New logo, slogan launched for tourism recovery

To convey the message that Nepali is open for business and is ready to welcome tourist in autumn, National Tourism Promotion Committee (NTPC) has unveiled a new promotional logo and slogan 'NEPAL: BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD'.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony organized in Kathmandu on Monday, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kripasur Sherpa said tourist flow has increased drastically after the earthquake. "Despite the reduction in number of tourists, we are committed to revive the tourism industry. We are sure that this logo and slogan will again take Nepal to the top of the world," he added.

Tourism stakeholders are working hard to recover tourism industry in the aftermath of the earthquake with build back better approach. Most of Nepal's cultural monuments, trekking and mountaineering trails, and tourist attractions are up and running and waiting to welcome visitors.

The new logo and slogan are a part of a concerted effort to revive the tourism industry and send the message to the world that life in Nepal is back to normal, according to NTPC.

Ramesh Kumar Adhikari, member secretary of NTPC working committee, said that the slogan will help inspire people to visit Nepal. "We are hopeful that the logo will help in promotion of tourism in local as well as global market and bring back the tourism industry in the same situation as it was before the earthquake," Adhikari told Republica.

NTPC has also been carrying out promotional programs outside the country for tourism recovery. Recently it carried out promotion program in Malaysia and Thailand.

According to NTPC Secretariat, it has proposed a budget of Rs 600 million in the current fiscal year for the recovery of tourism. It has already submitted budget proposal to the Ministry of Finance.

NTPC has focused mainly on marketing and promotional campaigns in India, China, USA, UK, Japan, German, French and Italian speaking markets for the rapid revival of tourism industry.

The Post-disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report has estimated that tourism business will go down by 40 percent in the next 12 months and 20 percent in next 24 months. However, tourism entrepreneurs are hopeful that the launching of new logo and slogan will help in rapid recovery.