Madhesi Front’s bandh call worries tour operators

Tour operators have expressed serious worry over the indefinite shutdown strike called by the United Democratic Madhesi Front beginning February 17.

Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) in a statement Monday said that the strike would not only seriously hamper the movement of tourists in the Terai destinations, it would also send negative image of Nepal in the global tourism market.

With the announcement of an indefinite closure of all border points and roads leading to the hills, tourists are showing concern over going ahead with their planned trips, while foreign tour operators are in dilemma to sell travel package to Nepal, NATO stated and added that this would result in booking cancellation and deal a serious blow to the tourism industry.

“In the light of such scenario, the NATO urges the government to do needful to avoid the indefinite strike, and resolve the Terai problem, which is denting Nepalese tourism image. Moreover, many tourism destinations are emerging in the Terai, showing itself as next promising area for tourism expansion in Nepal.”

Because of such internal disturbances, many foreign countries have kept up issuing travel warning, while big tour operators have not put back Nepal in their brochures.

NATO also demanded that the government immediately solve the shortage of petroleum products, as the scarcity has begun to impact the tourism industry, leaving many tourist vehicles off the road.

Three Madhesi parties – Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana Party and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum - formed the Front, announcing a series of protest programmes including indefinite bandh and blockade. nepalnews.com mk Feb 11 08