Tourism organizations together have demanded the removal of quarantine provision for travelers arriving in the country to revive the tourism industry. It has been demanded to provide on-arrival visas for tourists instead of making them stay in quarantine.
These demands were highly raised in a meeting organized by the NATTA on September 16 at its Secretariat. Stating that the tourism sector has been adversely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s indifference, NATTA held a meeting with the Presidents of the tourism associations.
Participants of the meeting demanded the government to make necessary arrangements to provide an on-arrival visa by removing the quarantine provision, opening the border with India, and implementing a one-month free visa for tourists announced by the government immediately.
The meeting has also decided to resort to protest programs if the government does not address the demands immediately. Likewise, the tourism entrepreneurs have decided to move ahead in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries to draw the government’s attention to address their demands.
Nepal has been placed in the red zone in the international travel advisory. Entrepreneurs have pointed out that the government should facilitate the hassle-free arrival of vaccinated tourists and tourism entrepreneurs and spread the message in the world market that Nepal is a safe zone to travel.
President of NATTA, TAAN, NMA, HAN, NARA, SOTTO, TBAN, NTVA, PATA Nepal Chapter, NATO, and Former CEO of Nepal Tourism Board agreeably supported the discussion.
Likewise on, September 12, the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) along with the major tourism associations in a program organized in the Nepal Tourism Board together urged the government to open the tourism business in Nepal to the complete extent. Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, addressed the demands of Nepali tourism entrepreneurs and said that the government should make visa arrangements for vaccinated tourists on arrival. President of NATTA Mr. Achyut Guragain said the CCMC has been quite confusing and protests on the streets and Singha Durbar should be done if tourism is not permitted. Former Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepak Raj Joshi stated that the government must not provide quarantine for those fully vaccinated with less than 96 hours of negative PCR reporting and those who come to Nepal.
