In a bid to increase tourist arrivals during the upcoming autumn season, government on Wednesday has formulated new flexible provisions for the international airlines flying to Nepal.
According to the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation (MoCTCA) decision, international airlines currently flying to Nepal can operate four more flights in a week from September 1 till December 31.
The international airlines are also free to choose the type of aircraft for these additional flights.
The government has designated the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to coordinate with concerned aeronautical authorities in respective countries for the increased schedule flights.
However, the government's new provision will not be applicable unless airlines have utilised the seat capacity and frequency provided by the bilateral air service agreements (ASA) between Nepal and the concerned countries from where the airlines operate.
The government has also relaxed the provision for seasonal charter flights. Now onward CAAN, the aviation regulator, will issue permission for interested operators for seasonal charter flights when needed from September 1 to December 31. Earlier, the airlines had to apply at the ministry in advance for approval of such flights.
According a report, some of the international airlines including Thai Airways, Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines have already sought the government’s nod to increase frequency and seat capacity.
The airlines’ interests for increasing frequency and seat capacity match with the rising tourist arrivals to Nepal, as the country witnessed a significant rise of 35.6 percent in tourist arrivals during the first seven months of this year. A total of 193,211 tourists visited Nepal as of July 2007 via air only.
The report said that July of 2007 alone saw a growth of 25 percent against the previous year. If such a trend continues, total tourist arrivals this year will break all past records, the report claimed.
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