American Express : Partners with Nepal Tourism Board and Himalayan Bank to Promote Tourism in Nepal

The Nepal Tourism Board today announced the launch of the 'Experience Nepal' campaign in partnership with American Express and Himalayan Bank. This global campaign aims to promote Nepal as an international tourist destination offering unique, authentic experiences for American Express Card Members across the globe.

As part of this exclusive partnership, American Express Card Members can avail special privileges, value adds and discount offers atover 80+ merchants across Nepal who are participating in this campaign. These offers can be availed across multiple categories including dining, lodging, adventure sports, local art and crafts etc offering Card Members a chance to experience the local flavours and culture of Nepal. Participating merchant partners include renowned brands like Dwarika's, Annapurna, Fishtail Lodge, Hotel Ambassador, Hotel Everest View, Shangri La, Water Front Resort, Sherpa, Nepali Chulo, Fire and Ice and Kaiser Café among others.

The campaign which goes live today and will run through June 2020, will target American Express Card Members in several countries including India, Japan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, France, Germany, United Kingdom etc. This campaign will be actively promoted through the American Express website and mobile app, as well as across participating merchant partners.

Nepal Tourism Board will play a key role in the promotion of the campaign in various countries through their website, trade fairs, offline and social media channels. This campaign will also be promoted across all Tourism Information Centres within Nepal as well as at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Himalayan Bank which is the sole merchant acquirer of American Express in Nepal, has been instrumental in bringing alive the merchant offers and will be actively promoting the campaign through their website, social media channels as well as at their bank branches and ATMs.

Speaking about the announcement, Divya Jain, Vice President-Global Network Partnerships-India and South Asia, American Express said, 'We are pleased to partner with Nepal Tourism Board and Himalayan Bank for the 'Experience Nepal' campaign. Nepal is a market of strategic importance for American Express and we are committed to promoting and helping local businesses in the market grow through our partnership. With this campaign, we aim to provide our Card Members a compelling reason to visit Nepal and experience the rich culture and heritage it has to offer.'

Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Nepal Tourism Board said, 'The partnership with American Express for the 'Experience Nepal' 2017-2018 campaign is one of Nepal Tourism Board's most successful corporate collaborations till date. The campaign was considered a landmark creative initiative between a national tourism board and an international brand by both local and global audiences. The 'Experience Nepal' 2019 campaign fits in perfectly with our larger 'VisitNepal2020' drive, aimed at offering 'once-in-a-lifetime' experiences for travelers visiting the country. I am positive that this partnership will be very successful and help us effectively reach out to the premium Card Member base of American Express.'

Ashoke SJB Rana, Chief Executive Officer, Himalayan Bank Limited said, 'It is a very special day for us today to re-launch the 'Experience Nepal' campaign 2019 with American Express Card Members. We are confident that the partnership with American Express and Nepal Tourism Board will help promote Nepal as a tourist destination globally and will be instrumental in making the Government of Nepal's dream project 'Visit Nepal 2020' a grand success. Needless to say, the project itself is an important economic driver for our country. With the launch of the campaign, American Express Card Members around the world will not only experience this beautiful and diverse country first hand, but will also be able to avail various discounts and offers from Himalayan Bank's merchant network that includes hotel partners, restaurants, airlines, travel and trekking companies, among others. This campaign will help visitors to the country build loyal relationships with our merchant partners and in turn drive incremental business for them. I am confident that the 'Experience Nepal' campaign will help us project Nepal as a preferred tourist destination in South Asia.'

Kurush Dastoor, Director and Head, Global Network Partnerships, South Asia Markets said, 'The launch of the 'Experience Nepal' campaign is part of our commitment to our partners Himalayan Bank and Nepal Tourism Board to drive business in the region. I am confident that the campaign will not only help promote tourism in Nepal, but also generate additional value for our merchant base in the country.'

ABOUT HIMALAYAN BANK

Himalayan Bank Limited (HBL) is a leading private sector commercial bank incorporated in 1993. HBL stands ahead in meeting customer demands through its continuous effort of tying banking products with world class technology. It is the first Bank in the country to introduce HBL Proprietary Credit Card, start international credit card issuance, acquiring business and ATM service. Moreover, it is the pioneer financial institution to start acquiring and issuance business of chip based EMV Compliant Plastic Cards in the country. At present, total customer base of HBL is above 300,000 individuals & institutions out of which more than 150,000 are availing card services. For more information, visit: www.himalayanbank.com.

ABOUT NEPAL TOURISM BOARD

Nepal Tourism Board is a national tourism organization of Nepal established in 1998 by an Act of Parliament in the form of partnership between the Government of Nepal and private sector tourism industry to develop and market Nepal as an attractive tourist destination. The Board provides platform for vision-drawn leadership for Nepal's tourism sector by integrating Government commitment with the dynamism of private sector. NTB is promoting Nepal in the domestic and international market and is working toward positioning the image of the country. It also aims to regulate product development activities. Fund for NTB is collected in the form of Tourist Service Fee from departing foreign passengers at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, thus keeping it financially independent. The Board chaired by the Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation consists of 11 Board Members with five Government representatives, five private sector representatives and the Chief Executive Officer.