CNI urges for more efforts to remove Nepal from EU air safety list

KATHMANDU: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to establish direct flight connectivity with Europe in order to attract more high-spending tourists to the country.

A delegation of CNI met with Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, on Tuesday, and requested him to expedite the process of removing Nepal from the EU air safety list to facilitate direct flight operations between Nepal and Europe.

Speaking on the occasion, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, emphasized the significance of collaboration between the government and the private sector for the growth of the tourism industry. “Given that tourism is a crucial source of foreign currency earnings for Nepal, it is imperative to implement immediate measures that will restore direct air connectivity with Europe,” he added.

CNI also brought to the ministry’s attention the challenges arising from the lack of air routes that are hindering efficient operations of Pokhara International Airport and the Gautam Buddha International Airport. Furthermore, CNI urged the tourism ministry to actively promote Nepal as a filming destination by developing the necessary infrastructure. Additionally, it called for the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on air tickets.

In response, Kiranti said efforts were underway to remove Nepal from the EU’s air safety list. He also expressed reservations about the imposition of VAT on air tickets, arguing that such a measure could erode Nepal’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

“We are making preparations to allow Nepal Airlines Corporation to acquire aircraft for both trunk and STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) routes. Similarly, the procurement of narrow-body aircraft for international flight operations is also under consideration,” he added.