More IA flights to Nepal this winter

Indian Airlines would increase the number of flights from Kolkata to Nepal during winter, said Meenakshi Mallik, regional sales manager (eastern region) Indian Airlines.

Presently, there were three daily flights from the city to Nepal. Mallik also said that in view of the traffic anticipted during the festive season the airlines was planning to increase flights during October and November, as well.

According to estimates, over the last three months, the average number of passengers flying to Nepal from Kolkata were around 2,000 per month.Subash Nirola, director tourism products & resources development, Nepal Tourism Board said, India contributed around one-third towards the total flow of tourists to Nepal.

Nirola further clarified that this was the official estimate as it considered only the air traffic. "If the inland traffic is considered then the share will be around 50 per cent" he said.

However, the Nepal Tourism Board was also considering to incorporate the inland traffic to Nepal at the entry points.

R H Kampani, honorary PRR in India said, there was a healthy growth of Indian arrivals, which had increased by 41 per cent and there was wide speculation among tourism forecasters that the next few months of 2003 would show even better performance traffic flow to Nepal.

With the festive season a couple of months away, the Nepal Tourism Board has started a special promotion campaign to woo Indian tourists at attractive packages in conjunction with Kathmandu's leading hotels.

The value-for-money packages started at Rs 3,999 per person for a three night-four day stay at any of the five major hotels in Kathmandu including the Soaltee Crowne Plaza, the Radisson, the Hyatt Regency, the Everest Hotel and Hotel de Annapurna.

Moreover, the board had also tied up with Indian Airlines to offer packages including airfares. Mallick said, these packages start at Rs 9,300.