Kathmandu: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) recently engaged in discussions with Sudan Kirati, the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, to address pertinent issues concerning Nepal's tourism industry. The focal points of the discussion included strategies to boost tourism, short and long-term policy reforms, and efforts to eliminate Nepal from the European Union's air safety list.

During the meeting held at the Tourism Ministry, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal underscored the significance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to advance the tourism sector. He emphasized the vital role of tourism in generating foreign revenue for the country. Agrawal advocated for swift actions to reestablish direct air connectivity with Europe and highlighted the importance of removing Nepal from the EU air safety list promptly, given that European tourists constitute a major spending demographic.

To prioritize the tourism industry, CNI has established a dedicated tourism committee and pledged to work closely with the Ministry to initiate meaningful activities. The attention of the Ministry was drawn to various challenges, such as the shortage of air routes impacting the operation of Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport. Additionally, CNI emphasized the need to promote Nepal as a filming destination, expedite the upgrading of approach roads to tourist sites, and address the imposition of VAT on air tickets.

In response, Minister Kirati expressed the government's commitment to removing Nepal from the EU's security risk list, anticipating positive developments in this regard. He assured stakeholders that efforts are underway to reinstate air connectivity with the European Union. Addressing concerns about the imposition of VAT on air tickets, Kirati stated that he had voiced objections to the notion, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Nepal's appeal as an affordable tourism destination.

Minister Kirati also shared plans for the procurement of aircraft, including those for "trunk routes" to serve remote areas domestically and narrow-body planes for international flights, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Nepal Airlines Corporation.

Overall, the Ministry and the Confederation are poised to collaborate closely for the holistic development of Nepal's tourism industry.