The Tourism Development Committee has urged authorities to resume operations at the Thori border crossing and small customs office, saying restrictions are disrupting tourist movement and hurting the local economy.
BIRGUNJ, JULY 7
The Tourism Development Committee, Thori, has submitted a memorandum to the Parsa District Administration Office demanding the immediate reopening of the Nepal-India border crossing and the small customs office at Thori to facilitate tourist movement.
The memorandum, signed by the committee's secretary Ravi Paudel, was handed over to Chief District Officer Bhola Prasad Dahal on Monday.
The committee said the Thori border crossing has served as an important gateway between Nepal and India since 1911, contributing to social, cultural, religious, tourism and trade ties between the two countries.
It said Thori has emerged as a major tourism destination in Madhesh Province, attracting domestic and foreign visitors with its proximity to Chitwan National Park, Parsa National Park, wetlands, religious and historical sites, jungle safaris and natural attractions.
According to the memorandum, more than Rs 1 billion has been invested in hotels, resorts, homestays, transport and tourism infrastructure in the area, creating employment for hundreds of people directly and thousands indirectly.
The committee said that although the government established a small customs office at Thori, it has not been operating effectively due to a shortage of staff and poor management. It also claimed that security personnel have been turning back tourists at the border over the past three days, adversely affecting tourism businesses, the local economy and Nepal's tourism image.
The memorandum calls for the immediate resumption of tourist movement through the border, regular operation of the customs office with adequate staffing, improved revenue collection and security management, and greater government support to develop Thori as a national and international tourism destination.