The government and the agitating tourism entrepreneurs, the Democratic Tourism Society, have finally agreed to sit for negotiations today to end the week long row at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
Spokesperson of the tourism ministry Sarada Prasad Trital told Nepalnews that dialogue has begun from today with the protesters. “I cannot comment at the initial phase but they are positive to allow the regular functioning of the NTB,” Trital said. “We hope the strike will end this evening itself,” he added.
The tourism ministry informed the agitators that they cannot decide on the suspension of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tek Bahadur Dangi, their major demand. The Board of Directors (BoD) is the authority to appoint or suspend the CEO. After the decision of the cabinet to suspend the political appointments made after the royal takeover, the board does not have enough members at present to take the decision. The fate of the CEO will be finalized only after BoD is constituted, Trital said.
Meanwhile, in response to the appeal submitted by various tourism related organizations to Prime Minister on Monday, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said they were not the appropriate authority to look into the row arising at the NTB.
Various tourism-related organizations like Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), PATA Nepal chapter, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal, Everest Summiteers Association and Tourists Guide Association of Nepal had urged the prime minister on Monday to direct the authority to take initiative to end the strike yesterday.
Talking to Nepalnews on Tuesday, joint secretary at the PMO, Purusottam Ojha said, “We are not right authority to look into the matter. The concerned ministry is there to look into the issue.”
He said they have directed the Ministry of Tourism to finalise the issue at the earliest possible after they received the appeal urging the end of the strike.
Other entrepreneurs have also opposed the continued strike at the NTB.