Nepal Airlines to buy two new aircrafts

 Kathmandu, Apr. 7

Nepal Airlines Corporation is in the process to procure additional aircrafts which will help in conducting long-haul flights and attracting more tourists.

According to Tourism Secretary, Suresh Adhikari, diplomatic talks are underway with South Korea and Australia to start air services with the national flag carrier, it will also boost the tourism in Nepal.

"Likewise, we need to bring down the airfare which is demotivating the tourists from coming to Nepal. Price of aviation fuel in Nepal is almost double compared to the hneighbouring countries. So, cutting down the fuel price will reduce the airfare," he said at a discussion on 'Harnessing tourism opportunities for national prosperity' organised by Nepal Tourism Board in the Capital on Friday.

Adhikari also said that Chinese aircrafts have become a burden for the government. Although the government has published a notice to sell these aircrafts, nobody came to buy it. Six Chinese planes have been grounded for more than a decade.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Shankar Das Bairagi, has called for a joint promotion of Nepali tourism in the international markets by the government and the private sector on the cost sharing modality.

"Promotion of Nepal's tourism products in international market is crucial. We have resource constraints, so the pubic private collaboration can fill the gap," he said.

He also pointed out to the need of single window for tourism service and pledged that he would take initiation for the development of such facility. 

Chief Secretary Bairagi also said that the country must have a strategy for discouraging and countering negative publicity of the nation as well as its tourism products.

Nilhari Bastola, President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, demanded that the multiple fees charged by the local bodies to the trekkers should be immediately canceled.

Local governments are charging taxes on trekkers on their own. "263 local bodies are included in the national trekking trails. If all of them begin charging taxes on their own, there won't be any business possibility in trekking," said Bastola.

Likewise, Shiva Adhikari, President of Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies, said that local bodies are dumping waste at the river banks, the government should take an immediate action to stop this practice and deprive such local governments from the federal grants.

Private sector entrepreneurs suggested that Nepal should create a couple of prime destinations including the Everest to cater to the demands for leisure tourism. There is a need to increase the stay of tourists, increase the reliability of air service and decrease airfare.

Similarly, they suggested establishing a mountain university and establish it as a leader in this discipline. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 April 2023.