KATHMANDU: An app, ‘Tourist Bus Nepal’, has been launched for the convenience of visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourism destinations.

The app is developed by Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), the common organization of tourist bus entrepreneurs. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati inaugurated the app.

On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that the Ministry is working on amending the Tourism Act.

He said Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)’s budget would not be passed until it reformed its budget.

“The NTB’s budget cannot be passed hurriedly until and unless it is reformed. The Board’s budget cannot be endorsed immediately to fulfill the interests of some people for commission,” he said.

He mentioned that it was not the responsibility of Tourism Board to construct the physical infrastructures.

Saying Department of Tourism constructs the physical infrastructures for the development of tourism sector, Minister Kirati clarified that Tourism Board promotes the tourism activities.

The Tourism Minister shared that Tourism Board could not spend Rs 800-900 million on Europe visit in the name of bringing in tourists in Nepal.

He further said that no one has facility to take relatives for visiting different countries and distribute and sale expensive goods from Board’s expenses.

The app was launched to facilitate domestic and foreign passengers book tickets online for tourist buses plying between Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini and Janakpur, said Krishna Acharya, President of the Tourist Bus Association of Nepal.

For the service, the TBAN has coordinated with digital payment systems, Khalti, IME Pay and Prabhu Pay.

Around 100 tourist buses are leaving to various tourist destinations from Kathmandu on a daily basis, it has been said.