No Visa Fee for Tourists to Visit in Nepal: The Nepal government has introduced concessional programs including renewal fees, income tax, and electricity demand fees to boost the tourism sector. To increase the number of foreign tourists, the government has waived the visa fee.
Finance Minister Vishnu Poudel has said that tourism businesses including Covid-19 affected hotels, travel, trekking, and airline operators will be given discounts on license and renewal fees.
Hotels, travel, trekking, transportation, and air services affected by Covid-19 now have to pay only 1 percent income tax on taxable income. The loss period of such entrepreneurs can be extended up to 10 years.
The hotel and tourism sector will also be provided facilities like productive industries, said Finance Minister Poudel. Entrepreneurs have been demanding for years to list the hotel sector as a productive industry. The government is going to lease land to the private sector for the construction of hotels, motels, resorts, and other soft places in the Chure and Mahabharat range.
The government has stated that it can select international investors for the preparation of detailed project reports of Nijgadh International Airport, determination of investment structure and development, and operation of infrastructure accordingly. The budget statement states that land acquisition, site clearance, and construction of the airport will be completed in the coming fiscal year.
It is said that Tribhuvan International Airport has been converted into a boutique airport. A budget of Rs 6.95 billion has been allocated for the upgrade of the terminal building.
Stating that the international airport under construction in Pokhara will be brought into operation next year, Finance Minister Poudel said that Rs 8.5 billion has been allocated. A budget of Rs 3.53 billion has been allocated for the construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
The old terminals in Nepalgunj and Biratnagar will be replaced by new terminal buildings. Chandragadhi, Rajbiraj, Tumlingtar, Janakpur, Dhangadhi, Arghakhanchi, Swargadwari, Patan, Darchula, Surkhet and Bharatpur airports will be upgraded. Construction of a new airport is to be started in Narayanpur of Dang district.
There will be two airports named after Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari and businessman Angchiring Sherpa, who died in a helicopter crash two years ago. The budget statement states that Suketar Airport in Taplejung will be renamed as Rabindra Adhikari Airport and Chuhandanda Airport in Tehrathum will be renamed as Angchiring Sherpa Airport.
Finance Minister Poudel said that the runway expansion work of Taplejung Suketar would be completed in the coming fiscal year and the construction work of Chuhandanda Airport in Tehrathum would be expedited. It is mentioned in the budget that the organization of Nepal Airlines Corporation will be restructured and made competitive.
The work being done by the Tourism Board in the tourism infrastructure has been given to the Department of Tourism. Attracting international investors towards adventure tourism, mountaineering, bungee jumping, rock climbing, rafting, paragliding, zipline, and kayaking will be promoted. Tourists coming to Nepal will get a one-month tourist visa free of cost.
The government had announced three-month free visas for tourists from China during the quake. The government has made visa-free for tourists coming to Nepal from SAARC countries. Tourists had to pay a fee of 30 US dollars for 15 days.
