$10 fee for tourists visiting Pokhara

Pokhara municipality has decided to collect $10 per tourist as tourist tax from July onwards which has brought strong criticism from tourism entrepreneurs. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Pokhara Tourism Council , trekking agencies and hotel owners have protested the decision and threatened to launch protests if the municipality implements the tourist tax.

The municipality officials have announced that the new tourist tax will be effective from the new fiscal year and will help to improve services in the tourist city. The officials have cited the practice in Bhaktapur and Lalitpur and has promised that the revenue would benefit the residents.

Different organizations charge visitors Rs 50 to Rs 400 for visiting sites like Fewa Lake, Davis Falls, Mahendra Cave and others but the revenue goes to local organizations and the municipality receives nothing.

The municipality is planning to hold meetings with stakeholders on this matter and hope that tourism entrepreneurs will support the move instead of creating obstacles in its bid to improve services in the city from the revenue derived from the tourist tax.