Landlords in Thamel agree to provide 50 percent discount on rent for up to six months to one year

An agreement has been reached between businesspersons of the tourist area, Thamel, and landlords on a 50 percent discount on housing rent for up to six months to one year.

The agreement has taken place in the context when business across the country has been taken a downturn as a result of the COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown. Twenty-two institutions in the tourism sector took a decision in this regard at a joint press conference here on Thursday.

Approximately 270 shutters of the Thamel area have been shut down due to the infection, said the Thamel Tourism Development Council. The agreement was reached between 350 businesspersons and landlords in this regard at the initiative of the COVID-19 Tourism Business Disaster Coordination Committee, said the committee's coordinator Bhabi Sharma.

The concerned authority would be requested to waive 50 percent electricity tariffs for at least one year used by businesspersons in Thamel since lockdown started, according to the statement issued by the committee. There are more than 10,000 businesspersons and 200 house owners in Thamel area, it has been said.

The agreement was signed between the Council, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour and Travels Agents, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Association of Rafting Agency, Nepal Tourist Vehicles Association, Tourist Bus Association of Nepal, Village Tourism Promotion Forum Nepal, Nepal Export Council, Foreign Exchange Dealers Association of Nepal and Kailash Travel Association.