POKHARA, February 17: Pokhara’s tourism businessmen have questioned Sudan’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kirati on various tourism-related issues, including the operation of international flights from Pokhara International Airport.
They made several inquiries to the Minister in the course of an interaction on tourism organized by the Pokhara Tourism Board. The tourism entrepreneurs asked the Minister why the federal government has not taken the initiative to carry out international flights and when such flights would begin.
So far no international flights have been operated at Pokhara International Airport since its inauguration on January 1.
On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that he has been taking initiation to start international flights from Pokhara.
Describing Pokhara as an outstanding destination and tourism university, he said that he has taken great interest in its development. He added that he would familiarize himself with the process for operating international flights from Pokhara and would proceed accordingly.
The Minister of Tourism also reiterated that he was positive in solving the problems seen in the tourism sector.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) CEO Dhananjaya Regmi said that the Board members have not put forward the infrastructure development agenda for tourism promotion and hence the amount allocated for promotion. of tourism has not been spent.
He was responding to the question from the tourism entrepreneurs about the amount allocated for tourism promotion activities that was not spent because the OTN has not developed its work procedures.
Tourism entrepreneur Ganesh Bhattarai said there was a rush to inaugurate the Pokhara International Airport but without completing the necessary task to start international flights. He urged the federal government to take the necessary initiative to that end.
NTB Gandaki chief Kasiram Bhandari clarified that there was a problem with the spending of the amount allocated for tourism promotion as he was not authorized to release the amount in the absence of working procedures.
Pokhara Tourism Board Chairman Pom Narayan Shrestha said the enthusiasm level of Pokhara tourism entrepreneurs after the opening of Pokhara International Airport has now been marred by the delay in the start of international flights since this airport.
Among other problems facing the tourism sector, he pointed out the lack of a concrete tourism policy on the part of the government and the high interest rate charged by financial institutions, and the pressure they are exerting on tourism entrepreneurs.
Mahabir Pun from the National Incubation Center highlighted the need for research for the development of the tourism sector.
The founding Chairman of the Tourism Council Ashok Palikhe, former Chairman Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai, and the chairmen and representatives of various organizations such as TAAN, HAN, NATTA, TESA, EGA, NTVA, WOTEF, Money Changer, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pokhara, VTOF, Nepal Air Sports Association aired the issues in their respective sectors.
When will international flights start in Pokhara, tourism businessmen ask Minister Kirati
