Entry fee hiked in national parks
Kathmandu: Nepal government has raised fees for entry, jungle drive and helicopter landing in different national parks across the country.The government raised entry fee for foreigners in Makalu-Barun, Sagarmatha, Langtang, Rara, Shey Phoksundo and Khaptad from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per person. Entry for SAARC nationals in these protected areas have also been raised from Rs 100 to Rs 1,500 per person.Though Nepalis get free entry in the national parks trekking porters, however, are required to pay Rs 25 per person.
Similarly, entry fees for SAARC nationals and foreign tourists to Bardia National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Toppi Wildlife Reserve have been raised from Rs 50 and Rs 500 per person to Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per person respectively. Entry fee for Nepalis in these protected areas too has been raised from Rs 20 to Rs 50 per person.
The government has also raised entry fee for Nepalis in Chitwan National Park from Rs 20 to Rs 100 per person. Similarly, fees for SAARC nationals and foreign tourists have been raised from Rs 200 and Rs 500 to Rs 750 and Rs 1,500 per person respectively.
Similarly, the government has fixed entry fee for jungle drives in Chitwan National Park. It has fixed Rs 2,000 a day for car, Rs 4,000 a day for jeep and Rs 5,000 per day for van. Similarly, entry fees for commercial jungle drives for car, jeep and van to Parsa, Shuklaphanta and Koshi Tappu wildlife reserves have been fixed at Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively. Chopper landing fee at national parks have been fixed at Rs 5,000 per landing.
Meanwhile , Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Hotel Association of Nepal, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour Operators and Nepal Association of Rafting Agents have expressed their dissatisfaction regarding the unilateral hike in entry fees for heritage sites, conservation areas and national reserves without discussing the matter with tourism entrepreneurs.
