Madhyapur Thimi, October 13:

Bhaktapur Municipality collects hundreds of thousands of rupees from tourists from collection counters at all 16 entry points to the town, but it has not provided them even basic amenities like toilets.

Tourists coming here carp at the lack of a tourist information centre to give information about tourism sites in town, no public toilets and the harassment by vendors and hawkers.

The civic body takes Rs 50 per head from SAARC nations tourists and $10 per head from tourists from other countries except China.

Executive officer of the municipality Indra Prasad Karki said the money collected as entry fee from tourists is used to renovate and maintain cultural heritage sites inside the municipality area. He, however, admitted to the lack of basic facilities for tourists.

Tourism entrepreneurs also complained tourists have no option but to swarm into hotels and guest houses when nature calls as there are hardly any public toilets in town and added that those that do exist are too filthy and run down to be used.