KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai on Thursday sent four important proposals to the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) including resuming domestic flights, and allowing foreign workers working in Nepali projects.

Minister Bhattarai has proposed to open domestic flights from September 17.

However, there is a possibility of regular flights from October 1, Minister Bhattarai said.

He has suggested opening of domestic flights to districts having low COVID-19 infection rate in the first phase.

“Initially, domestic flights can be resumed to and from the mountainous and hilly areas,” he said.

According to Minister Bhattarai, preparations have been made to resume domestic flights targeting Dashain and Tihar festivals.

The proposal sent by the Ministry to CCMC also suggests allowing foreign workers working in Nepali projects.

“The construction work in the Bhairahawa Airport has been stalled due to the suspension of foreign workers,” he said. “Now we are preparing to bring them to Nepal,” the proposal states.

The Ministry has now taken a proposal to the center to allow non-resident Nepalis and tourists to come to Nepal after undergoing the health protocol.

“The tourism sector has been completely passive for more than six months,” he said, adding, “Now we need to plan to revive tourism activities by gradually following the health protocol.”

According to him, the government has also decided to increase the number of regular international flights and remove the quota imposed earlier.

Minister Bhattarai informed that the government has also decided to increase the number of daily flights automatically on the basis of demand.