KATHMANDU: The Tourism Revitalization Steering Committee has inked an agreement with Buddha Airlines Pvt Ltd and Yeti Airlines to provide a discount in the airfare to foreign tourists as Nepalis to attract more and more external tourists.

The Committee formed under the chairmanship of Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale entered the agreement with private airlines to ensure a concession in the domestic airfare for foreigners. Foreigners traveling by air within Nepal had been paying nearly a double fare than Nepalis paid for the air ticket for the domestic routes due to Royal Nepal Airlines policy.

There were growing grievances among foreigners traveling in Nepal that they were charged more than the locals for airfare and they should be charged the same rate as the Nepalis.

Likewise, the Hotel Association of Nepal decided to provide the foreign tourists a discount up to 20 per cent in hotel rooms in a bid to revive the tourism hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic.

Committee coordinator Rajaram Giri shared, ‘We have inked an agreement with two private airlines to offer a discount to foreigners in airfare. We have taken forward the same proposal with other private airlines too and they are positive about it too.”

Furthermore, the Committee has appealed with the agencies concerned to coordinate and collaborate with stakeholders to identify new prospects for tourism sectors and enable invest-friendly atmosphere in this sector.

The Committee has requested the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center to simplify and amend the travel criteria put in place by the government for the passengers traveling in and out of Nepal considering the decreasing rate of COVID-19 infection in the country and around the world.