The Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has urged Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale to facilitate in the smooth operation of hotels amid setbacks brought by ongoing global COVID-19.
HAN’s this urge comes after the government cancelled the licence of Hotel Yak and Yeti to operate casino after it failed to pay Rs 420 million in royalty.
A team led by HAN President Shreejana Rana recently sat down with minister Ale and discussed current issues facing tourism sector, according to a statement issued by the HAN. During the meeting, President Rana apprised the minister of HAN’s role in the development, promotion and protection of the country’s tourism sector.
Stating any individual or institution should not avoid its responsibility to pay revenues, taxes and fees to the state as per the laws, she said that the HAN has supported the state on this matter.
Drawing the HAN’s attention to the cancellation of the licence of the five-star Yak and Yeti ‘which has contributed immensely to the promotion of the country’s tourism’, she said that as a result, workers, staffs, related people and payment of their salaries have been affected.
The HAN always supports the state on the matter of implementing rules and regulations as per the law, but immense contributions of hotel sector to the country’s economy should be honoured, according to her.