Tourism entrepreneur worries lack of commercial flights at GBIA

KATHMANDU, Nov 16: Despite the completion of Gautam Buddha  International Airport tourism entrepreneur are worried about the lack of commercial flights. After the completion of the construction of the airport, the businessmen who had invested heavily became worried when regular flights did not arrive.

The government has spent a lot of money for the construction of the airport. The airport, which has a three-kilometer long runway, currently has no flights other than charter flights. Although the airport was opened for regular flights from 2nd May 2079, now only Jazeera Airlines and Himalaya Airlines are flying. The traffic of tourists from these charter flights is very less. People going abroad and returning from abroad are transported by these planes.

After the construction of the airport, there was a huge investment in the hotel sector around Bhairahawa Lumbini. Hotel buildings were built. However, Bhoj Khatri, treasurer of Siddharth Hotel Association, says that the hotel business is in crisis due to the high interest rate of the bank and the situation where investment has stopped.

SOTTO Nepal Lumbini Province President Sanjay Bajimay said that the current charter flights at Gautam Buddha Airport are concentrated in the Gulf countries and only if flights bring tourists from India and China to Nepal, the tourism business can spread.

According to the information provided by the Project Chief Entry Officer of Gautam Buddh International Airport regarding the construction work, 6 billion 63 million for the construction of the airport for ICP 1, 500 million for ICP 2, 85 million for Kagro construction, 600 million for other expenses and 20 million for compensation distribution. 59 billion has been spent. As it is an alternative airport, even if the airport is completed, the parking area will be small, so it seems that it needs to be increased.

Head of Gautam Buddha International Airport, Govinda Prasad Dahal, said that although there are no regular flights, Jazeera Airways and Himalaya Airlines are operating charter flights, and flights from Dubai and Qatar are also expected to arrive here in the near future. He said that there is no income at the airport as the planes are landing for free and that 100 employees are working at the airport. Currently, there is very little tourist traffic at Gautam Buddha International Airport. In the current flights, only transportation work is being done for those going to and from foreign employment. Because of this, tourism activities have not flourished here.

In order to address the challenges seen in the tourism industry, there is a need for joint investment, readiness and change in thinking of the government, private sector and even the non-governmental sector. If this can be done, by enhancing, protecting and promoting the heritages of Nepal, increasing tourist arrivals, tourist stays and spending will help economic development through the tourism sector in the form of employment opportunities.

However, for that, the local government, community and private sector also need to participate in the protection and development of the natural, historical, religious, cultural and archeological heritages scattered here. In addition, a mechanism should be created and implemented to distribute the returns obtained by developing the tourism sector in a fair manner. For this, it is necessary to identify new tourist destinations and develop infrastructure.