Hotel Association Pokhara requests assistance from Government

POKHARA, May 12: Hotel Association Pokhara, Nepal (HAN Pokhara) has presented primary suggestions to be included in the budget for the Fiscal year 2080/81 B.S. The organization requests the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to coordinate with the Nepal Government and consider the suggestions.

HAN Pokhara reiterates that the Global Pandemic Covid-19 and the aircraft accident in Pokhara have caused a regression in the growth of tourist influx. It has reduced Pokhara's tourism and hotel industry to a “zero state”. The HAN Pokhara complains that despite being hit the worst by Covid-19, the budget and economic policies of the Fiscal year 2079/80, have not addressed the problems faced by the tourism industry.

HAN Pokhara requests any interest to be paid for loans by Asar 2080 along with 10% of the loan, to be reinstated into a new schedule which is to be paid after the previous loan payment schedule is over. The interest rates should be kept low, and there should not be any penalty or mortgage auction to punish the inability to pay loans. The HAN Pokhara also requests an additional year to pay back the loans along with minimal-interest loans, re-loans, and rescheduling provisions.

As the hotel industry provides mass employment via great investment, it rivals the manufacturing industry and hence, should be deemed as a priority sector special industry through the Industrial Business Act, 2076. There should also be arrangements for foreigners, especially from SAARC, to directly convert their home currency in the hotels. To promote and preserve the tourism and hotel industry, the backbone of the national economy and development, HAN Pokhara requests the organization of a major international promotion program and various other national and international level programs.