KATHMANDU: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded that the government brings a master plan with special policies for the upliftment of the tourism sector marred by ongoing COVID-19.
A delegation comprising 14 tourism-related organizations including the Hotel Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, and Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA) submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister putting forth their demands.
They have also asked the government to announce programs for the resumption and upliftment of infection-hit tourism in the economic white paper.
The government should create a mechanism for the implementation and monitoring of tourism provisions incorporated in the budget for the current fiscal year, 2021/22.
Receiving the memo, PM Deuba assured them that he was positive to the demands of tourism entrepreneurs and pledged to make a strategy after consulting with the business community after the government is full-fledged, said NATTA President Achyut Guragain.
Other demands include a full waiver of demand charges for five years and a 50 percent waive in electricity tariffs for hotel entrepreneurs. There should be a provision in place for the government to deposit the amounts under the social security fund for workers and employees in the tourism sector for at least two years.