By Rup Narayan Dhakal: Pokhara—Western Regional Hotel Association (WRHA) Pokhara and Siddhartha Hotel Association Nepal (SHAN) Bhairahawa Tuesday clinched a five point Memorandum of Understanding to promote both the areas by their joint efforts and cooperation for mutual benefits.
WRHA Pokhara Chairman Bikal Tulachan and SHAN Chairman Chandra Prakash Shrestha signed the MoU and exchanged the papers. According to entrepreneur Hem Bista, the formation of mechanism to develop contact and relationship between the WRHA and SHAN, initiation for the development of direct transportation between Pokhara and Lumbini area, cooperation in destination promotion and the tourism packages development as well as the participation of various festivals are the key points confined in the MoU.
The issue of road and air connectivity between the two destinations, need of anti syndicate drive in the case of green number plate tourist vehicles and the joint promotion campaigns are the key concerns of entrepreneurs from both the areas. The MoU was made during an interaction organized by SHAN in Pokhara. A team of entrepreneurs from Lumbini area arrived to Pokhara on its observation trip via Chitwan and Bandipur.
Addressing the interaction, WRHA Pokhara Chairman Bikal Tulachan stressed on the need of improvement of Siddhartha Highway for easy access for the tourists. Chairman Tulachan also said that the private sector and government should go hand in hand to promote and develop the tourism of Nepal.
SHAN Chairman Shrestha who is also a Hotel Association Nepal executive member urged the government for effectively operation of Nepal Tourism Board information center in Sunauli border point. WRHA Pokhara Immediate Past President Bharat Raj Parajuli suggested the guest entrepreneurs to make good environment in bordering area so that the tourist could feel different as they enter Nepal.
WRHA Pokhara advisor Hari Prasad Sharma Gaire urged all the tourism entrepreneurs and government officials to fight against the syndicate existing in transportation sector. Another advisor Govinda Raj Pahari spoke about the importance of domestic tourists in Nepal. Similarly, another advisor Laxmi Bahadur Bhattarai, journalist Ramesh Paudel, SHAN advisor Chetan Panta and General Secretary Lilamani Sharma also put their views during the interaction.
Entrepreneurs principally agreed to make the provision that the tourists who reach Buddha birth place Lumbini should have night stay at least for a night in that area and the buildings existing inside Buddha Birth Place areas shouldn’t be used as lodge and hotels for tourists.
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