English classes to overcome language barrier at TIA

Kathmandu, May 4

One of the biggest problems for foreigners arriving at the only international airport of Nepal, Tribhuvan International Airport is language barrier. As most police personnel deployed at the airport can neither speak nor understand English, foreign tourists sometimes encounter serious communication problems.

In an attempt to address this problem, Metropolitan Police Office conducted a 10-day basic English speaking course at TIA to help police personnel overcome the language barrier.

Sometimes language barrier leads to serious misunderstanding between on-duty police personnel and foreigners. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Deputy Inspector General of Police Shailesh Thapa Kshetri said the language course was conducted with the aim of improving communication skills of security personnel so as to help foreigners get their message across easily.

“As most of the foreigners arriving at TIA speak English, we felt it necessary to conduct a basic English speaking course for junior police officers and constables,” he informed.

The English course included topics such as hospitality, greetings, general conversation and showing directions.

The classes also focused on the code of conduct for security personnel deployed at the airport. As many as 450 police personnel benefited from the language course.

DIG Thapa also directed the TIA police to show professionalism while dealing with domestic and foreign passengers. TIA police do not have interpreters. So they have to hire interpreters to facilitate interrogation if any foreigner is arrested with contraband such as undeclared gold, wildlife body parts, illegal foreign currency and narcotics, among others.

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs had directed Nepal Police and the Department of Immigration to provide effective service at TIA.

The government is also planning to develop TIA as a boutique airport. According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, guidelines for the boutique airport will be approved very soon.

After the implementation of the guidelines, TIA will officially be registered as a boutique airport.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Bhandari said TIA police had prohibited off-duty entry of special pass holding employees working for various agencies into the airport area.

He informed that parking lot at the airport was also made more systematic and security guards at the parking lot had been instructed to perform their duties and responsibilities honestly to ensure foolproof security at the airport.