At a time when Nepal’s tourists arrival is badly hurt, Incentive Holidays has announced the launch of the first-ever smart travel companion app for travelers named "Gonepalholiday", and a travel magazine named "Gonepal E-magazine", describing Nepal’s tourism status post April and May earthquakes.

Gonepalholiday improves travelers' in-trip experience by displaying a contextual, actionable view of the itinerary of Nepal’s popular destinations, hotels, trekking, and maps, including other travel and tourism related information. Travelers may download Gonepalholiday on smart phones running both Android and phone operating systems.

The app has been designed as a personal guide to extraordinary travel experience in Nepal. This robust itinerary management app provides vital travel information with the touch of a finger.

“Mobile devices have become one of the most important traveler resources, but just a handful apps address the specific needs of the travelers,” said Hari Man Lama, Executive Chairman at Incentive Holidays. “Gonepalholiday reflects our commitment to providing new services to improve travel programmes and the quality of trips.”

“We will be gradually incorporating information of hotels, home stays and other tourism services that are not currently included on it. We believe the app will be a key communications tool for encouraging travelers to make smart choices during their trips and also help to promote Nepal at this crucial period.”

Gonepalholiday delivers travel itineraries, including airlines, hotel and ground transportation – automatically and securely synchronized maps and directions to hotels, airports and more.

The E-magazine is the first of its kind in the tourism sector. "Welcome to the spring issue of Nepal’s Tourism Review online magazine, a quarterly publication of the Incentive Group of Companies (IGC)," says the press release.

"We all know that Nepal is facing a number of tourism challenges after the April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. Despite negative portraits of Nepal in the international arena, Nepal still represents a remarkable destination with sites not seen anywhere else. Open the destination supplement to learn more. The professional part of the magazine discusses safety of tourists and provides a number of tips on choosing the best travel destination," said Lama.

This competition is intended to highlight a dynamic market with opportunities. As frequently, the world has reported only the bad news about Nepal, when there is so much that is impressive that we can be proud of. We hope this photo competition will demonstrate some of the positives revealing the real progress and development that Nepal is making.

The photo competition is categorized under four different segments -- Adventure, Landscape, Culture and Heritage and Wildlife. Travelers should download a free mobile app of Gonepalholiday to upload their photos. The photo competition is an engaging way to encourage amateur and professional photographers to present the beauty of Nepal through their positive images.

The competition, open to amateur and professional photographers above 18 years, will take place from July 31. The jury will select the best 100 photos and it will be informed to respective photographers by August 15, 2015.

These selected photos will be uploaded on Facebook for open voting (likes), starting from August 16 to September 25. On September 27, the World Tourism Day, the winner will be announced. Four winners will be announced from each category and will receive a Kathmandu-Lumbini-Pokhara tour package. For foreigners, the organizers will bear air fares to Nepal.

Besides, 25 best photos will receive consolation prizes like mountain flights, discounts at hotels and resorts, sightseeing tours, and many more.  

Started in 1999 with this travel agency, the company has since then taken leaps forward to be one of the leading business groups. The business operations of the IGC currently encompass seven business sectors: tourism, aviation, cargo, global remittance, hydropower development, investment, information technology and a vocational technical institute. The major companies under Incentive Group include Incentive Tours and Travels – General Sales Agent for The AirAsia X Malaysia, Sansui Treks and Expedition, and Incentive Holidays.