GANDAKI: The Hotel Association Pokhara, Nepal has urged the government to give equal status to the tourism and industry sectors.

Association’s Chairman Laxman Subedi on Saturday submitted a five-point memorandum to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Anil Kumar Sinha asking to ensure equal status enjoyed by the industry sector also for the tourism sector.

Subedi said that the memo was submitted to remind the context of non-implementation despite the government announcement to treat industry and tourism sectors equally in the current fiscal year’s budget.

Likewise, the Association has demanded that regular flights to different cities of India and China be made from Pokhara International Airport along with the development of domestic air routes among the provincial cities to promote domestic tourism and also by targeting the bordering cities of Nepal’s neighbouring countries.

The memo stated that the hotel and hospitality sector should be given rightful compensation since it was directly impacted by the Gen-Z Movement.

Receiving the memorandum, Minister Sinha assured to implement the issue of ensuring equal status to industry and tourism sector.

He also said that the government was working to ensure international flights from the Pokhara International Airport.

Present on the occasion were Industry and Tourism Minister of Gandaki Province Mitralal Basyal, business leaders and officials of Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Province Office, among others.