Pokhara—Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association Pokhara Chairman Hari Bhujel has strongly opposed the Pokhara Tourism Council demand of nullification of Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) that has been managed by TAAN for years.
PTC had submitted a eight-point memorandum including the dismissal of TIMS on point number 3, to Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari the day before but TAAN WRA Pokhara chairman Bhujel outright objected that point in the interaction with minister Adhikari. ‘PTC has not pre-discussed with us on TIMS issue’, chairman Bhujel said- who would be responsible if 0.2 million tourists go disappear among 2 million expected tourists by 2020.
Bhujel made clear that TIMS is for the safety of tourists visiting to Nepal and entrepreneurs should know the value and crux of TIMS. At the same time, chairman Bhuel on behalf of TAAN WRA Pokhara submitted the 17-point memorandum to minister Adhikari. The memorandum stressed on the need of responsible trekking and cast down of illegal trekking.
Trekking with compulsory guide and supporter, dismissal of individual TIMS, acceptance of controlled and guided trekking even in Nepalese currency, road expansion in trekking areas only after the exploration of alternative trekking routes and the announcement of Annapurna Base Camp as a Trekking Conservation Area are some of the demands included in the memorandum.
Similarly, TAAN WRA Pokhara also requested minister Adhikari not to allow the expansion of motorable roads to Thorong La pass from Muktinath and Manang at least for 30 years. Transaction in Permanent Account Number instead of mandatory Value Added TAX system for trekking agencies, releasing of hold amount in TIMS joint account, and the air connectivity in Pokhara-Manang, Pokhara-Jomsom, Pokhara-Nepalgunj and Pokhara-Simara routes also are the points included in the memorandum.
Demanding the end of all commercial flights to conservation areas, TAAN WRA Pokhara has suggested the government to allow only emergency rescue flights on those areas. Likewise, installations of weather forecast devices in trekking areas, development of Kahphuche trekking route and the exploration of new trekking routes also are confined as demands in the memorandum.
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