News and Events

A delegation of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) recently met Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bista Magar and apprised him of the problems facing Nepal’s tourism industry, particularly the trekking sector. During the meeting, TAAN President Mahindra Singh Thapa handed over a memorandum that includes suggestions of TAAN on different government rules and policies for the tourism sector. TAAN has strongly urged the government to introduce a one-window system for TIMS card distribution through TAAN. The association has long been demanding that the government introduce one-window system for TIMS cards distribution, arguing that it would help discourage illegal operation in trekking business. The delegation also proposed to the ministry to issue trekking permits to controlled areas for even a single trekker. As of now, the government has been distributing permits for controlled areas to groups having a minimum of two trekkers. TAAN also demanded that the government bring down royalty fee for controlled areas so as to encourage more visitors to trek to those areas. The delegation requested that the government bring down royalty fee on mountaineering peaks, keeping in view increasing flow of mountaineers in mountain areas in Tibet and Pakistan. It strongly urged the government to keep trekking sector free from foreign investment and argued that categorization of trekking agencies in present context is not relevant. Responding to the demands, Minister Bista said he was positive about easing rules and regulations for the industry.