KATHMANDU, August 11: Different umbrella organizations related with tourism have demanded vaccines for tourism entrepreneurs, employees and staffers deputed in the frontline at tourism destinations against COVID-19 within 30 days.
Issuing a joint press release on Tuesday evening, the tourism-related organizations urged the government to open all tourism sectors by taking initiatives for creating a trustworthy environment in the international tourism sector by providing vaccines against COVID-19 to all citizens at the earliest for the revival of tourism which is hit hard due to COVID-19.
They also demanded immediate implementation of the policies and programs related with tourism announced in the budget of the current fiscal year 2020/21 and making arrangement for tourists visiting Nepal as well as arrangement of PCR test at the airport and other entry points, said General-Secretary of Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), Shishir Khanal.
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Similarly, implementation of free visa immediately in an easy manner through online visa service system in order to encourage tourists to visit Nepal only through hotels/agents has also been demanded.
The joint press statement also asked the government to make arrangements for a nation-wide training and monitoring mechanism in order to make health safety protocol implementation effective, to ensure representation of chairperson of the main umbrella organization related with tourism in the CCMC and to make arrangements for separate number plates for tourism related vehicles.
Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Khum Bahadur Subedi, said that arrangements should be made for a minimum authorized capital of Rs 2.5 million without any collateral at zero percent interest in order to sustain the businesses like trekking, tour and rafting.
Loan should be provided to tourism transport entrepreneurs at three per cent interest rate and tax and fines on vehicle inspection and pollution tests should be waived for one year, said president of Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), Ishwor Sharma.
Different organizations such as TAAN, TBAN, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATA), Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Himalaya Rescue Association (HRA) issued the joint press release.
