Flow of Chinese tourists dismal despite free visa provision

POKHARA, Feb 16 : The flow of Chinese tourists, which had ebbed following the earthquake last year, hasn't seen a rebound even after the decision of the government to provide free visa to them.
The government started providing free visa to Chinese tourists since January.
According to tourism entrepreneurs, the number of Chinese tourists has not increased even after the government introduced the new provision to lure them.
Although February is regarded as the peak season for Chinese tourists, very few Chinese tourists have made their way into the country.
Tourism entrepreneurs find the current flow of tourists worrisome. “Although the government provides free visa to Chinese tourists, the process to get visa is still difficult,” said Dil Prasad Gautam, chairperson of the western regional chapter of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATA).  
According to him, it is the process that makes obtaining of free visa complex for the Chinese tourists. Gautam suggested that the free visa should be made available online. It will help the Chinese to receive visa without any hassle.
Many Chinese tourists are unaware that they can get visas as soon as they land at the airport in Kathmandu, according to Gautam. He informed that there should be a publicity of such a facility.
NATA western regional chairperson Gautam added that lack of proper means of travel by air and roads has also affected the flow of tourists. There are no regular flights from Kathmandu to different cities of China. Neither have the operations at Tatopani border checkpoints resumed.
NATA's central member Sheetal Sharma Paudel also said that the free visa facility has failed to attract Chinese tourists to Nepal.
Besides, there must be publicity in Chinese media highlighting Nepal as a safe destination to travel, according to her. She also argued that the improvising access to free visa through online process will also contribute to increase the flow of Chinese tourists in Nepal.
"Even obtaining on-arrival visa to Chinese tourists at the airport in Kathmandu is full of hassles. This should also be improved," Poudel said.
According to him, around 80 per cent of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal obtain their visa in China itself.

Related story

Citizens of Nepal among 126 countries entitled to free visa to...