Even as the country is looking forward to an exciting tourist season, the continued incidents of forced donations and unionization have dampened the spirits of tourism entrepreneurs.
While various news reports have suggested that the hotels and airlines are witnessing almost full capacity booking for the upcoming autumn tourist season, which begins from October, the major tourism-related organizations have expressed disappointment over the Maoist excesses and government indifference.
The meeting of presidents of various organizations such as Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), PATA- Nepal Chapter, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents (NATTA), Board of Airlines Representatives of Nepal (BARN), Tour Guides Association of Nepal (TURGAN), Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFFA), Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) held on Monday raised concern about the unreasonable donation demands made by various political parties and institutions and the unreasonable demands of labour unions.
“The tourism entrepreneurs decided that it is high time the government must address the woes of the entrepreneurs because in some cases, as many as four different groups come to make unreasonable demands in a single day,” a statement issued by NATO after the meeting said.
At the same meeting, Mr. Prakash Shrestha, President, HAN, informed that hotels are ready to close down, if the unreasonable demand persists. “All the other associations also endorsed (the idea),” the statement reads.
The tourism entrepreneurs agreed that Nepal was witnessing the beginning of a new era in tourism after the restoration of democracy and almost after 10 years, there is a possibility of good growth in the number of tourists in the country.
They, however, added that demonstrations should be held in a disciplined manner “so as the tourists as well as the general public are not affected in their routine work.”
Fearing that such incidents could carry negative publicity in the international media, all the association heads have jointly appealed to all concerned to extend their support to the tourism industry and not hamper the movement of the tourists. “The tourism associations are deeply concerned over issues like the sudden declaration of two days bandh in Pokhara, regular taxi strike at the airport hampering the traffic and the stoning of tourist vehicles in the previous demonstrations,” the statement adds.
The association heads have unanimously agreed that the tourism industry must be declared as a national industry “as it is the only industry that can revive the economy of the country in the short term.”
They have also agreed to approach the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Tourism Minister with their problems. They have warned that in case the government continues to be indifferent towards their plight, they would take to strong recourse “even closing down their companies.”
The Monday meeting was hosted by NATO. The association heads have decided to hold regular monthly meetings.