Tourism entrepreneurs have deplored the sudden imposition of chakkajam – traffic blockade – in Pokhara and parts of Prithvi highway that, too, on the inaugural day of Visit Pokhara Year.

In its press release, Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) has said it joins other tourism associations and entrepreneurs in strongly condemning “the impromptu declaration of Chakkajam in Pokhara and the obstruction of traffic on Prithvi Highway whereby the tourists visiting Pokhara faced hardships and returned with a negative image of Pokhara and that too on the inauguration day of Visit Pokhara Year 2007.”

According to NATO, tourists, who were in Pokhara to celebrate New Year, were “left stranded on the road for hours and some of them had to return to Kathmandu even though only 10 kilometres was left to reach their destination.”

“Such inconveniences faced by them, is a grave concern for the tourism industry. As it is, the whole tourism industry of Nepal is at stake and if such events continue the industry will never be able to promote Nepal in the future. We believe that support from all the sectors is very vital to make Visit Pokhara Year! 2007 successful,” the NATO release states.

NATO has rued that due to the continued extortion and donation demands and instability, Nepal is yet to see quality tourists visiting the country despite the restoration of peace.

It said that due to these reasons, some countries are hesitant to lift their travel advisories issued against Nepal. “The Embassy of the United States of America has stated that it won’t lift the advisory until and unless a suitable environment is created.”

The NATO has urged the government to address the ever-increasing problem of Bandh and Chakkajams and to make a conducive environment for the tourism industry to flourish.