Promote tourism sector:

The latest joint initiative taken by the Nepal Association of Tour Operators, the Nepal Tourism Board, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Nepal, and the government is aimed at promoting Nepal as a safe destination among the Indian tour operators and tourists. Since tourism plays a vital role in Nepal’s economy, there is a need to rectify the wrong impression created abroad about Nepal.

According to THT (February 9), these organisations jointly held a promotional campaign called ‘Nepal Showcase’ in New Delhi as a confidence-building measure targeted at Indian tourists and other foreigners coming to Nepal via India. Such a promotional programme is particularly useful in the present situation for boosting the sagging tourist industry. But the campaign should not be limited only to the Indian tour operators. The government and the private sector should join hands in heralding Nepal as a safe destination with a wide range of tourist attractions. One powerful fact in getting this message across is that not a single tourist has been hurt so far because of the insurgency in Nepal as we treat our guests as ‘God’. Of course, Nepal is passing through difficult times, but this has not had any adverse impact on the hospitality Nepal accords to foreign tourists.

Tashi Yonkom, Bouddha

Citizen’s right:

The street that connects Sundhara, Khichapokhari and Minnagsthan (around the newly painted Dharahara) has been demolished for the past one week but there is no sign of completing the construction. This has caused inconvenience to the local people. I do not know whether the Kathmandu Metropolitan City also leased the street to the private company when it leased Dharahara. Looking at the way the company has encroached on the street, it may soon be going to be the company’s property and the people may not be allowed to walk along the street. I would request the authorities to take appropriate action and guarantee the right of the people to the use of the public space.

Basanta Maharjan, Khichapokhari

Health care:

This refers to the news item “Monitoring panel swoops on the government hospitals” published in THT on February 7. It is well known that there is a wide doctor-patient ratio in Nepal, and as a result, basic health care services have been beyond the reach of a large chunk of the rural populace. Apart from the unavailability of the doctors in the rural areas, the insincere approach of many medical practitioners and expensive medical treatment have been identified as the major factors that have caused most of the rural people to depend on witchcraft. This is also one of the key reasons why private hospitals are flourishing in the country despite the expensive services they provide. In this context, the step taken by the health ministry to strengthen government hospitals and make them more service-oriented is appreciable. This step should be extended to the districts as well.

Ambika Pandey, Chitwan

Prepaid taxi:

The rate of the prepaid taxi at Tribhuvan International Airport is exorbitantly high. The minimum rate is Rs 300 even for nearby places like Gaushala, Chabahil and Bishalnagar while the metered taxi would cost Rs100 or less. This needs to be corrected by either fixing the rate for the prepaid taxi according to the distance by adding a reasonable extra to the fare shown on the meter, or allowing the metered taxi inside the airport.

Purushottam N Shrestha, Bishalnagar