KATHMANDU, May 26: As bandas continue to irk domestic as well as international tourists, tourism entrepreneurs have decided to keep a close watch on situations unfolding across the country and inform the travel agents about the happenings so that they can help tourists to plan their trips accordingly.
A meeting of tourism related associations on Friday has decided to ensure proper and timely flow of information through an integrated communication system to enable travel agents and tourists make an informed decisions regarding their travel plans.
Entrepreneurs say the move was important to salvage the country´s image as well as save tourism entrepreneurs from possible legal action that tourists might take after failing to get promised services.
Tourism entrepreneurs who have been badly hit by the strikes across the country had to deal with embarrassing situations at many places after protestors started creating problems in tourist movements.
Mahendra Singh Thapa, president of Trekking Agencies Association Nepal (TAAN) said, “Since the political uncertainly is likely to continue for sometime, we have decided to create a system through which tourists can be informed about any untoward situation in time.”
According to tourism entrepreneurs, thousands of tourists were confined to their hotels because of the continuous bandas starting from the month of May.
Executive Director of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Madhab Om Shrestha said although the industry was already receiving the cancellation, the proper message was important for the tourists who are preparing to visit the country. “We might initially lose business, but it will help us to maintain our goodwill which is important in the long run,” he said.
Hotels that were enjoying an average occupancy of over 60 percent despite the lean period, have had to face booking cancellation of around 30 percent in the present month because of growing uncertainties. The cancellations, they said, are most severe for the month of June and July.
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