SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, DEC 03 -
Increased tourist arrivals and hopes of lasting peace coming to the country have inspired investors to build new resorts. Sukute Beach Adventure Camp in Sindhupalchok, Balthali Village Resort in Kavre and Kinnari Resort in Naldunga, Kavre have obtained operating licenses from the Tourism Ministry’s Industrial Division.
Nirajan Ghimire, section officer at the division, said that the applications of another three resorts -- Narayani Resort, Chitwan, Pristine Paradise Tent Resort, Dhulikhel and Two River Lodge, Melamchi -- were being processed.
There has been a significant rise in the registration of new hotels since 2009, but there have been few resorts. According to the Tourism Ministry, registrations of new hotels exceeded 1,100 in 2009-10.
The resort sector, worst hit during the decade-long conflict, has been making a slow recovery. “Hotels can be erected anywhere in the city or suburbs, but a resort property requires a scenic setting like near lakes and rivers or on hills and mountains,” said Arun Shrestha, executive director of Dhulikhel Mountain Resort. He said resorts are spread over a larger area and contain all the facilities found in hotels. Moreover, a resort has to provide recreational opportunities like golf, spa, amusement park and sports.
Resort operators said they were more vulnerable during the conflict period because of their isolated and far-flung locations. “Travel traders are upbeat that the situation is improving, and swelling arrivals in recent times have encouraged investment in resorts,” said Shrestha.
He claimed that some small hotels and restaurants were calling themselves resorts even though they did not fulfil the requirements. The government should consider this before issuing the operating certificate, he added. Nepal received 412,446 tourists by air during the period January-November, the highest since 1999.
No comments:
Post a Comment