Tourist guides’ pay hike fails to amuse industry

Travel and Tour operators have explicited their inconvenience over a hike of 70% in the compensation of independent tourist guides, notified by Tourist Guide Association of Nepal (TURGAN).

Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), National Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents explicited their discordance with the TURGAN’s resolution.

In accordance to NATTA, a rise of 70% is not sensible in the current circumstances. The resolution is high-handed and none of the tour operators agrees to the resolution.

Mr. Sarwottam Lal Shrestha, second vice-president of NATTA said, “Tour operators have already dispatched its citation of tour packages for Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011. Presenting a new rate is not possible now. In the international tourism market, tourism sector bestows economy packages to public travelling to a country during tourism year. But in our matter, travelers are getting more profit-oriented. Tourism business people should be more concentrated on bestowing special tour packages during tourism year.”

Mr. Hare Ram Baral, President of TURGAN said, “We have made proficient investigation before the hike in the compensation, the hike should have been in the line of 150%. Anyway, we have suggesteded only 60-70% hike. It’s been a lot of yrs since the compensation of the tourist guides has been sincerely revised.”
Mr. Baral also notified that the last hike of 2% was brought in 2007 with Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marked between NATTA and TURGAN.

In accordance to TURGAN, as the cost of hotels, transport, and other tourist products are enhancing, we too have enhanced the compensation as per the need and only after due market review, the increasement is sensible.”

Entrance fee hiked
Currently, Bhaktapur Municipality has raised the entrance fee by 50%. Travelers except from SAARC countries will be charged Rs 1,500 or $15, for entrance, from January 2011, against Rs 700, or $10, preciously.