”, Mr. Vinaya Shakya, Coordinator of the PATA Nepal Chapter Student Forum was also handed over the seed money to jump start the project of the Student Chapter. The seed money is to serve as the foundation for the two forums to go forth with their projects.
Mr. Basant Raj Mishra thanked his counterparts in the Tourism Fraternity and emphasized on the necessity of channelized marketing for Nepal. He further added that with the development of internet/ e communication we should take added advantage of this medium.
Hon’ble Minister congratulated Mr Basant Raj Mishra and said that it is a great achievement for the Tourism Entrepreneurs to have a representative of Nepal in the international organization and that all the Tourism Entrepreneurs should work together in one direction for the development of the Tourism of Nepal. He also appreciated the effort on the contribution to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Mr. Prachanda Man Shrestha, Former CEO-NTB and Mr Dipendra Purush Dhakal, Past Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation congratulated Mr Mishra. Said that PATA Nepal Chapter is the only Association where representatives from different organizations- Ministry, Airlines, Private Sectors are members and that this is the best platform for all to come together and work for the upliftment and development of the Tourism in Nepal. PATA Nepal Chapter having its head office in Bangkok and 42 other Chapter Members can contribute a lot to the Tourism of Nepal in terms of marketing, branding and development.