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The Nepalese government has decided to reinstate visa-on-arrival services for visitors to the country. Visa services were temporarily halted on May 20 because to the former government’s Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The government issued an order based on the Infectious Diseases Act of 2020 to offer on-arrival visas to fully vaccinated tourists (from countries that allow for on-arrival visas). Such passengers must present a document stating that 14 days have passed since their final Covid-19 vaccination injection, as well as a negative PCR report obtained within 72 hours of checking in for the flight.

Likewise, a legitimate permit in case of mountaineering, trekking or other similar activities, proof of hotel booking, printed document of International Travelers Online Arrival Form (filled through the site www.ccmc.gov.np) will also be sought by the authorities. The visas are to be provided at the checkpoint of the travelers’ entry.

Cited from the National daily “The Himalayan Times”.

 

Trekking and mountaineering companies are progressively stretching up to find business for 2020 with the ongoing development and the government’s decision to open up for tourist.First group of VVIP travellers, a team of 18 royal guard of Bahrain including the royal prince arrived in Nepal on 16th of September 2020. The team is looking forward to climb Mt Lobuche (6119m) in the Everest region and Mt. Manaslu (8163m) in the Gorkha region as a preparation trip for their Mt. Everest Expedition in 2021. Likely, a German couple, also a diplomat officials working in Nepal, have entered the Everest region to become the first International Visitors to trek in the Everest region ever since the first lockdown due to Covid-19 in March 2020.

The government of Nepal has decided to resume international travelers to visit Nepal from the 17th of October 2020, which earlier was banned due to the Covid-19 situation. Necessary preparations are being done by the government to ensure that the international guests can freely and fearlessly travel in Nepal in midst of the pandemic situation. The Ministry of Tourism has already allowed hotels and domestic airlines to begin operation from 17th of September with necessary safety measures in place. International diplomats and Nepalese citizen are already allowed to fly in and out of the country at the moment. The decision of the government to welcome international visitors is yet challenged by some management issues, which are being gradually resolved.

Although the government had decided to resume the domestic flights from 17th of September the airlines didn’t begin their operation unless 21st of September. At the beginning the government had announced that the airlines could operate with half the number of passengers than their regular capacity but all the airlines challenged the decision as it seemed impossible for the airlines to operate on same old price with only half the passengers and a lot of preventive measures to follow against corona. Thus, the joint meeting of the government officials and the airlines representative came to an agreement that the airlines could operate on their full capacity following the safety measures like using masks, hand sanitizers, gloves and face shields. So, now the domestic flights are on regular operation.

Similarly, the hotels and resorts have gradually begun their operation. Many of them are deciding based on their bookings whether to resume their service or not. Since most of the staffs are on unpaid leave, the hotels and resorts don’t want to resume without being sure they have enough business to begin operation.

The local business operators associated to tourism are all desperately looking forward to resume business and welcomes the decision by the government of Nepal to resume international travelers to visit Nepal. At the mean time they also realize the safety measures and other responsibilities that comes along during the challenging situation, which they must fulfill to attract more foreigners to travel in Nepal.

 

 

KATHMANDU: The Cabinet meeting held today decided to resume flight operations from September 1. Citing the worsening situation due to the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Cabinet postponed the resumption of domestic and international flights.

Earlier on July 20, while announcing the end of the nationwide lockdown, the government had mentioned that it would allow the resumption of both domestic and international flights from August 17. After that decision, stakeholders had begun preparations for resuming flight operations. However, a meeting of the COV- ID-19 Crisis Management Centre held yesterday had recommended that the government postpone the reopening of domestic and international flights, long-distance public vehicles and academic institutions.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has already prepared the draft of protocols on how to manage flights and passengers during the pandemic. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is also preparing to reduce the number of flights after flights resume and only 25 per cent of regular international flights will be allowed to operate in the initial phase.

Flights will be operated focusing on providing services to around 300 passengers per hour.

Cited from the National daily ” The Himalayan Times”

 

Nepal government announce to resume all international and domestic flights from August 17, the Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation said it would let all tourism related activities including mountain climbing in the autumn season commence.

With the latest announcement, the tourism fraternity believes that the industry which incurred a loss of over 10 billion rupees a month during the COVID-induced nationwide lockdown would gradually return to a new normal.

“The ministry plans to resume all tourism related activities by following health and safety protocols from August 17, by adding safety protocols which will be finalised by holding consultations with stakeholders concerned.

According to the Cabinet decision, flights will be resumed in three phases. In the first phase, flights will be operated to the destinations that are less affected by COVID-19. After that, gradually, flights will be operated to other destinations in the second and third phases. During the initial period of flight resumption, all airline companies will not be allowed to operate all their aircraft at once. Permission to operate aircraft will be given based on the destination and the number of passengers.

“MoCTCA will coordinate with the Ministry of Health and Population for safety of the passengers travelling via commercial flights if any health issue does arise.”

The Ministry of Health and Population, said that the ministry would soon come up with new guidelines on handling of the arriving air passengers after August 17.

“All passengers who plan to arrive here on charter or repatriation flights until August 16 should go to quarantine centres and passengers of the scheduled commercial flights must show their PCR report to enter Nepal.

According to him, the Health Ministry has been discussing with the stakeholders and experts to decide on whether passengers of the scheduled international flights should go for self-quarantine even after producing the PCR test report.

The Department of Tourism is all set to issue climbing permits for the autumn season after the government decided to resume domestic and international flights.

Cited from the National daily “The Himalayan Times”.

We, Adventure Thamserku would kindly like to let you all know that due to taxiway maintenance and increment of air traffic congestion in Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, all flights to/from Lukla is being rerouted from Kathmandu Airport to Manthali/Ramechhap Airport from October 1^st 2019 to December 31^st 2019.

A formal statement to that effect has already been circulated by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the concern airlines. The date and tentative time of the flights will remain the same as per the airlines. However, this will require you to travel to Manthali/ Ramechhap from Kathmandu on your way to Lukla and retrace the exact same route on your way back to Kathmandu.

Here is all you need to know to survive the change:

Manthali Airport is located in the Tamakoshi River Valley in Manthali, the capital of Ramechhap District at an altitude of 474 m. It is located 138 km east of Kathmandu and it takes 4 hours to get there from Kathmandu by road. The flight time from Manthali to Lukla is about 20 min.

It is a small town that doesn’t see many visitors ordinarily. Hence, accommodation facilities available are limited and the service level is not very high. With the large number of trekkers who will come here to catch their flights, it is highly likely that you won’t find accommodation in Manthali during the peak season of October – November so we have to book the lodge in advance.

Because of the above issue, we had conducted a risk assessment and feasibility check of the road and lodges to Manthali. On the basis of which, we have the following options available:

(Option 1)

Drive to Manthali airport the previous night and spend a night in a basic lodge/hotel and fly to Lukla following morning:  The drive to Manthali is about 4 hours from Kathmandu on a very windy and narrow road. The drive allows you to see the country side of Nepal. If you choose this option then the cost of transportation, accommodation, meals and flights will be within the trip cost.

(Option 2)

Wake up early in the morning, leave the hotel at 3 am and drive 138 km which is 4 hours approximately to Manthali airport and then fly to Lukla accordingly. The cost of transportation will be within the trip cost.

(Option 3)

Direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla by Helicopter: If you don’t find the option 1 and 2 convenient then you can fly to Lukla from Kathmandu by helicopter  and extra cost will be top of in the flight.