KATHMANDU: Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has urged the government to ease taxes in the tourism sector in the upcoming budget and accord it the national priority sector status.
HAN has suggested to cut value-added tax (VAT) from existing 13 per cent to 10 per cent for agricultural products.
HAN also demanded the government to support the purchase of five new aircraft by Nepal Airlines Corporation and capacity upgrade for the Tribhuvan International Airport.
The association has asked the government to give tourism entrepreneurs a 100 per cent tax rebate for purchasing vehicles for their businesses. HAN has also suggested to develop a green belt around the Narayanhiti Museum to make it more attractive for tourists. HAN urged for developing a four or eight-lane road.
According to HAN, private sector has invested Rs 150 billion in the hotel sector and more investments are in the pipelines for the Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
Tourism sector earns 24 per cent of the foreign currency and indirectly offers direct employment to 10 lakh people.
