By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Apr. 27: A business delegation of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Monday suggested the government to promote domestic tourism by providing discount through the relief package to the private sector.

The delegation led by its president Rajesh Kazi Shrestha met with Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai and submitted the suggestions for the revival of the tourism and aviation sector affected badly by COVID-19.

Tourism is a major foreign currency earning sector of the country but it has been badly affected by COVID-19.

During the meeting, Minister Bhattarai assured that the government would introduce the relief package for the revival of tourism sector by analysing the effect on the sector.

“The government is in a position to promote the domestic tourism by offering incentives to the domestic tourists to keep the sector vibrant,” he said.

The government is preparing to give a month’s holiday annually after the COVID-19 comes under control to save the tourism sector through the promotion of domestic tourism, he said.

The government would move ahead jointly with the active participation of the private sector to revive the tourism sector, he added.

He said that the government was doing homework to mobilise the workers working in the tourism sector in the alternative sector and physical infrastructure of tourism sector if they were interested to do so.

The NCC suggested the government to promote domestic tourism by offering incentives to civil servants and general people.

“The government should encourage civil servants to visit the tourist destinations by giving them holiday once a year,” said Shrestha.

The NCC suggested the government to create an environment to bring in tourists from different places of China in the upcoming tourist season (September-October) as the effect of coronavirus is gradually subsiding in China of late.

The airlines including Nepal Airlines, Himalaya Airlines and Chinese airlines should make efforts to bring tourists from China through competitive packages.

The NCC said that the private sector should also prepare a plan to provide services to the tourists in cost- to-cost basis in hotel services and ensure the facilities at a reasonable cost to bring in optimum number of tourists after the impact of COVID-19 is reduced.

The delegation suggested the Minister to rescue hotels and airlines through the financial relief packages as financial support was a must for the revival of these sectors from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The delegation also suggested the government to form a mechanism incorporating the personalities who have long experiences in the tourism sector for the revival of tourism sector.

“The mechanism will play a crucial role to make the special programme and its implementation for the revival of tourism sector by 2022,” Shrestha said.

The government should introduce solid programmes for medical tourism, home stay, and agro tourism.

NCC suggested the government to expedite physical construction works of tourism sector during this period when the inflow of tourists has decreased in the abnormal situation now.

Job opportunities could be created inside the country if the construction work of national pride projects including Bhairahawa and Pokharal airport, Tribhuvan International Airport are expedited.

The NCC urged the government to write off Value Addition Cost while importing parts of aviation business. Currently the government is providing write off facilities on VAT while importing limited items in airlines service.