Tourism entrepreneurs say preliminary enquiries for the months of October and November were encouraging and they were expecting 20 percent growth in business this season. [break]
At present, 38 companies are operating around 1,500 tourist vehicles in different parts of the country.
According to officials of Nepal Tourist Vehicles Association most of the tourist vehicles operators are preparing to expand their fleet of vehicles. Ram Sharan Karki, vice-president of the association, said the operators have already brought 26 new cars into operation. “Sixteen tourist buses will be pressed into service very soon,” Karki said, adding that the number of vans will also increase in the same ratio.
Karki said tourist vehicles business is suffering from unhealthy competition in the market. “Different entrepreneurs and firms are operating tourists buses without taking seeking operating license of the government,” Karki, who operates Nepal Comfort Tour Service, said.
As per the criteria set by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the tourist vehicles should be spacious, should have air bag, seat belts along with English speaking driver and a support staff.
Thanks to growing competition in the market, tourist vehicle operators are adding high-end vehicles manufactured by Volkswagen, Ford and Fiat among others. Tata and Toyota have remained the preferred brand of tourist vehicle operators in Nepal so far.
Bhim Gole, general secretary of the association, said most of the tourist vehicle operators are adding new vehicles in their fleet as travel agencies and hotels prefer new vehicles. “Upgrading our fleet is a challenging task,” Gole said, adding: “But we are putting more money because the demand for tourist vehicles is showing a healthy rise.”
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