POKHARA: District Administration Office, Pokhara has banned public vehicles with Indian number plates as the Visit Nepal Year 2020 is fast-approaching.
The Gandaki Province government and District Administration Office, Kaski have jointly put a ban on the Indian public vehicles at the request of Pokhara Tourism Council.
Around 40 percent of the tourists visiting the Lake City are Indians who come to visit Pokhara in Indian public vehicles due to open border.
Commenting on the ban on the Indian public vehicles, tourism entrepreneurs said that it will have a negative impact as it will bring down the number of tourists in Pokhara,
Chairman of Hotel Entrepreneurs Association Hari Gaire said that a ban on the Indian vehicles on the eve of the Visit Nepal Year will have negative impact on the Pokhara tourism. There are only four days remaining before the much-hyped Visit Nepal Year officially begins.
“A ban on the public vehicles with Indian number plates will impact Pokhara as most of the tourists visiting Pokhara are Indians. The government did not consult tourism entrepreneurs while taking such a crucial decision,” complained Gaire.
However, Pokhara Tourism Council is of the opinion that this ban will do good to Pokhara’s tourism since it will manage traffic jams.
Only public vehicles with Indian number plates are banned, Indian private vehicles are allowed, according to District Administration Office, Kaski.
Kaski Chief District Officer Ramesh KC said the decision has been taken in view of the traffic jam. Meanwhile, Pokhara Tourism claims that the ban on the Indian number plate vehicles will benefit Pokhara tourism.
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