Kathmandu. President of Tourism and Air Transport Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Desh Bandhu Basnet (Ajit) said that the achievements made so far by the tourism sector were the biggest contribution of the private sector.

According to him, as the president of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee, Basnet had held several meetings and discussions with the government and its subordinate bodies as the President of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee when his three-year term as a member of the FNCCI was coming to an end. Dhakal had elected Basnet as the president of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee of FNCCI in 2080 BS.

After that, he said that he had held discussions with the Prime Minister’s Office, the concerned ministries, departments and subordinate bodies with the problems facing Nepal’s tourism sector and the ways to resolve them.

“We have repeatedly raised the issue of operating Pokhara and Bhairahawa international airports through the committee and through the federation, and the government has also brought various discounts to the airlines companies operating flights to these airports,” Basnet said, adding, “We are hopeful that the new government will step up diplomatic initiatives for the operation of these two international airports in full capacity । ’

As the president of the FNCCI’s tourism committee, he had repeatedly raised the issue with the Prime Minister’s Office, concerned ministries, departments and subordinate bodies regarding the amendment of the Tourism Act, facilities to hotels at par with the industry, and review of the provisions related to VAT on air tickets. As a result, the erstwhile government had decided to amend the Act to recognize the hotel as an industry. “Now there is a need for practical implementation of this provision,” Basnet said.

He has also been insisting that Nepal should be connected to European countries through direct air connectivity. He has been saying that the entire government, including the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, should take meaningful initiatives to remove the Nepali sky from the blacklist of the EU. Basnet has also been raising the issue of branding Nepal in the world market through Nepal Tourism Board and private sector should also be involved for this.

He also thanked FNCCI President Chandra Dhakal for encouraging him to serve as the President of the Tourism and Air Transport Committee of FNCCI and Achyut Sharma Guragain and Nilhari Bastola for supporting him as the Vice President.

Likewise, members Shiva Adhikari, Kul Prasad Neupane, Srijana Shrestha Nepali, Sachin Dhakal, Ramesh Thapa and Binayak Shah were also thanked for the meeting. Advisors Shashikant Agrawal and Bikram Pandey and Dr. Pramod Shrestha, who was recently elected to the House of Representatives, are among the advisors. Basnet also thanked Dhananjay Regmi for his advice and suggestions.

Pending to continue his efforts for the development and expansion of the private sector of Nepal in the days to come, Basnet expressed the belief that he would get the support and cooperation of all the industrialists and business persons.