“Can Nepal penetrate the American dream market?” (THT Perspectives, August 28, Page 1), the response to the question would be in the affirmative. Before the Indian and Chinese tourists flooded into the country, there were mostly American and European tourists, not even Japanese or Australians. American tourists came in special round-the-world charter groups paying as much as 60,000 dollars that included Goa and a couple of nights in Kathmandu and some national parks. NTB, which spent 7 million rupees to run a 14-day sales mission two months back in the US, should target such markets by giving presentations that no one else could give - stand on the podium and speak like Donald Trump. It would be worthwhile for Nepal to look into hiring the services of celebrities like Bayonce and Jay Z, who are telling the world that Myanmar is open for visitors, or even buying marketing services of publicists that are helping with the election campaigns of the two leading US presidential candidates. It would be expensive for sure, but market research, promotion, publicity do not come cheap. Meanwhile, we can embrace Ineka Stoneham’s wisdom for free to diversify tourism, appoint highly respected native American wholesalers and, most importantly, remove that persistent irritant: 3.5 percent punishment on credit cards. Nepali hoteliers are happy to give away their 200-dollar room for 30 dollar but insist on adding 3.5 percent on credit card payment which comes as a big spoiler at the end. We also need to realise that nothing can replace, not even internet, personal contact and relationship. Manohar Shreshta, Kathmandu Very tragic Yet another tragic incident has occurred in the highway leaving 22 people dead and scores of others injured on Friday on the Narayanghat- Mugling section, a busy highway of the country. This is the second biggest road accidents within a couple of week. A few days ago, an overloaded bus had slipped below the road and had killed 26 people in Karve district. So, what is main reason behind the fatal road accidents every day? Nowadays, everybody is well aware of the existence of the syndicate system that has marred the public transportation sector and made it more vulnerable from safety point of view. It is the syndicate system that does not allow providing standard services on the road; drivers are extremely careless, and the buses are not in good condition, nor are the traffic police sincere to ensure that all the passenger buses have maintained safety standard as prescribed by the Department of Transportation. The poor conditions of the roads are also to blame for such fatal accidents that ruin the life of a victim’s family. Different bus operating committees have been operating their buses under the syndicate system, which doesn’t allow new operators to enter. After all, it has curtailed the rights of the common people to choose the buses on which they want to travel. Saroj Wagle, Bara