Kathmandu: The Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has asked the government to wave the visa fee for international tourists, to open an open sky police for international airlines and the introduction of refinancing schemes to hotels through commercial banks.

A HAN delegation today submitted a memorandum to Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat citing the state of the tourism industry at present and to incorporate some relief package to the tourism industry.

In its recommendations, HAN said that keeping the view of the present situation visa should be made free of charge till the situation improves. It said although the government would lose about Rs. 20 million revenue directly but the loss can be compensated from other sources. “Ultimately, this will give a boost to the overall economy of the country,” it said.

Similarly, HAN has asked the government to adopt an open sky policy to attract international airlines and provide them adequate facilities as the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, the national flag carrier, has not been able to cope with the existing demand of the incoming tourists. It has also called the government to give the management contract of RNAC to international management company and ultimately to privatize the Airlines for make it efficient.

Apart from the refinancing scheme to hotels, the Hoteliers have also asked the government for certain rebate on the interest rates of their loans also to accept the denomination of 500 rupee note.

Meanwhile, according to data of the Nepal Tourism Board the total tourist arrival by air in the first six months of 2001 is down by a marginal 0.69 per cent from the corresponding period of 2000. From January to June of the current year there were 166,649 tourists coming to Nepal as compared to 167,814 in the last year.

The data was compiled from the figures of the immigration office at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

However, arrivals from the third countries were up by 5.55 per cent from 120,807 in 2000 to 127,508 in 2001. But the incoming of Indian tourists fell by 16.73 per cent in the last six months from 47,007 to 39,141.

The five earlier months of this year had seen a significant rise in the arrival of tourists compared to last year, signifying a sign recovery. But in June it fell drastically by more than 50 per cent, from 23, 715 in 2000 to 10,238, which hoteliers say was caused by the incident at the Royal Palace. While the decrease from the third countries was down by 30 per cent it was more severe from India with the reduction of 72 per cent.