Raxaul, March 19, 2021: Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel has assured to provide permission for Indian vehicles to enter Nepal within two days. The Nepal Hotel and Tourism Association and the Tourism Association have submitted a memorandum in which it has been said that Nepal’s economy is based on tourism. The hotels have been built at a cost of over six billion in different regions of Nepal. In which 2500 houses are to be built. 70 percent of Indian origin tourists visit Nepal due to which the said business runs. The arrival of domestic and foreign tourists stopped due to border sealing during the Corona transition period. Trade came to a standstill by a ban on Indian vehicles and strict local administration which has been taken seriously by Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Pokharel. After the decision of the Cabinet in Nepal, the local Nepal administration has not yet allowed the entry of Indian vehicles.
The number of domestic and foreign tourists has become negligible in areas like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, etc. This is causing a loss of revenue. The condition of hill traders is financially weak due to no entry of vehicles. In addition, the distance between the people of the two countries is increasing. Due to the imposing of the ban for about a year, Indian tourists and locals have not been able to go to Nepal with Indian vehicles. The Indo-Nepal border has been sealed for 12 months due to corona infection. Three months ago, the cabinet led by the Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli decided to open up the border. Administrative officials of Nepal’s Border Parsa and Bara District say that it has been decided to open the border. No letter and mail has been officially received for this. While there has been no ban on import-export from India or third countries.
Nepali taxi is quite expensive for tourists. Whereas the government of India has opened the Indo-Nepal border five months ago in view of the problems of the people of the border region of both countries. However, the people of the border area are traveling using bikes and tempos of Nepali number from the hidden rural roads. Whereas according to the Indo-Nepal transit treaty, there is an exemption for movement of vehicles to the border-related airports, hospitals, railway stations, and bus stops of both countries.