The Pokhara tourism entrepreneurs have announced up to 50 per cent discount to tourists in a package after learning from the post-disaster programs operated in other countries of the world.
Committee Coordinator Ganesh Bahadur Bhattarai said, "We have offered 50 per cent discount on hotels, zip flight and bungee jump, 20 per cent discount in bus fare, 30 per cent in paragliding and 15 per cent on ultra light."
He added it would be implemented till September.
Similarly, Chairman of Western Regional Hotel Association, Pokhara, Bharatraj Parajuli, said that talks were underway to offer 50 per cent discount at hotels in Chitwan and Lumbini areas.
The government has been preparing to open major tourism sites along with the damaged heritages sites in the capital, which are enlisted in the list of World Heritage Site by mid-June.
However, major tourism destinations, out of valley, as well as adventurous game like rafting, cultural heritages, paragliding and cannoning are safe.
A tourism entrepreneur Bishwo Shanker Palikhe said it was necessary to take this message among tourists of SAARC region and Europe. We are moving ahead after collaborating among entrepreneurs from Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini for the overall revival of the quake-affected tourism sector.
It is the season for the arrival of Indian and Chinese tourists. A total of 45,000 tourists returned back to home and 25,000 entered to Nepal during one month after quake, it is learnt.
"It is necessary to strengthen the national economy reviving the tourism industry that has been hit-hard following the April 25 earthquake and aftershocks, secure the jobs of the employees working in this sector and bring the tourism of Pokhara in the earlier state," said Chairman of the Pokhara Tourism Council Som Thapa.
Around 400 hotels in Pokhara have been provided 16,000 bed services every day. The hotel entrepreneurs have invested around Rs 100 billion. Pokhara has separated around 1,000 rooms at free of cost in Pokhara and Kathmandu to foreigners, tourists guides, media workers, and tour operators as an efforts to promote tourism. Pokhara is also known as the gate for the world's renowned Annapurna Trekking route.
The tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara have been preparing various programmes with discount to internal tourists, who like to refresh them from their tense caused from the earthquake and aftershocks. The tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara also brought various packages to encourage foreigners to visit Nepal.
They organized various yoga camps, Bhumi puja, cultural performances recently has planned to organize cycle race, football matches and other sports activities. The entrepreneurs have also made trekking package of three days to Barpak of Gorkha from Pokhara.
They contributed Rs 500,000 to earthquake victims through Prime Minister Disaster Rescue and Relief Fund has planned to construct a school one school in Kaski, Lamjung and Tanahun and some house collapsed by earthquake.
The entrepreneurs have also held meeting with Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, and Minister for Tourism, Governor and Indian and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal to compensate the tourism business and stressed that the government should convey the message that many tourism destinations in the country are safe to travel except those in the quake affected districts.
Pokhara lies at 200 km away from the capital and is known as city of seven lakes. The dazzling mountains, fountains, Seti River, and places of historical, religious and cultural aspects are other attractions to foreigners and internal tourists to visit Pokhara. RSS
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