Elderly to get 50 per cent discount on airfare : Tourism Minister

Unveiling his one-year work plan, tourism minister Yogesh Bhattarai today during a press meet announced that domestic passengers above 70 years will get 50 per cent discount on their airfare.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will hold discussions with stakeholders to implement the new policy, he said, claiming that his ministry will form new legal provisions and reform the old policies to meet the standards of the European Union (EU) aiming to get off from the EU’s air safety list.
Presenting a gamut of his to-do list for a year at a press meet – almost a month after his appointment as the tourism minister – Bhattarai said that the ministry will conduct a feasibility study of opening an international standard flying school to produce skilled manpower for the aviation sector. “Draft of new acts will be prepared soon,” he said, adding that he is prepared to complete all the activities that are scheduled for the current fiscal year efficiently, citing that he has a strong team backing him up.
Likewise, the minister has also announced to provide incentive package to airline companies that operate flights to Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA). “Construction of GBIA is all set to be completed by December,” he said, hoping that the airport will be fully operational within three months after the completion of the construction. “We will be providing incentive packages to those airline companies that operate commercial flights to and from GBIA.”
He also claimed that the site clearance for Nijgadh International Airport (NIA) will also be completed by the end of the year.
On the occasion, minister Bhattarai also said that the ministry will issue expression of interest (EoI) to develop those airports as air sports activity centres. Many a airports in the country have remained non-operational at the moment.
Bhattarai, talking about upgradation of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), said that the country’s sole international airport is capable of providing 24-hour service. “The ministry will offer special packages to those airline companies that operate flights after midnight,” he said, adding that the ministry will also prepare new criteria for VIP movement at TIA to address the congestion and traffic jams during VIP movements. “The ministry is also preparing to organise a Global Tourism Ministers’ Conclave – by the end opf the year – in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) with the theme ‘New Year in Nepal’, to make Visit Nepal Year (VNY) 2020 successful.”
Bhattarai, on the occasion, also announced about organising tourism investment summit, to complete the work of Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to provide skill-based training related with tourism sector to 12,000 interested candidates and to instal GPS tracking system to make mountaineering sector more reliable and secure.

World Bank hails successful promotion of TSA

Nepal's experience on Treasury Single Account (TSA) may be useful to other countries in the South Asian region and other parts of the globe.
Nepal has achieved remarkable success in promoting and maintaining TSA in a short span of time, said mission head of World Bank Manoj Jain in the 10th Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) meeting today.
"It will be a role model for other countries," he said, adding that integration of information technology in the system will further enhance the account management system. Financial management is a key issue today and Nepal's progress is remarkable, he added.
The government has expanded TSA in 60 districts including Kathmandu from the current fiscal year. Last year, the programme was implemented in 38 districts. "Now, 95 per cent of the government's revenue and expenditure accounts are under the TSA system," said finance secretary Krishna Hari Baskota.
He assured donors — World Bank, European Union, DFID and others — who attended the meeting that the government will implement TSA for effective use of resources and transparency. Donors must support us in maintaining a standard of public expenditure and financial accountability, he added.
The five-year-long TSA project was started in 2011 to improve accounting system, and enhance auditing and reporting system. "Proper use of information technology and strategic implementation of the programme will improve the financial system of the country," said comptroller general Pratap Kumar Pathak.
In the meeting, PEFA coordinator Mahesh Dahal outlined the achievements and weaknesses of the programme and briefed on the future strategy. Similarly, World Bank experts presented study reports on Public Financial Management Capacity Development, and Accounting and Reporting System.