Tourism bodies to intensify stir against NTB

Joint Tourism Coordination Committee has threatened to close Trekkers’ Information Management System Counter for Free Individual Trekkers at Nepal Tourism Board from tomorrow onwards to press for the fulfilment if its demands.

Suman Pandey, President of PATA Nepal Chapter, said JTCC, a forum of 19 travel trade associations, will step up its protests in coming days.

“TIMS counter for FTIs will be closed from Sunday,” he further said.

JTCC had organised a discussion with Constituent Assembly members at NTB on Thursday. Before that, more than 200 tourism entrepreneurs had taken part in an NTB-organised rally on Wednesday.

On Friday, lawmakers and tourism departments’ chiefs from various political parties and entrepreneurs affiliated to Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC) organised a sit-in at NTB, said Pandey. They also organised a workshop with stakeholders to discuss their demands, said the committee in a press statement.

JTCC has already submitted a four-point demand to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. It has demanded appointment of officials from the private sector in the NTB board. JTCC has also demanded that a taskforce constituted by tourism minister also prepare a study report.

“Selection of the chief executive officer at NTB is being delayed as one of the candidates is assuming the responsibility of director and acting CEO there. Therefore, the candidate must be relieved of his responsibility until the CEO selection process is over,” the memorandum stated.

“JTCC will launch a fresh agitation from May 15 if its demands are not met by May 14,” said Deepak Mahat, president of National Entrepreneurs’ Association for Tourism-Nepal (NEAT-Nepal).

source: the himalayan times,10 may 2014