Minister for Home Affairs Bal Krishna Khand on Wednesday said that the government would form a task force to restore the tourism and nightlife upended by the coronavirus pandemic.
He said that a task force headed by a Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and concerned businessmen would be formed to bring the businesses back to their normal state.
In a meeting held at Singha Durbar this evening with the stakeholders of tourism-related businesses in the Kathmandu Valley, Minister Khand said that respect for business was the honour for the nation and tourism and night-time business should be made respectable.
He added that the government was tourism business-friendly. “We are in favour of allowing all to run their businesses independently. But saving the lives of a citizen is the first responsibility of the government. Entrepreneurs and the government should be serious about that,” Minister Khand said.
He said that the government was aware of the plight of the tourism entrepreneurs.
At the meeting, Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey said that it was the responsibility of the entrepreneurs to safely operate a business and the government would assist them in that.
Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Govinda Rijal said that there would a problem in complying with the health safety protocol when tourism businesses were opened and that attention should be paid to make business, tourism and peace and security systematic.
At the meeting, Binod Shrestha of Dohori Businessmen’s Association, Rajuman Dangol of Thamel Tourism Development Council, businessman Milan Karki, Dinesh Shrestha of Night Businessmen’s Association and Rajkumar Lama of Dance Bar Association informed about the problems they have been facing. They said that they were ready to abide by the policy, rules and health standards made by the government and urged all to create a conducive environment for doing business.
Source : TRN,
