Pokhara, August 25
Tourism and business leaders from Pokhara have held discussions with UAE Ambassador to Nepal Abdullah bin Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Al Shamsi on ways to make regular flights between Pokhara and Dubai successful and sustainable.
The participants said establishing regular flights from Pokhara to Dubai would be another important milestone for Pokhara, Gandaki Province and Nepal, as it would connect the city to a wider international network.
The business leaders told the ambassador that connecting Pokhara to Dubai would be historic for the city’s tourism sector and sought his support in making the flights successful.
Those participating in the discussions included former president of the Pokhara Tourism Council and former president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Gandaki Province, Pomanarayan Shrestha; former Nepal Tourism Board board member Basudev Tripathi; Hotel Association Pokhara President Laxman Subedi; Hotel Association Gandaki Province President Hari Sharma Gaire; Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Gokarna Karki; NATTA Gandaki Province executive member Bijay Paudel; and NATTA central president Bharat Jung Pandey, among others.
Tourism entrepreneurs described the launch of regular flights between Pokhara and Dubai as a historic and significant achievement for the development of tourism in Nepal, Gandaki Province and Pokhara.
They pledged full support and cooperation from the private sector, Gandaki provincial government, local governments and other concerned stakeholders to ensure the flights continue and become successful.
During the meeting, the business leaders also urged the ambassador to immediately remove the requirement for Nepali tourists travelling to Dubai on tourist visas to obtain a police clearance certificate.
They acknowledged that it might not be possible to immediately remove the police clearance requirement for Nepali workers travelling to Dubai, but requested that the requirement for tourists be waived without delay.
The ambassador assured the business leaders that he would provide possible support and coordination on the matter.
