Tourism sector plans protest :Say that they will refuse to pay taxes

Due to repeated disturbances in the tourism sector, tourism entrepreneurs, at a press meet, have announced that they will not pay taxes as part of their protest programme.

“We are waiting for the government’s move on the issue and if there is no action taken, we will shut down all hotels, airlines, and we will not pay any tax,” said president of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Pabitra Bahadur Karki.

Various tourism associations, during a programme organised here today, urged the government to identify and take action against the group that attacked the managing director of Hotel Radisson BK Shrestha.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, along with the tourism associations, is preparing to meet government authorities to ask it

to take strict action against the culprits, and assure safety and security to the tourism industry.

“The government talks about the need to bring in more investments in the tourism sector but it has not been able to build a conducive investment climate yet,” said Karki.

According to the hotel association, the country’s situation is unpredictable and it is quite difficult to invest in two-star or three-star hotels. Soaltee Hotel, Hotel Radisson and Hyatt Hotel are the only three hotels in Nepal that have received international franchise.

However, hotel entrepreneurs also expressed concern that they might lose the international franchise if similar activities continue. Talking about the attack on Shrestha, tourism entrepreneurs said that the tourism industry is facing a number of threats related to forced donations.

“Unions should work as a bridge between the management and employees rather than playing politics and disturbing the office environment,” tourism entrepreneurs said.

During the programme, representatives from various tourism associations that is NATTA, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, Thamel Tourism Development Council, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies, Tourist Guide Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour Operators, PATA Nepal Chapter, Restaurant and Bar Association, and Expedition Operators Association jointly urged the government to address the current issue.

source: The Himalayan Times,17 March 2013