MoU signed to boost tourism

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, June 26: In a bid to enhance mutual cooperation for the development of tourism between Nepal and India, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) and Hotel Association
of India (HAI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The MoU was signed by HAN President Narendra Bajracharya and HAI President Lalit Suri on behalf of their respective associations, according to HAN.

At the signing ceremony, presidents of both the organisations expressed the hope that the present cooperation between HAN and HAI would help boost tourism in the two countries through increased exchange of tourists.

The Nepalese delegation met with Indian Civil Aviation Minister Shah Nawaz Hussain on Tuesday. The Nepalese delegation is part of His Majesty the King’s entourage to India.

HAN said the Nepalese delegation requested the Indian Minister to allow Indians with an Identity Card issued by the Central and State government of India to visit Nepal. During the meeting, the delegation also raised issues such as promoting regional tourism, allowing private airlines of both the countries to increase tourist flow between them and making arrangements by rail through special bogies such as ‘palace on wheels and air-conditioned coach’ to carry tourists up to the Nepalese border.

Moreover, the delegation requested the Minister to promote tourism between Nepal and India by starting flights on the potential Bangalore-Kathmandu-Bangalore sector. Discussions were also held on starting air services on the Kathmandu-Bagdogra- and Kathmandu-Guwahati routes, which are other potential sectors.

Indian Minister Hussain assured the Nepalese team that India would consider positively HAN’s suggestions. He informed the Nepalese delegation that arrangement has been made for air-conditioned coaches to visit the Indian city of Purniya, which is located near the eastern border of Nepal. He agreed to send a delegation of Indian Airlines to Kathmandu to discuss possible areas of cooperation regarding tourism promotion between the two countries.

The Nepalese team includes HAN President Bajracharya, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI) Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajesh Kazi Shrestha and Mahesh Lal Pradhan.

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