The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Gandaki Province has launched a three-day basic training program on Sabre airline ticket booking for members of travel companies operating in Pokhara. The training officially began today, September 12, 2026 (Bhadra 26, 2083), with an inaugural ceremony aimed at strengthening the technical capacity of travel professionals and preparing them for emerging opportunities in international air connectivity from Pokhara.
Training Aims to Prepare Travel Professionals for Expanding Connectivity
The inauguration program was held in the presence of Krishna Prasad Bastola, Founding President of NATTA Gandaki Province, as the chief guest. During the event, NATTA Gandaki Province President Sangeeta Paudel highlighted the relevance and importance of the training in enhancing the professional capabilities of travel agencies and their employees.
The program has been organized at a time when Pokhara is preparing for expanded international air connectivity, particularly with the planned launch of direct flights by flydubai from Pokhara International Airport.
Flydubai is scheduled to begin flights from Pokhara International Airport on September 23, connecting Pokhara with Dubai and, through Dubai, providing access to a network covering more than 130 countries. Against this backdrop, the training is intended to help develop skilled human resources capable of supporting the growing requirements of the tourism and aviation sectors.
Practical Sabre Training for Travel Agencies
According to training coordinator and NATTA Gandaki Province Executive Committee Member Bikash Niraula, the program has been designed with the objective of producing skilled manpower who can effectively handle airline reservation and ticketing services.
As a basic-level training, the program will be conducted over three days. Participants will receive approximately three hours of training each day, covering both theoretical concepts and practical applications related to Sabre, a widely used global distribution system (GDS) for airline reservations and ticketing. The training is expected to provide participants with foundational knowledge of airline booking procedures and improve their ability to manage ticketing-related services efficiently.
Capacity Building for Pokhara’s Travel Sector
NATTA Gandaki Province believes that such skill-development programs will contribute to strengthening the professional capacity of travel entrepreneurs and employees in Pokhara. With the anticipated growth in international flights from Pokhara, travel agencies are expected to play an important role in facilitating airline reservations, ticketing, travel arrangements, and other related services for both domestic and international travellers.
The association expects the training to make service delivery more efficient when international flights expand from Pokhara International Airport. It also views the initiative as part of the broader effort to prepare the city’s tourism workforce for increasing international connectivity and the opportunities it may create for Pokhara’s travel and tourism industry.
