THT
07.08.2006, 07:43
Publication Date: Aug-6
Following the government announcement to introduce trekking registration certificate (TRC) for trekkers in the open trekking regions, the trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) is gearing up to put in place in necessary provisions.
TAAN has formed a nine member taskforce, with its past –presid ent D eepak Mahat as the coordinator, to oversee the formulation of TRC as well as to d ecid e about fee structure.
Finance minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, in his budget speech, had announced that tourist should take TRC from TAAN, to control revenue leakage in the open trekking regions by illegal business activities.
“TRC will ensure safety of tourist as well as promote responsible tourism practices in the trekking regions,” said Narendra BC, presid ent of TAAN. He further said that the provision would be helpful in keeping statistics and track records related to trekking.
TRC has been mad e mandatory for every tourist going to trekking purposes in the open trekking regions including Mt. Everest, Annapurna, Langtang and Kanchenjunga trekking routes. TAAN will issue TRCupon request of the government registered trekking agencies prior to d eparture of trekking.
Necessary consultations are being und ertaken with ministries including tourism and civil aviation, home as well as the d epartment of national parks and wildlife conservation, Nepal Tourism Board, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation and other stakehold ers, BC told this daily.
The taskforce has been mandated to co me up with d etailed provisions and the modus operandi for TRC including fees and office structure, he informed, “The fees will be very nominal and a singe rate for all the routes and duration of the trekking is likely to be formed..” TAAN plans to co me with a co mprehensive programme for effective implementation of TRC, he said, “A new software will be d eveloved to maintain d etailed information about tourists.”
A separate office for issuing TRC will be set up in Thamel and Pokhara, with ad equate staff and will be open seven days a week. “We will try our best to simplify paper procedure and avoid unnecessary hassles,” BC claimed. Even though it is still at a preliminary stage, TAAN is planning to start issuing TRC on September 27, the World Tourist Day, if everything goes planned, he said.
The government’s new move co mes following repeated co mplaints from registered trekking agencies that individual agencies, hotels, guest houses and even foreign tour operators are making arrangement for trekking at their own, evading taxes. This new provision seems to please registered trekking agencies. However, it will be a burd en wish to do trekking at their own. Since according to the new provision, every trekker has to go through trekking agencies for TRC.
According to the tourist industry division, there are 762 registered trekking firms in Nepal. However, about 500 are active currently.
Sincerely, THT
Following the government announcement to introduce trekking registration certificate (TRC) for trekkers in the open trekking regions, the trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) is gearing up to put in place in necessary provisions.
TAAN has formed a nine member taskforce, with its past –presid ent D eepak Mahat as the coordinator, to oversee the formulation of TRC as well as to d ecid e about fee structure.
Finance minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, in his budget speech, had announced that tourist should take TRC from TAAN, to control revenue leakage in the open trekking regions by illegal business activities.
“TRC will ensure safety of tourist as well as promote responsible tourism practices in the trekking regions,” said Narendra BC, presid ent of TAAN. He further said that the provision would be helpful in keeping statistics and track records related to trekking.
TRC has been mad e mandatory for every tourist going to trekking purposes in the open trekking regions including Mt. Everest, Annapurna, Langtang and Kanchenjunga trekking routes. TAAN will issue TRCupon request of the government registered trekking agencies prior to d eparture of trekking.
Necessary consultations are being und ertaken with ministries including tourism and civil aviation, home as well as the d epartment of national parks and wildlife conservation, Nepal Tourism Board, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation and other stakehold ers, BC told this daily.
The taskforce has been mandated to co me up with d etailed provisions and the modus operandi for TRC including fees and office structure, he informed, “The fees will be very nominal and a singe rate for all the routes and duration of the trekking is likely to be formed..” TAAN plans to co me with a co mprehensive programme for effective implementation of TRC, he said, “A new software will be d eveloved to maintain d etailed information about tourists.”
A separate office for issuing TRC will be set up in Thamel and Pokhara, with ad equate staff and will be open seven days a week. “We will try our best to simplify paper procedure and avoid unnecessary hassles,” BC claimed. Even though it is still at a preliminary stage, TAAN is planning to start issuing TRC on September 27, the World Tourist Day, if everything goes planned, he said.
The government’s new move co mes following repeated co mplaints from registered trekking agencies that individual agencies, hotels, guest houses and even foreign tour operators are making arrangement for trekking at their own, evading taxes. This new provision seems to please registered trekking agencies. However, it will be a burd en wish to do trekking at their own. Since according to the new provision, every trekker has to go through trekking agencies for TRC.
According to the tourist industry division, there are 762 registered trekking firms in Nepal. However, about 500 are active currently.
Sincerely, THT