Pokhara team meets PM for int’l airport

July 5, 2001
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Kathmandu: A delegation of tourism entrepreneurs from Pokhara met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today to present a memorandum demanding an international standard airport at Pokhara.

The delegation also met Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ramchandra Poudel and submitted to him the same memorandum.

The delegatiobn included among others Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Govinda Raj Joshi and Minister of State Mahadev Gurung.

The memorandum is signed by regional hotel association, Pokhara, Nepal Association of Travel Agents, Gandaki Chapter, Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Trekking Association of Nepal, Pokhara Chapter, Pokhara Tourism Promotion Committee, Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal, Pokhara Chapter, Pokhara Hotel Entrepreneurs Association and Nepal Tourism Board office bearers and members.

Since the existing airport in the Pokhara valley falls short of addressing the growing of pressure of air transport which is increasing day by day, it lacks necessary physical facilities and need for a new airport has been strongly felt here.

Although commitments have been made from all quarters for constructing a new airport at Chhinedanda for which land had been acquired 26 years ago, works have not commenced yet.

The airport which remains as a focal point for about 50 to 60 flights a day to and fro large part of western region, it is proved insufficient and flights can not be operated at night.

According to Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), the inflow of tourists in a day stands at 330 in the Pokhara valley and the hotel’s accommodation capacity at 8,500.

The investment in hotels, lodges and restaurants in Pokhara is estimated to be about Rs. 15 billion and some 10,000 persons have been receiving direct employment in the hotel industry.