Many travel agencies outside KTM Valley operating illegally

KATHMANDU, Jan 28: A monitoring team of Department of Tourism (DoT) has found that around 30 percent of travel agencies in Jhapa, Itahari and Palpa are operating illegally.

According to Tourism Act 1978 Section 3 Travel and Trekking Agency Rule (2006), travel and trekking agencies in operation without receiving license form DoT will be illegal.

KRITI BHUJU
KATHMANDU, Jan 27
A monitoring team of Department of Tourism (DoT) has found that around 30 percent of travel agencies in Jhapa, Itahari and Palpa are operating illegally.
According to Tourism Act 1978 Section 3 Travel and Trekking Agency Rule (2006), travel and trekking agencies in operation without receiving license form DoT will be illegal.
Data of DoT shows that five, or 35 percent, of the 14 travel agencies monitored randomly by DoT’s regional office in Kakarbhitta were illegal. Pathibhara Travels and Tours of Damak, Sumnima Annapurna Travels and Tours of Damak, New Jay Nepal Travels of Itahari, and Siniolchu Travels and Tours and Jhapa Travels Agency of Mechinagar, Jhapa, were operating without receiving license from DoT.
Similarly, Palpa Travels and Tours, New Raj Adventure Travels and Tours, and Padma Travels and Tours in Palpa in operation without registering with DoT.
These agencies, however, are registered in other offices like Office of the Company Registrar and Department of Industry, among others.
But they do not have the license to operate travel business.
Gobinda Bhadur Karki, director general of DoT said one must take permission from the department to run any type of travel and trekking agencies. “Agencies that are not licensed with us are illegal even if they have taken permission from other government agencies,” Karki told Republica.
“Our regional offices in Bhairahawa and Kakarbhitta have written to these agencies, asking them to come and register with the department. If they do not register with us, we will have to shut them,” Karki said.
These agencies can apply for permission from the department by paying a fine of Rs 20,000, according to Karki.
The department plans to monitor travel and trekking agencies in the Kathmandu Valley very soon.

Data of DoT shows that five, or 35 percent, of the 14 travel agencies monitored randomly by DoT’s regional office in Kakarbhitta were illegal. Pathibhara Travels and Tours of Damak, Sumnima Annapurna Travels and Tours of Damak, New Jay Nepal Travels of Itahari, and Siniolchu Travels and Tours and Jhapa Travels Agency of Mechinagar, Jhapa, were operating without receiving license from DoT.

Similarly, Palpa Travels and Tours, New Raj Adventure Travels and Tours, and Padma Travels and Tours in Palpa in operation without registering with DoT.
These agencies, however, are registered in other offices like Office of the Company Registrar and Department of Industry, among others.
But they do not have the license to operate travel business.

Gobinda Bhadur Karki, director general of DoT said one must take permission from the department to run any type of travel and trekking agencies. “Agencies that are not licensed with us are illegal even if they have taken permission from other government agencies,” Karki told Republica.

“Our regional offices in Bhairahawa and Kakarbhitta have written to these agencies, asking them to come and register with the department. If they do not register with us, we will have to shut them,” Karki said.

These agencies can apply for permission from the department by paying a fine of Rs 20,000, according to Karki.

The department plans to monitor travel and trekking agencies in the Kathmandu Valley very soon.