PATA Nepal celebrates 47th anniversary

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter organized PATA ID on 26th September 2022 at GATE College, Mandikatar, Kathmandu, to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the official inauguration of the association.

PATA Nepal Chapter was inaugurated on the 26th of September 1975 and falls on the eve of World Tourism Day each year.

During the formal function of PATA ID and World Tourism Day Celebration, PATA Nepal Chapter launched the promo video for the 4th Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM) to be held in Nepal from 6th till 9th June 2023. PATA Nepal Chapter organized the three highly successful editions of HTM in 2017, 2018, and 2019, which could not take place later during the global pandemic.

PATA Nepal Chapter paid tribute to Joti Lal Khanna with the PATA Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong dedication for over 45 years to the development of the tourism sector in Nepal. The ‘PATA Personality of the Year 2021 Award’ was rewarded to Deepak Raj Joshi, in recognition of his support and revival of Nepal's tourism sector during and after the global pandemic.

Similarly, Birendra Bahadur Basnet was awarded the PATA Tourism Trailblazer Award 2022 in recognition of his leadership over the years to strengthen Nepali Aviation.

The ‘Best Student Chapter of the year 2022’ was awarded to Global College International (GCI) in recognition of their engagement with Young Tourism Professionals at various initiatives of the PATA Nepal.

During his welcome speech, the Chairman of the PATA Nepal Chapter, Bibhuti Chand Thakur, emphasized the need of the hour to work together for upgrading and upscaling safety, security, sanitation, and service standards for the sustainable growth and development of the tourism industry in the country.

Keynote speaker Deepak Raj Joshi shared his insights on “Rethinking Tourism” in the context of Nepal. Similarly, Rabindra Raj Pandey, guest, and speaker at the event shared his experience, memories of his engagement with PATA, and pioneering initiatives of the PATA Nepal Chapter in the 1980s and 90s to promote and develop the Nepali tourism sector. He further appreciated the current promotional efforts and initiatives of the PATA Nepal Chapter and the concept of celebrating the official inauguration of the association every year onward as PATA ID.