Hoteliers’ worries will end now: PM Oli 

Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said works for tourism promotion of Nepal have begun in an expeditious manner and the worry of hotel entrepreneurs would finally end now.

During a special meeting with the office-bearers of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, PM Shah urged the private sector to move forward as a strong partner of the state.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister urged HAN officials to fulfill their business responsibilities by abiding by the law, to register small and medium hotels with the Department of Tourism and bring them under the tax net, and to study the possible cooperation in the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

During the meeting also attended by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadka Raj Poudel, HAN officials informed that Nepal’s hotel industry is fully capable of serving 40 lakh tourists annually.

Stating that only 12 lakh tourists visit Nepal annually at present, entrepreneurs said that with the increase in tourist arrivals, there will be an unprecedented increase in domestic employment and the hotel industry will become a strong medium to stop Nepali youths from going for foreign employment.

The meeting was attended by Acting President Dinesh Tuladhar, General Secretary Sajan Shakya, Treasurer Yubaraj Shrestha, Executive Members Jaydin Shrestha and Ashlesha Karki and HAN Secretariat Chief Tek Bahadur Mahat.