The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has asked the government for an immediate relief package to rescue the hotel industry, which has suffered a lot during the 10-year long conflict.

A delegation led by president of HAN Prakash Shrestha, met with finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and apprised him of problems faced by overall tourism sector and hotel industry in particular.

Among the demands that HAN has put forth include freezing of principal amount and interest of loan taken by hotels for at least six months to two years. Shrestha said that the government should make arrangement for a concessional current account loan till the next tourist season and freeze value added tax (VAT) and electricity bills for at least six months.

HAN also asked to freeze conservation fees and royalty to be paid to the King Mahendra Nature Conservation Trust and Department of Wildlife Conservation from six months to up to two years and make provision for easy payment on installment basis in future.

HAN suggested to implement the recommendations made by a high-level committee headed by Dr Yubraj Khatiwada. Most of the demands of HAN were related to payment of loans and interests and extension of moratorium period for at least two to four years on repayment of interests.