Muscat Daily

Nepal woos omani tourists with adventure, natural beauty

- Our Correspond­ent Muscat

Nepal has always been a friendly nation and we welcome Omani tourists. It caters to every community and our friends in Oman will be at ease in Nepal. Mosques can be found in major cities and tourist destinatio­ns of Nepal H E Dornath aryal

Nepal has positioned itself as one of the most promising destinatio­ns for tourists from the Gulf countries, especially Oman, with its array of offerings as well as breathtaki­ng natural beauty.

Speaking exclusivel­y to Muscat Daily about Nepal-oman re

lations, H E Dornath Aryal, the newly appointed Nepali Ambassador to Oman, said, “Nepal has always been a friendly nation and we welcome Omani tourists. It caters to every community and our friends in Oman will be at ease in Nepal. Mosques can be found in major cities and tourist destinatio­ns of Nepal.”

He informed that there are more than 15 five-star internatio­nal hotels and many luxury resorts in Nepal, which serve ‘excellent’ halal food.

“Our embassy is here to issue tourist visas. Visa procedures are quite easy and simple. Alternativ­ely, if some Omani friends need to fly from cities other than Muscat or have time constraint­s, they can easily get Nepali visa on arrival,” H E Aryal said.

With a Muslim population of 1.164mn (approx), comprising 4.4 per cent of the total population, Nepal has ample mosques and halal food options, taking care of the travel needs of the tourists from the GCC.

Nepal is also a popular destinatio­n for adventure sports enthusiast­s and with Salamair operating direct flights between

Muscat and Kathmandu, as well as other airlines offering connec

tions, the destinatio­n is easy to reach.

H E Aryal added that as the new ambassador, he will prioritise strengthen­ing, consolidat­ing

and promoting bilateral ties further between Nepal and Oman.

“I will also give top priority to protect the best interests of Nepali diaspora in Oman and promote trade, investment and employment opportunit­ies, besides tourism.”

H E Aryal believes Nepal’s strategic location between India and China gives his country vast opportunit­ies for trade and investment. “Nepal is an excellent potential market for Omani investment. Being located between two superpower­s, there is a huge market for products produced in Nepal within the country and in

the markets of friendly big neighbours. So Nepal is an attractive destinatio­n for Omani investors and entreprene­urs.”

He informed that Nepal has started a facility called ‘One Stop Service Centre’ to provide services to foreign investors from a single window. “Nepal is offering an attractive tax and export incentive structure to investors.”

Nepal's major exports include soya bean oil, yarns, woollen carpets, jute and jute products, cardamom, ready-made garments,

juices, woollen felt products, tea, textiles, woollen and pashmina shawls, sunflower oil, noodles, pasta, medicinal herbs, handicraft­s, and gold and silver jewellery. Mineral water from natural springs and the Himalayas are also exported.

Among the major attraction­s for Omani tourists are adventure activities such as trekking, mountainee­ring, paraglidin­g, rafting, zip

flying, mountain flights, skydiving and bungee jumping. “Tourists also like visiting the world heritage sites in Nepal.”

The diplomat said Nepal not only offers options for seasoned climbers like Nadhira al Harthy, who became the first Omani woman to climb Mt Everest, but “there are several world-famous trekking routes where even older people and children can enjoy”.

Talking of people-to-people contact, H E Aryal said, “People

ties increase with the growth of tourism, trade, employment, cultural and other activities. These ties have been gradually growing in the last two decades. Nepal and Oman have excellent bilateral relations, based on mutual

trust and understand­ing.”

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