NRNA starts TIA cleaning campaign

The Non-Residential Nepalis Association (NRNA), in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), today launched a month-long cleaning campaign.
The campaign aims to transform the TIA into as clean and well-managed as other international airports and make the experience of tourists during both their arrivals and departures pleasant, said NRNA senior vice president Bhawan Bhatta.
Bhatta, who is also leading the campaign 'Atithi Devo Bhawa' to bring more tourists to Nepal, said that the non-resident Nepalis want to bring in international knowledge and  technology also to train the workers and technologies to update with more resources to ensure that facilities at the TIA meet the international standards. Khem’s Cleaning Services – a cleaning company based in Australia – is training the workers during the campaign.
The TIA, the country only international airport, has been facing a widespread criticism for poor sanitation and maintenance, he said, adding that the campaign will help make the first and last impressions of the tourists more memorable.
“Sanitation is the biggest measure of civilisation and airport provides the first glimpse of the nation,” said chief executive of the NTB Deepak Raj Joshi, on the occasion. "Maintaining cleanliness in the airport is of utmost importance," he added.
Likewise, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Sanjiv Gautam promised to keep the TIA neat and tidy beyond the campaign period too. “Sanitation is a continuous process," he said, adding that the authority will put in same level of efforts to keep the airport clean even after the end of the cleaning campaign.
The campaign’s duration could be extended, if the desired results are not achieved, according to the agreement between the NRNA and TIA.
General Manager of the TIA Devananda Upadhaya, on the occasion, said that they are happy to join hands with an organisation that has 5 million members.