Government asked to address problems of tourism sector

Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems facing the adventure trekking tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties. 

Issuing a press release today, Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Western Region, Sushil Raj Poudel, mentioned that entire tourism sector including mountaineering has been badly dented by COVID-19. 

The statement reads, "We have been requesting the government time and again, in writing and verbally, regarding the problems facing the tourism entrepreneurs due to COVID-19. Let's bring the programmes in order to revive the trekking tourism." 

Similarly, the TAAN also drew government's attention towards the problems faced by tourists in lack of timely revision of visa and health criteria. The entrepreneurs and organisations associated with trekking tourism sector presented suggestion for revival of entire tourism sector. 

The TAAN has asked the government to remove the provision of forcing the foreign tourists arriving with PCR negative report of 72 hours to compulsory stay at quarantine for five days among others. 

Similarly, the Association has advised for ensuring the  corona test facility and providing the test report on the spot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) or the provision of collecting the sample from the assigned health facility and making efforts to operate the international flights in a full-fledge capacity.  

It has demanded that tourism workforce ( tourism entrepreneurs and workers)  in the frontline  should be  given the anti-COVID vaccines on the basis of priority and there should be efforts for opening the Nepal-China border points. 

It has sought the provision that requires the mandatory hiring of guides for those arriving Nepal for adventurous tourism for the security reason. Those tourists vaccinated against the coronavirus should be allowed to visit freely and the mandatory provision of at least 5000 US dollar insurance for a tourist should be withdrawn.

More, it has asserted that trekking business should be given priority for the effective implementation of the Entrepreneur Life Saving Fund established by the Gandaki Province Government.