Tourism entrepreneurs demand CEO and members of NTB be appointed on merit

KATHMANDU, Feb 05:Tourism entrepreneurs have urged that the CEO and members of the Nepal Tourism Board be appointed on merit.

On Sunday, three tourism-related organizations presented a memorandum to Sudan Kirati, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, requesting an appointment.

Since politics is becoming more influential in the appointment of the CEO and board members, business leaders have stated that significant improvements can be achieved if only those who are active in the tourism sector and understand tourism serve on the board committee.

They have submitted a statement noting that the suggested members for appointment must be competent, skilled, and possess exceptional professional leadership abilities.

After the party in the government, which was established in the year 2055 to develop and promote Nepal's tourism business, hired political workers to misuse the budget, this time the three main tourism-related organizations demanded the Prime Minister and the Minister of Tourism to 'appoint CEOs and board members based on merit as explained in the Tourism Board Act', tourism businessmen submitted a memorandum.

The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), and Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) also submitted the memorandum.

"Among the board members representing the Nepal Tourism Board, members from the private sector must be fully accountable to the private sector and adopt it," the memorandum stated. "Only those who are active in the tourism sector and understand tourism can bring positive change by serving on the Nepal Tourism Board's committee."

In addition, they have directly demanded the membership of the presidents of the national umbrella organizations working in the tourism sector as ex-officio members of the Nepal Tourism Board.