Friday, December 27, 2019

TAAN seeks revision of TIMS card pact with tourism board

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) is seeking to revise the agreement signed with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) regarding distribution of Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card and managing the amount collected from issuing the TIMS cards.
Issuing a white paper today, TAAN said that NTB has not released its share of amount from issuance of TIMS card. “Thus, TAAN is ready to revise the agreement, if needed,” the white paper reads, adding that some 30 per cent of the amount collected from TIMS goes to TAAN’s organisational account, while 30 per cent goes towards NTB’s organisational account. “Likewise, 30 per cent of the amount goes to the joint account of NTB and TAAN, while the remaining 10 per cent is deposited in the workers’ welfare fund.”
“But TAAN has not received the agreed amount for the last five years,” the white paper reads, adding that it has affected tasks like helicopter, medicine, administration expenditure and salary for staff, research and promotion of new destinations. “And the amount that TAAN is seeking from NTB is related to its share of money collected in the joint account of the organisations.”
TIMS was jointly implemented by NTB and TAAN according to the direction of Nepal government from January 1, 2008 to ensure the safety and security of trekkers and also to control illegal trekking operations,” according to the TAAN. “Since then, TAAN has been issuing TIMS cards to group trekkers (GT), while NTB distributes it to free individual trekkers (FIT).”
According to the white paper, TAAN’s demand has not been addressed despite frequent discussions with the concerned authorities. “The TAAN has not received its due share of the amount collected in the joint account since the last five years,” the white paper reads, adding that it has also adversely affected the administration expenses and wages of staffers working at the TIMS collection centre, along with the work of introducing and promoting new trekking routes.
Due to the tug of war between the NTB and TAAN on income from TIMS card, TAAN has also been not able to renew the organisation since past years. It has not been renewed for the last two fiscal years – fiscal year 2018-19 and fiscal year 2019-20. TAAN was last renewed in fiscal year 2017-18. “The auditing of TAAN and Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) is done collectively, showing TAAN's earning in millions according to the white paper.
AAN has been – citing the security issues of trekkers – demanding the government to stop distributing trekking permits to individual trekkers. It also showed concern over the country's inability to provide TIMS card through online system.
TAAN is working to provide 20 per cent off to foreign trekkers by its member companies on the occasion of Visit Nepal Year 2020, the white paper reads, adding that it will contribute in welcoming 800,000 tourists to the country during VNY 2020.

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