#tourism #hospitality #economicpolicy
The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has proposed to the Nepal Rastra Bank to implement an effective monetary policy for the tourism sector and the hotel industry as part of the budget for the fiscal year 2082/83. In a meeting with the Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, Dr. Vishwanath Paudel, the HAN delegation emphasized the need for comprehensive policies to support the growth of the tourism and hotel industry.
Vinayak Shah, the president of the association, highlighted the challenges faced in operating hotels due to significant increases in both direct and indirect expenses. He pointed out the difficulties in managing regular installments when hotel occupancy is very low. Shah also suggested simplifying the process of dollar payments in hotels by expanding the availability of prepaid dollar cards or dollar credit cards to facilitate transactions for tourists carrying large amounts of USD.
In response to the suggestions, the Governor assured a positive response, indicating a willingness to consider the concerns raised by the association. Additionally, Shah urged for a more favorable loan repayment system aligned with the financial conditions of the businesses and requested for a one percent interest rate cap for specific industries along with other incentives like national priority status for the hotel industry.
From the perspective of Ramesh Khatri, a representative of Kansai Nepal News, this move by the Hotel Association Nepal to engage with the central bank for better monetary policies reflects the industry’s proactive approach towards addressing challenges and improving the business environment. Khatri believes that such initiatives are crucial for sustaining the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector, especially in the context of regional tourism development and the need to attract tourists from neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: June 24, 2025 3:01 am
