August 1: Fourteen organisations associated with the tourism sector have jointly submitted a memo to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with suggestions for the protection and revival of the tourism industry.

They have put forward their demand such as providing vaccinations to their frontline workers within 30 days and appointment of one of the chairpersons among them as a representative in the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee Center (CCMC). They made such demand so as to revive the overall tourism sector which has been worst affected by the pandemic.

During the meeting with the Prime Minister Deuba on Friday, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Airlines Operators Association of Nepal, Nepal Mountaineering Association and others made dozens of demands with focus on three particular issues. They have put forward immediate issues for the revival of the tourism sector, protection of tourism entrepreneurs and workers, and sustainable development of this sector.

Entrepreneurs demand that the government should form a ‘Tourism Recovery Task Force’ by including tourism associations and experts and allocate necessary budget.

They demanded the establishment of the task force to formulate and implement an integrated crisis communication system, strategies and programmes related to tourism revival. Likewise, they have suggested for a master plan with special revival policy in the financial white paper to promote and protect the tourism industry.

They have also suggested formulating work procedures in coordination with the private sector to implement 10 days paid leave for the promotion of domestic tourism mentioned in the budget. It believed that domestic tourism will flourish and will directly help in the revival of sustainable tourism when about 400,000 employees go on a tourism leave.

Moreover, they have demanded that cash flow should be provided to small and medium tourism entrepreneurs for five years in a simple and easy way to sustain them. In addition, the entrepreneurs have also demanded special tourism loan, refinancing, tax waiver and separate tax system during the pandemic for three years.

Other organizations that met the Prime Minister and submitted the joint letter include Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Tourist Bus Association of Nepal, Society of Travel and Tour Operators (SOTTO), Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal Tourist Vehicle Association, Expedition Operators Association Nepal and PATA Nepal Chapter.