Entrepreneurs say policy and programmes not adequate for revival of tourism industry

Tourism entrepreneurs have said the government's policy and programmes for the fiscal year 2020/21 lacked adequate stimulus for the revival of the tourism business badly dented by the impact of COVID-19.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari presented the government's policy and programmes in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on May 15.

Several tourism business related organisations, in a joint press release on Monday, said the government's policy and programmes failed to incorporate the spirit and aspirations of the tourism entrepreneurs.

Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) president Khum Bahadur Subedi regretted that the state did not keep the tourism industry which has been broke by coronavirus pandemic in priority.

"The government should bring budget to save the tourism sector which has already made extensive investments for making the Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign successful," he said.

Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) president Achyut Guragain said it was the government's main responsibility to protect the investment of the tourism entrepreneurs and thereby revive and resurrect the tourism industry which has been weakened due to the adverse impact of COVID-19.

"It is a matter of regret that the government's policy and programmes for the next fiscal year has failed to incorporate any concrete plan, policy and programmes for reinvigorating the tourism industry ad the entrepreneurs," he said.

President of Tourist Bus Association of Nepal, Ishwar Sharma, underscored the need for the government to bring short-term and long-term special relief package through the budget for the coming fiscal year to address the demands of tourism industry.