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Kathmandu Friday September 28, 2001 Ashwin 12, 2058.
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Proposals on reviving
tourism industry submitted
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Sept 27 - Entrepreneurs of the
Nepalese tourism Industry, who have been passing through a hard time as a result of
shrinking tourist arrivals, have submitted their three-phase proposals to the Ministry of
Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), on Tuesday.
The proposal was submitted to Shanker
Koirala, Acting Secretary at MoCTCA jointly by PATA Nepal Chapter, Nepal Association of
Travel Agents, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, Hotel Association Nepal, Nepal
Incentive and Convention Association and Nepal Association of Tour Operators, states a
press release.
In its proposed short-term programmes aimed
at reviving the dwindling tourism industry, the entrepreneurs have demanded that the visa
fees levied on the foreigners need to be lowered immediately to encourage foreigners to
visit Nepal. In addition, the various fees and duties imposed on the airline’s
operation have to be revised. Similarly, there must be a 50 per cent reduction on the fees
levied to the film cinematographers in Nepal, states the release.
The tourism related entrepreneurs have also
asked to scrap the entry fees imposed by the municipalities of the Kathmandu valley and to
provide 50 percent discount on the entry fee to the national parks.
The tourism businessmen, presenting the
mid-term programmes to revive the tourism industry, have demanded the grant of Rs 50
million to finance tourism promotional programs from the government fund. In addition they
have demanded additional 65 days to submit details related with Value Added Tax.
Similarly, presenting the long term
programmes, they have demanded to slash down the lending rates of the banks and transfer
all the loans into single long-term loan. Also, the duration for repayment of the loan and
interest has to be reviewed, demands the proposals.
The present provision to send environment
officer with the trekking group while tracking into the restricted areas must also be
scrapped. The proposals have also suggested to make necessary arrangements to allow the
mountain expedition upto a height of 6,500 metres at the minimum charge, they have
demanded.
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