February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties.     
Issuing a press release on Tuesday (February 23), Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Western Region, Sushil Raj Poudel, mentioned that the entire tourism sector including mountaineering has been badly affected by COVID-19.    
The statement says the entrepreneurs have been requesting the government time and again, in writing and verbally, regarding the problems faced by the tourism entrepreneurs due to COVID-19. “Let's bring the programmes in order to revive the trekking industry."    
Similarly, the TAAN also drew the government's attention towards the problems faced by tourists in lack of timely revision of visa and health criteria. The entrepreneurs and organisations associated with trekking and tourism sector presented suggestion for revival of the entire tourism industry.     
The TAAN has asked the government to remove the provision of forcing foreign tourists arriving with PCR negative report of 72 hours of compulsory stay at quarantine for five days among others.    
Similarly, the Association has advised for ensuring coronavirus test facility and providing the test report on the spot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) or the provision of collecting the sample from the assigned health facility and making efforts to operate international flights in a full-fledge capacity.
It has sought the provision that requires the mandatory hiring of guides for those arriving in Nepal for adventurous tourism for security reasons. Those tourists vaccinated against the coronavirus should be allowed to visit freely and the mandatory provision of at least 5000 US dollar insurance for a tourist should be withdrawn, adds the statement. -- RSS