Kaski, Oct 1 ,, A four-point agreement was reached between the stakeholders and tourism workers – who had announced agitation taking up the problems of Annapurna and Manaslu trekking route – on Sunday.
Tourism workers had demanded withdrawal of tourism management committee and tourism entrepreneurs’ decision to impose workers and guides to receive meal coupon for 2 to 7 days making payments in advance at Tadapani area of Kaski. The arrangement was imposed effective from September 17.
The agitating workers had given an ultimatum up to October 1 and also warned to not turn up to trekking business and padlock tourism related organizations including TAAN.
An all-side meeting had addressed the issues put forth by workers with a conclusion that the protest from tourism workers would not augur well especially at the onset of the main tourism season.
Tourism workers have withdrawn their protest programme after a four-point agreement was reached among the Ministry of Tourism of Gandaki Province, Tadapani Tourism Management Committee, TAAN Western Regional Committee, Tourism Workers’ Federation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Tourism Police and Tadapani Hotel Management Committee.
UniTrav Gandaki Chairperson Bijaya KC informed that all protest programmes have been put off until mid-February 2018 with the signing of the four-point pact.
Now the workers in advance do not need to pay for meals for future. It means the tourism workers can pay their meal expenses to the counter of concerned hotel and lodge, effective from October 9.
Among others are mediation of the Annapurna Protection Area Project to resolve the problems seen in Annapurna circuit trekking route area; Ministry of Tourism to take initiative to resolve the problems surfaced in Annapurna and Manasly area; UniTrav Gandaki and All Nepal Tourism Workers Association to put off its all protest programmes and work together in the area of secured, dignified and sustainable tourism, shared Hari Bhujel, TAAN Pokhara Chairperson.
There are around 300 tourist guides and 700 assistants in trekking sector in Pokhara. —-