Kathmandu, March 15:

The Nepali tourism sector, specially hotels, has been adversly affected due to the prolonged load-shedding, strikes, bandhs, insecurity and labour problems.

“Besides the global recession, homegrown problems are bleeding the hotel sector white,” said Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN).

Load-shedding has increased the cost of operations. HAN said that apart from that, the sector is having to pay greatly increased rates for agricultural products due to regular bandhs.

“Hotels are currently not in a position to pay tax, bank interest, salary, electricity bill as well as other incurring service related expenditure,” said HAN, requesting relief packages for the sector’s survival.

HAN also urged for uninterrepted power supply and implementing the decision to provide Rs 10 subsidy in diesel for hotels also.