PHBEC, a syndicate of transporters operating along the Prithvi Highway, had on Monday stopped tourism entrepreneurs from operating tourist coach services between the two cities. [break]But on Tuesday, tourism entrepreneurs operated tourist coaches, bringing in 15 foreign tourists from Chitwan and dispatching 38 tourists from Pokhara.
Talking to Republica, Shankar Koirala, coordinator of PHBEC, said the committee won´t have any problem if tourist buses ferried foreigners. “Green-plated buses can´t carry Nepali passengers,” he maintained.
However, the officials of Pokhara Chapter of Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA) - the co-promoters of tourist coach service - said they won´t backtrack.
“A committee can´t prohibit us from carrying domestic tourists. We will follow the instruction of only the government agencies,” Kedar Sharma, president of NATTA Pokhara Chapter, said. “We have nothing to fear about because we are working as per the existing rules and regulations.”
Chief District Officer of Kaski SP Yadav said tourism entrepreneurs can operate the service as per existing rules and regulations. “The problem was created because Transport Management Act and Tourism Act contradict each other,” said Yadav.
According to Transport Management Act, green-plated can provide service to tourists. But the second amendment to the Tourism Act states that Nepalis should also be treated as tourists.
Meanwhile, Consumer Forum, Kaski has expressed solidarity with the tourism entrepreneurs. “PHEBC officials are taking law in their hands. They have no authority to deprive people of better services,” said Kapil Koirala, president of Consumer Forum, Kaski.
Instead of disrupting operation of tourist coaches, he even asked PHEBC officials to move the court if they think tourism entrepreneurs are violating existing rules and regulations.
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