Govt, pvt sector issue 51-point declaration for tourism recovery

POKHARA, June 22: Government and tourism stakeholders on Monday announced number of schemes, including discount on trekking permit fees, in an attempt to revive quake-hit tourism industry.

The 51-point declaration issued on Monday urges the government to do the needful for reducing trekking permit fee for Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpa US$ 100. At present, trekkers are required to pay $500 as entry fee for 10 days.
The Development Committee of legislature-parliament, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) jointly issued the declaration after a two-day workshop here in Pokhara.

Tourism is one of the hardest hit sectors by the earthquake. According to a government study, nine out of ten tourists have already cancelled their planned Nepal visit after the earthquake.

"As many Indian tourists travel to Damodar Kunda of Mustang district, the discount on trekking permit fee will help to attract many Indian nationals to visit Nepal," Tourism Secretary Suresh Man Shrestha said.

The declaration also states that a single-door system will be arranged at Department of Tourism (DoT) to issue different types of permits for tourists. Similarly, tourists with single-entry visa can enjoy multiple entries.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the workshop, Tulsi Gautam, director general at DoT, said entry permit for Annapurna Conservation Area will now be valid for a month with multiple entry facility.

The declaration also states that 'tourism desks' will be set up at Nepali embassies and diplomatic mission stationed abroad as well as at the offices of Non-Resident Nepali Associations for encouraging tourists to visit Nepal. It also states that needful initiative will be taken to request different countries to soften their travel advisory for Nepal as well as launch promotional campaigns in international media.

The declaration also says necessary support will be sought from donor countries for reconstruction of damaged trekking trails.

Rabindra Adhikari, chairman of Development Committee, said there is a need to retain trained manpower in the country to stop brain-drain. "They may be working in foreign country today because our tourism industry is suffering. But we need them when tourism recovers," he added.

Similarly, the declaration states that tourism enterprises will be provided loans at subsidized rates from different banks and financial institutions. There is also a plan to establish an 'emergency rescue fund' at Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) for rescuing tourists at the time of emergency.

source:republica,22 june 2015