COVID-19 pandemic: 20 billion  relief budget urgently needed to revive tourism

Kathmandu: Experts and tourism entrepreneurs say at least 20 billion relief budget is urgently needed to revive the tourism industry in the country which is ailing due to Coronavirus pandemic.

This was suggested by the experts during a discussion program held in Kathmandu among the tourism entrepreneurs on Thursday to find ways  to revive the ailing tourism industry- the back bone of country’s economy-hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic.

The discussion were held among  the members of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) which was organized by Nepal  Association of Finance Journalists (NAFIJ).

NTB Chief Executive Offficer Dr. Dhananjay Regmi speaking during the program opined that at least 20 billion budget was urgently need to revive the ailing tourism industry in the wake of global Coronavirus pandemic.

He also pointed out the need for joint efforts between the government and private agencies to address the problems such as unemployment  in the tourism industry.

Regmi indicated towards relief packages such as providing tourism entrepreneurs with low interest rate financial loan which could be repaid in one year or could be extended till three years for repayment.

The discussion also focused on the need to revive the internal tourism and employ 1800 workers of  the industry soon after the lock-down is lifted in the country.

HAN chairperson Srijana Rana and TAAN chair Khum Bahadur Subedi also stressed on the need to bring about relief package immediately to address the problems of the tourism industry.