Nepal ambassador thanks Pattaya for aid, urges tourists to return

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Nepal’s Ambassador to Thailand encouraged Pattaya residents to help his shattered country get back on its feet after a devastating earthquake by visiting his shattered country as tourists.

HE Ambassador K.N. Adhikari called on Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and city council members July 10 to thank them for raising funds to aid victims of the 7.8-magnitude April 25 quake.

Nepal’s Ambassador to Thailand, HE K.N. Adhikari (right) meets with Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome to thank Pattaya’s administration for raising funds to aid victims of the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake the country suffered on April 25.Nepal’s Ambassador to Thailand, HE K.N. Adhikari (right) meets with Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome to thank Pattaya’s administration for raising funds to aid victims of the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake the country suffered on April 25.

The temblor leveled more than 70,000 homes, damaged another half-million, and killed more than 8,000 people. It also destroyed or heavily damaged historic tourist sites. As a result, Nepalis are afraid tourists won’t return, depriving the country’s economy of much-needed revenue.

Later that day, the Ambassador and Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal, along with councilor Dornath Aryal hosted a gala dinner for tour operators at the Holiday Inn Pattaya. There they explained the current situation in Nepal and encouraged tourists to return.

Rijal thanked the local Nepali and Indian communities for their support before describing the country’s tourist attractions and popular regions.

“As Nepal’s leader, I insist that Nepal gratefully welcomes all tourists and is safe now,” he said. “I would like to invite Thai people to visit Nepal and enjoy traveling in Nepal. Moreover, it will help Nepal in generating revenue for rehabilitation.”

Thai and Nepal airlines operate flights between Bangkok and Kathmandu; ninety percent of hotels in Kathmandu are operating fully and most roads are fully open.

Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley reopened for tourists on June 15.