NCC submits 18-point recommendation to Minister Kirati to improve tourism sector

KATHMANDU: Nepal Chamber of Commerce has urged the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to create a plan to attract more tourists. In a meeting held with Tourism Minister Sudan Kirati in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, on Wednesday, a delegation led by NCC President Rajendra Malla viewed that Nepal could bring in hundreds of thousands of tourists by making a strategic plan of 'One Nepali, one tourist'. On the occasion, NCC President Malla submitted an 18-point letter of recommendation to Minister Kirati and expressed his belief that hundreds of thousands of tourists can be brought into the country by mobilising Nepali embassies and non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) abroad. He stressed the need for promoting important tourist sites like Mt Everest, eight peaks above 8,000 metres, and religious sites — Pashupatinath, Lumbini among others — through international mass media. President Malla said that monuments of national importance and places listed on world heritage sites should be protected and promoted. President Malla suggested Minister Kirati undertake diplomatic initiatives to remove Nepal's airspace from the blacklist of the European Union. He also urged Minister Kirati to take initiative to immediately add more aircraft to Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and improve the structures of international airports. The delegation of NCC suggested making a separate package targeting China and India which have huge populations. President Malla opined that the tourism businesses were not getting adequate benefits due to the policy that limited an Indian tourist to bring a maximum of INRs 25,000. He suggested that an environment should be created wherein a tourist from the southern neighbour could bring in at least INRs 250,000. Other suggestions NCC made included the arrangement of free visas for foreign tourists for a certain period of time. Minister Kirati informed that the government has planned to facilitate visas for foreign tourists to increase tourism activity. He expressed his view that compared to other countries, Nepal has not become an attractive destination due to expensive visa fees and airfares. He stressed the need for improvements in the development of tourism sector. READ ALSO:

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