KATHMANDU, March 22: The Tourist Guide Association of Nepal (TURGAN) has taken action against guides who escort foreign tourists to World Heritage Sites without a valid tourist guide license.

Thaneshwar Devkota, president of TURGAN, announced that nine unlicensed guides have been prosecuted in a campaign initiated last Tuesday. This campaign is a collaborative effort between TURGAN and the Tourist Police Unit. "We have taken action against those guides who either failed to obtain a tourist guide license or did not renew their license after obtaining it," he explained.

Devkota reported that four individuals were prosecuted on Tuesday and an additional five on Wednesday. License verifications were conducted in the Bauddha area on Tuesday, while Wednesday's monitoring took place in the Basantpur area of Hanuman Dhoka. TURGAN plans to extend this campaign to include checks in Pashupatinath, Swayambhu, Patan, and Bhaktapur palace areas.

The team has detained tourist guides lacking valid licenses for two hours, issuing warnings. Deputy Superintendent of Police Narendra Kunwar, head of the tourist police unit at Bhrikutimandap, mentioned that the tourist police have intensified the checking of guide licenses due to unlicensed individuals, including hotel staff and trekking and travel agency employees, conducting tours. "This not only creates problems for those holding a valid tourist guide license but also undermines the profession. Hence, the tourist police periodically verify the licenses of tourist guides," he stated.

Currently, 4,820 individuals across the country have obtained tourist guide licenses. TURGAN has also appealed to all guides to conduct their activities in a disciplined and respectful manner, emphasizing the role of tourist guides as ambassadors who convey positive messages of Nepal to foreign visitors.

 
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