Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has urged the government to start regular international flights in the country. Issuing a statement today, the association has mentioned that due to the current restriction on both domestic and international flights many foreign tourists have been stranded in Nepal.
The government had halted domestic flights on May 3 with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) issuing notice on May 13 stating that domestic flights would be restricted until further notice. Similarly, international flights have been suspended from May 6 midnight till May 31 midnight.
NATTA has stated that it had forwarded a letter to secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation requesting the ministry to collect details of stranded foreign tourists and arrange 2-3 regular weekly flights to repatriate them as soon as the restriction orders were announced.
The association also mentioned that during the previous lockdown too the government had restricted regular international flights but allowed operation of charter flights. However, after the government received flak from several tourism bodies it withdrew the decision and allowed regular international flights to operate.
During the current lockdown also the government has restricted regular international flights but allowed some airline companies to operate international charter flights despite objections from various tourism organisations, NATTA stated.
NATTA has strongly urged the government to annul the permission given to some airlines to operate charter flights and allow regular international flights from May 25. It has asked the government to give priority to Nepal Airlines Corporation and also allow other airline companies that have been operating international flights in Nepal to conduct 2-3 regular weekly flights depending on the destination.
The association has asked the government to not give permission to any airline company to operate international charter flights. It has also mentioned that the airfares in such charter flights are exorbitant and the authorised travel agencies have not been allowed to issue tickets for such flights.
NATTA has also urged the government to make sure that all the necessary health safety protocols are followed by air passengers coming to or departing Nepal keeping in mind the dangers posed by COVID-19.
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