TAAN delegation meets Prime Minister
Oli
A delegation of Trekking Agencies'
Association of Nepal (TAAN) led by President Chandra Prasad Rijal paid a
courtesy call on Prime Minister Sharma Oli at the latter's residence in
Baluwatar on Thursday. Office-bearers and executive committee members greeted
PM Oli with bouquets, khadas and token of love. On the occasion, President
Rijal briefed PM Oli of the activities being carried out by TAAN and its role
in the development of adventure tourism in the country.TAAN also handed over a
24-point memorandum to PM Oli, drawing the latter's attention toward different
problems that Nepali tourism industry, particularly the adventure tourism
sector, is facing.
Among others, TAAN requested PM Oli
to make necessary direction for effective implementation of new Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and TAAN for effective
implementation of Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS). Similarly, it
also urged the government to gradually open restricted areas for foreign
trekkers so that locals there can get due benefits from tourism. It also
requested PM Oli to take necessary initiative for lowering permit fee to Upper
Dolpa and Upper Mustang to US$ 100 per person per 10 days. The delegation also
urged the Prime Minister to do the needful for issuing restricted area permits
from the tourism ministry itself instead of Department of Immigration.Drawing
the attention of PM Oli toward difficulties in welcoming and seeing off guests
in the absence of TIA Golden Gate entry pass, the delegation urged him to
introduce identification cards for tourism entrepreneurs and facilitate
movement of such card holders in different tourist areas, including airports.
The delegation also requested PM Oli to take needful policy decisions to
eradicate syndicate system in transportation sector and facilitate smooth
movement of tourists across the country. Stating that imposition of VAT was
making Nepali tourism products and services expensive compared to competing
markets, the delegation suggested that the government impose a maximum of 3
percent VAT on transactions of tourism entrepreneurs.
sought package program, including
concessional loans, to revitalize tourism sector that was hit hard by the April
earthquake and Indian blockade. The delegation also urged the government to
deploy a team of liaison officers in one mountaineering instead of sending one liaison
officer with every group. It also urged the government to deploy liaison
officers only for peaks above 7,000 meters. The delegation also requested the
government to reduce royalty fee of mountain peaks in Nepal after studying
royalty fee in other competing markets like India and Tibet.
Among others, the delegation also
urged PM Oli to take necessary initiative for barring foreign investment in
trekking sector. TAAN also urged PM Oli to designate Kora La along Nepal-Tibet
border as the entry point for tourists and pilgrims heading to
Kailash-Mansarovar area of Tibet. Kailash pilgrimage from Nepal has been
affected following closure of Tatopani entry point after the April earthquake.
It also urged the government to waive off permit fee for all mountain peaks in
mid and far western region till 2020. Similarly, it also requested the
government to waive off all taxes and VAT for tourism enterprises based in
these reasons for five years.
The delegation also urged PM Oli to
provide all tourism-related service under one-door system. At present, tourism
entrepreneurs have to visit different ministries for different services.
the existing provision of garbage
deposit was not practical, the delegation suggested introducing non-refundable
'Environment Conservation Fee' instead. Similarly, the delegation requested PM
to make necessary directions for easing filming in Nepal Himalayas to encourage
documentary makers which will in turn help in tourism promotion. It also
requested PM Oli to take necessary policy decisions for 100 percent waiver of
customs duty on import of trekking equipment like satellite phone and radio
sets, among others.
Other demands include inclusion of
tourism education in school and college curriculum, revisiting the new
provision of furnishing bank guarantee for trekking entrepreneurs, 50 percent
customs duty waiver on import of vehicles for tourism enterprises, among
others.Responding to the delegation, PM Oli said he would make needful
directions after studying the demands.Along with Rijal, Senior Vice President
Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, 1st Vice President Tej Bahadur Gurung, 2nd
Vice President Ram Prasad Sapkota, General Secretary Karna Bahadur Lama,
Secretary Mukti Pandey and Treasurer Lila Baldav Dahal were in the delegation.
Similarly, Executive Members Sarita Lama, Devi Pandey, Wangchu Sherpa, Basudev
Lamsal, Dambar Bahadur Adhikari, Taranath Lamichhane, Pemba Sherpa, Surya
Bahadur Ghimire, Dawa Lama Tamang and Shital Chandra Dharel were also present
in the delegation.
Himalayan Smile Treks and
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Kathmandu | Nepal
A
delegation of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) led by
President Chandra Prasad Rijal paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister
Sharma Oli at the latter's residence in Baluwatar on Thursday.
Office-bearers and executive committee members greeted PM Oli with
bouquets, khadas and token of love. On the occasion, President Rijal
briefed PM Oli of the activities being carried out by TAAN and its role
in the development of adventure tourism in the country.
TAAN also handed over a 24-point memorandum to PM Oli, drawing the
latter's attention toward different problems that Nepali tourism
industry, particularly the adventure tourism sector, is facing.
Among others, TAAN requested PM Oli to make necessary direction for
effective implementation of new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and TAAN for effective implementation
of Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS). Similarly, it also
urged the government to gradually open restricted areas for foreign
trekkers so that locals there can get due benefits from tourism. It also
requested PM Oli to take necessary initiative for lowering permit fee
to Upper Dolpa and Upper Mustang to US$ 100 per person per 10 days. The
delegation also urged the Prime Minister to do the needful for issuing
restricted area permits from the tourism ministry itself instead of
Department of Immigration.
Drawing the attention of PM Oli toward difficulties in welcoming and
seeing off guests in the absence of TIA Golden Gate entry pass, the
delegation urged him to introduce identification cards for tourism
entrepreneurs and facilitate movement of such card holders in different
tourist areas, including airports.
The delegation also requested PM Oli to take needful policy decisions
to eradicate syndicate system in transportation sector and facilitate
smooth movement of tourists across the country. Stating that imposition
of VAT was making Nepali tourism products and services expensive
compared to competing markets, the delegation suggested that the
government impose a maximum of 3 percent VAT on transactions of tourism
entrepreneurs.
- See more at: http://www.taan.org.np/news/2218-taan-delegation-meets-prime-minister-oli#sthash.ZD6IyZvZ.dpuf
