Task force to probe illegal tourism businesses

Tourism Industry Division has formed a task force to investigate illegal tourism businesses operating in the valley.

“The task force formed under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will start investigating all kinds of tourism businesses that are being operated illegally,” said joint secretary at the division Mohan Sapkota. “Our repeated notices and requests to either shut down illegal businesses or to get themselves registered has fallen on deaf ears.”

He also said that till date, the division has not received any enquiry or application regarding registration of such businesses. “This time the task force will directly approach such business people and will penalise them and shut down their businesses according to existing policies,” said Sapkota.

The Tourism Industry Division on March 30 had directed tourism entrepreneurs to renew their operating licences and those running tourism businesses illegally to get their businesses registered on time.

The notice issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had stated that in case the tourism businesses fail to renew their licences, the government may scrap their operating licences and has also directed illegal businesses to get themselves registered in accordance with the prescribed laws.

The notice targeted various tourism related businesses operating in the country.

The licence renewal date for Hotel Everest was on April 12, 2010. It has already applied for the renewal of its licence at the division. TID said that the renewal date for Fulbari Resort was on October 31, 2004. Hotel Malla’s renewal date was on October 8, 2011.

Meanwhile, Hotel Shanker, a four-star hotel, has already applied to have its standard checked and also for the renewal of its licence.

However, hotel entrepreneurs have said that the government has failed to provide timely notification and it lacks a proper follow-up mechanism. They have also suggested the government to develop a proper information channel and inform about the renewal of licences on time.

There are 10 five-star hotels, two four-star, 25 three-star, 40 two-star and 30 one-star hotels in the country.

source: The Himalayan Times,11 June 2012