The lease agreement of the six lodges is expiring in mid-July, 2012.[break]
The hoteliers along with local stakeholders have asked the government to implement the earlier agreement without further delay. As per the agreement, hotels inside CNP had agreed to relocate outside the protected area by mid-July.
Speaking at a program organized in the capital, the hoteliers said all locals and stakeholders were in favor of relocation of the jungle lodges. The locals have warned of severe protest if the lodges are allowed to operate inside the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Backed by Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), owners of lodges inside CNP are busy holding meeting with government officials and leaders of different political parties and trying to persuade them to extend lease contract. Tourism ministry officials are positive about extending the lease contract.
“We´ve requested the government not to extend lease contract of jungle lodges operating inside CNP. If the government extended their contracts, we will lock our hotels and hand over the keys to the government,” said Keshav Pandey, a Sauraha-based hotelier.
There are around 90 hotels in Sauraha.
Basu Dhungana of CNP Buffer Zone Management Committee said some of the jungle lodges have yet to clear royalty to the government. “The royalty amount is very low compared to the benefits they are enjoying inside CNP. Unfortunately, some of them have not cleared that amount too,” fumed Dhungana.
The warring hoteliers also argued that the contribution of six lodges operating inside CNP was negligible when compared to contribution of hotels operating outside the national park. They also said hotels outside the park were well-facilitated to cater to all kinds of tourists.
Meanwhile, leaders of all major political parties have asked the government to follow the instruction of Natural Resources and Means Committee of the then legislative-parliament on the issue.
Tourism entrepreneurs, officials of Regional Hotel Association Nepal, Chitwan, political leaders, conservationist and the locals were present at the program.
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