Secretary of Ministry of Toursim and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) Narendra Prasad Ghimire states that as there is a total of 25 airlines there wont be any problem of air accessibility and current total seat capacity is 21.5lakh which has reduced the air accessibility problem. Likewise, Khanal of TIA said as TIA is expanding its infrastructure there wont be any congestion.

World Travel Market is a global stage for the worldwide travel trade professionals to meet, associate, network, consult and accomplish business.  Nepal with its provided stall space of 130 sq. meters was successful to portray the unique tourism products representing Nepalese culture, nature and adventures. Nepal stand at the WTM 2009 was modified so as to broadcast the message and information regarding Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign.  Nepal Tourism Board also organized a special Nepal presentation program on 10 November, 2009 in London accompanied by more than 50 tour operators and media. At the NTB montage presentation, Nepal presentations by famous British adventurers, Mr. Leo Dickinson and Mr. Richard Kertley were highly praised by the audience present at the event. The function was also addressed by high level representatives of Nepal Embassy, London and Nepal Tourism Board. There were 27 Nepalese Travel Trade companies participating who were successful to expose their products to the global travel trade organization and initiate the business to business network.

Filmmaker and comedian, Emo Phillips says:

• ´Nepal´s one place I want to go back´
• ´Fascinated by animals´
• ´Nepal is  crazy and wonderful place´
• ´Nepalese dirt poor but dressed nicely´

His high-pitched voice and shaggy bangs are as much his trademarks as his dry, sardonic wit. And Emo Philips, 53, a comedian for most of his adult life, can´t imagine doing anything else.

“It´s just something that works for me,” said Philips, who lives in Los Angeles. “I get to travel and tell my stories onstage. It´s the ideal life for me.”

Though he was executive producer of the original 1992 version of “Meet the Parents” (the film that didn´t star Robert De Niro) and dipped his toes into film and television work, Philips isn´t looking to make a mark for himself as an actor. “I´m a good stand-up comedian and can´t say the same about my acting abilities,” he said. Philips talks about his travels, including a trip to Nepal where he got to witness — among other things — a cremation ceremony.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: San Francisco is an amazing city. Lombard Street there is fantastic. But if I could just wish myself back to one place, it´d be Nepal. I loved seeing the wild dogs and monkeys in the streets. It´s so different from what I´m used to. There´ll be like 30 people riding in the back of any kind of vehicle, and people will pass on the hills going the wrong way. It´s crazy, wonderful and so much fun. A lot of Westerners will mistake poverty with spirituality. It´s interesting because many Nepalese are dirt poor, but they all dress nicely. Their pants are pressed, their hair is combed, and they´re thin and presentable. And then you see Americans earning more than the whole village, and we look like a bunch of clowns wearing T-shirts and gym shorts.

Q: What is your best vacation memory?

A: In 1995 on a riverbank in Nepal, I watched a cremation ceremony during which a few boys chatted pleasantly on a ledge 10 feet or so above the burning body, oblivious to being completely enveloped by the rising smoke. At the same time, perhaps a half-dozen yards upstream, a group of monkeys amused themselves by repeatedly jumping into the river from an overhanging tree branch.

Q: How do you try to fit in when you´re a tourist?

A: When I hung out in Paris a lot, I bought a street cleaner´s uniform and carried a local paper around and didn´t brush my teeth a whole lot, and I fit right in. Actually, it´s a myth that the French are snooty and rude. They´re very friendly actually — among the friendliest in the world. I don´t understand how they got the reputation for being rude. I don´t speak French, and they could not have been nicer to me or more helpful. I love the French!

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: There is nothing I have to have with me to be OK on a trip. I always want to travel light because then you can just jump on any train. But then you´ve got to go to the store and buy everything, or you wear the same thing and wash it in the sink every night.

Q: Have you ever been guilty of being an “ugly American”?

A: No, but I have been mistaken for being Canadian. When you say “please” and “thank you” in some countries, they just assume you´re from Canada and not the United States.

Q: What have you learned from all your travels?

A: The food is worse in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world.

Source: Chicago Tribune