The number of tourist arrival to Nepal will exceed 500,000 by 2007, Prabin B. Pandey, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, said here on Friday.

"The number of tourist arrival to the country will reach half-a- million by 2007 and aims to hit the 1 million mark in 2010," Prabin said at a press conference.

Nepal has been awarded three prestigious PATA awards at the 55th PATA annual conference, which was held three weeks back, Pandey noted.

PATA Nepal Chapter received the "Award of Excellence" for its numerous promotional activities, undertaken particularly under the difficult circumstances the country was facing and for the commitment to Nepal Tourism and PATA mission. "PATA has 41 chapters worldwide," Pandey said.

Likewise, Shikher Prasai, secretary of the PATA Nepal Chapter and director of private Natraj Tours and Travels, had been conferred with 'PATA Imex Face of the Future' award for his invaluable contribution towards PATA ideas, chapter activities and in acknowledgment of his dedicated efforts to promote tourism in PATA region, Pandey noted.

Similarly, Nepal Tourism Board, a semi-government organization of Nepal, has been awarded the PATA Gold Award in the CD-ROM category among more than 280 entries, Pandey added.

Source: Xinhua