Finance Minister meets with HAN delegation

KATHMANDU, July 24:A delegation from the Hotel Association Nepal met with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel and requested to make an environment for international flights at Gautam Buddha and Pokhara Airport.

The delegation of Hotel Association Nepal led by President Binayak Shah stated that hotels in the Bhairahawa area had been affected due to the non-operation of international flights at Gautam Buddha Airport and urged them to take the initiative for flights.

The businessmen also informed Minister Paudel about the poor condition of the roads leading to tourist destinations. The HAN stated in its press release on Tuesday that the delay in expanding the road to Pokhara and Lumbini has had an effect on the tourism industry, and they urged that the work should be completed as quickly as possible.

Minister Paudel stated that in the upcoming monetary policy, he plans to stabilize and boost the tourism-hotel sector, and that the government is supportive of businessmen's long-standing demand to recognize the hotel sector as an industry and will implement regulatory reforms. He stated that the ministry is enthusiastic about the problems addressed by the Hotel Association Nepal about tourism development and expansion, such as spending limitations and arrangements for Indian tourists visiting Nepal, as well as expanding internal tourism.

On that occasion, Shah, the president of the HAN, presented a paper outlining the need for government actions, including monetary policy, because demand has not increased in tandem with the expansion in the number and capacity of hotels.

The delegation included second vice president Dinesh Tuladhar, treasurer Youbraj Shrestha, and working committee members CP Shrestha and Jaydeen Shrestha.