Kathmandu. Desh Bandhu Basnet (Ajit), president of Tourism and Air Transport Committee under the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that the private sector has played an important role in most of the achievements of the tourism sector in Nepal. As the FNCCI’s executive committee member is about to complete his three-year term, he said that he has been continuously coordinating and taking initiatives with various government bodies for the improvement of the tourism sector.
President of FNCCI Chandra Dhakal had nominated Basnet as the president of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee in 2080 BS. Since then, Minister Gyawali shared that he has frequently held discussions with the Office of the Prime Minister, concerned ministries, departments and subordinate bodies about the problems, challenges and ways to resolve the tourism sector.
He also shared that FCAN has been consistently raising the issue of operation of Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport in full capacity through FNCCI. According to him, although the government has brought various concession schemes to attract international flights to these airports, the expected results have not been achieved.
“We are hopeful that the new government will take effective diplomatic initiatives to operate both the international airports in full capacity,” Basnet said.
Basnet said that he has been continuously raising voice with the government regarding the amendment of the Tourism Act, providing facilities at par with the hotel business and revising the provision of VAT on air tickets. According to him, although the erstwhile government had decided to recognize the hotel business as an industry, its practical implementation is still necessary.
Pointing out the need to connect Nepal with European countries through direct air service, he expressed the need of meaningful efforts from the government including the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to remove Nepali sky from the blacklist of the EU.
He also stressed the need for active participation of the private sector for effective branding of Nepal in the international market through the Nepal Tourism Board.
On the occasion, Basnet thanked the FNCCI office-bearers, vice-presidents and committee members for their support during his tenure. He also thanked Vice-Presidents Achyut Sharma Guragain and Nilhari Bastola and members Shiva Adhikari, Kul Prasad Neupane, Srijana Shrestha Nepali, Sachin Dhakal, Ramesh Thapa and Binayak Shah.
He also thanked advisors Shashikant Agrawal and Bikram Pandey and Dr Dhananjaya Regmi, who was recently elected to the House of Representatives, for their suggestions and support.
Pledging to remain active for the development and expansion of the private sector of Nepal in the days to come, Basnet expressed the belief that he would continue to get support and cooperation from the industrialists and businessmen.
