Asia Invest seminar of tourism professional

International Regional Seminar of Small & Medium Accommodation Providers (SMAPs) was organized on August 19. Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), International School of Tourism & Hotel Management (IST), Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITH), Sri Lankan Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) and Salzburg University, Austria, all took part in the function.

European Union’s (EU) Asia Invest plan has founded Training Academies in Nepal and Sri Lanka under the supervision of the local partners Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
Mr. Prasidha Bahadur Panday, president of HAN told about the function of HAN in tourism boosting in Nepal, other tourism related activities, SMAPs sustainability and its contribution for the overall development in Nepal.

Dr Heidi Burkhart, general manager, Hilfserk Austria International told about the function of HWA and community-based tourism in Nepal and other countries.

Upali D Silva, Director of SLTDA told about the function of SLTDA in tourism boosting in Sri Lanka, other tourism related activities, and SMAPs contribution to the overall development of Sri Lanka.
Mr. Narendra Bajracharya, CEO of International School of Tourism & Hotel Management told about the function of private sector in tourism.

European Union’s Asia Invest program ‘Strengthening the Capacities of Small and Medium sized Accommodation Providers’ (SMAPs) operated with 80 Nepali and 40 Sri Lankan SMAPs concurrently.
The project was carried out in Chitwan, Nagarkot, Pokhara and Lumbini in Nepal.

Participators were given with training booklets, tool kits, audio video trainings, and personal coaching by the tourism and IT experts in relative fields.