Int'l Student ID cards in Nepal

KATHMANDU, March 12:Many of you have student ID cards that you carry with you. But unless you use public transportation for the 45 percent discount on fares, the ID seems good for little else. But now things are changing.



Zen Nepal Tours and Travels Pvt Ltd has introduced the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the only internationally recognized ID for full-time students aged 12 years and above studying in schools, colleges and universities worldwide.[break]



 Now you can make the most of your student days - all you need to do is get the ISIC for discounts, free stuff, and fun that’s waiting for you.



“The International Student Identity Card is a globally recognized student identity card which is valid in 120 countries,” says Mitali Ghosh, manager of Zen. ISIC, she says, also provides students about 41,000 discounts on travel, shopping, museums and more worldwide.



Currently, there are more than 4.5 million cardholders globally.







“It’s mostly popular in Europe but students in other parts of the world also use it,” she says.



ISIC is also endorsed by organizations such as UNESCO, the European Council on Culture, and the Andean Community of Nations.



The card is recognized by universities, academic institutions, student organizations, national governments, and ministries of education around the world.



Nepal is the 121st country to introduce the card, and Zen Nepal is the authorized distributor of the card here.



“It was first started to provide different services to students and to make their life easy,” she says, “Students now can get discounts on different commodities and services they need with this card.”



Students, she says, don’t earn, so they can make the most of the limited money they have with this card.



 “Students don’t get discounts with the school issued ID cards in many places, but with ISIC, they can get 10 percent-25 percent discounts in many restaurants and shops,” she says. “We haven’t included bars as we have only targeted those places appropriate for students,” she adds.



To date, the ISIC is valid in about 150 businesses in Nepal.



Zen Nepal has plans to sign up about 200 merchants by the end of March.



Ratna Bahadur Karki, manager of Himalayan Java, Thamel, says, “We’ve been providing 10 percent discounts on our services to students who present the ISIC.” He says, “I think this is a good initiative,” and adds, “Students can save a lot as they get certain discounts at different places.”



Dilip KC, manager of Reebok at Durbar Marg, says, “Our store provides seven percent discounts on all our products to those who hold ISIC.” He says, “There are very few cardholders, but I think it’s increasing.” He further says, “It’s good for students to have such cards as they will be able to afford different products if they get discounts.”



Zen Nepal plans to expand the validity of this card in major cities all over Nepal in the coming days.



 It also has plans to increase the number of cardholders.



 “We’ve been asking organizations in Kathmandu and Pokhara to accept this card and provide discounts,” says Bhumi Puri, Marketing Manager for ISIC at Zen.



“As UNESCO endorses, we have plans to make this card valid in museums and world heritage sites in Nepal,” she says. “We also have plans to make this card valid for outdoor activities such as trekking, bungee and rafting.



We’ll also make efforts to make it valid at hospitals, clinics and hotels,” she adds.



Sandeep Panta, 19, a student and cardholder, says, “We don’t have income sources, so it’s very beneficial as students get discounts on various products and services.”



“It’s even more beneficial to students like me who are going abroad for further studies as you get discounts on air fare, and at many other places.” he says. “I recommend all students here to take this card and enjoy the discounts and offers provided to students,” he adds.



Zen Nepal provides discounted tickets for international flights to all major cities to cardholders.



 “We have also been issuing the card for free to students who buy tickets here for international flights,” Ghosh informs. “This scheme was introduced to encourage students to get the card and it’ll continue for some time,” she adds.



Without booking an international flight, students can also obtain the card by filling out a form and paying the equivalent of US$22.



They also need to present valid proof of their status as a fulltime student.



Besides ISIC, Zen Nepal also issues International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) for youth under 26 years of age and the International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) for fulltime teachers or professors.



IYTC and ITIC both give access to offers and services similar to ISIC.



For more information, contact Zen Nepal Tours and Travels Pvt. Ltd, Thamel, or visit www.isic.org.

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