Recentfusion.com—Pokhara: Accommodation-related controversial decision done by hotel entrepreneurs along the Nepal Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek triggered criticism among the stakeholders.
Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association Pokhara and Union of Nepal Trekking, Travel, Rafting, Airlines Workers (UNITRAV) objected the booking system on meal and bed for trekkers, their guides and porters.
Tourism Management Committee Chhomrong has decided to hike the room and meal tariff by 10 percent, informed committee’s Chairman Indra Mani Sharma. According to him, now trekkers should pay 400 rupees for a common room. Similarly guides and porters should bear 180 to 200 Nepali rupees for per shift meal.
The recent decision done by committee is a model of syndicate, said UNITRAW Western Regional Chairman Bijay KC- we are not compelled to accept the unilateral decision by the entrepreneurs.
TAAN WRA Pokhara vice chairman Deepak Raj Adhikari also flayed the booking and coupon system in meal and bed. ‘Trekkers or their supporters choice may be other rather than Dalbhat (local meal) and there is no guarantee that the walker could reach to the destination’, Adhikari said- so the prior booking and coupon system is impractical and against the existing ethics.
The decision done by entrepreneurs applies in the hotels of Newbridge, Jhinu, Kimrong Khola, Ghurjung, Chhomrong, Bhanuwa and ABC of Kaski district. The hotel committee claimed that the menu price has unchanged since 2012 even after the price hike in so many goods and services in Nepal. According to president Sharma, the decision on booking and coupon system carried out as the hotel staffers appeared dishonest on meal and bed money collected from trekkers.
The week-long ABC trek is very popular among the tourists and the trail starts from Nayapul or Phedi or Kande of Kaski and reached up to ABC (4,130 M). According to Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) around 20,000 trekkers visit this area annually.
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