KATHMANDU, Sept 21: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that discussions to open the border checkpoints for Indian passenger vehicles are currently underway. 

Speaking at a joint conference with the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association of Birgunj and Travel Journalist Association Parsa at the PM’s Office on Monday, PM Deuba said that the agitation launched by the tourism entrepreneurs is justifiable as the sector has faced heavy losses following the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Hari Panta, chairman of Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, a memorandum was handed over to PM Deuba at the meeting. In the memo, it has been said that the tourism sector which has an investment of billions of rupees and contributes to the nation’s economy has been badly affected at the moment. A study shows the highest number of tourists visiting Nepal are Indian nationals and that the hotel business in the southern part of the country is mainly dependent on Indian tourists. 

“The ban put on Indian passenger vehicles from April 2020  has stopped the flow of tourists entering the country for religious and travel purposes,” the memorandum reads. This has severely affected over 200 hotel businesses in Birgunj, pushing many businesses to the brink of closure, Anil Rungata, a leader of Nepali Congress, said. 

At the meeting, PM Deuba said that the government will do the needful to resolve the issue soon. 

 
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