KATHMANDU, Nepal–The Tourism Service Fee (TSF), which is imposed on foreign travelers in Nepal, will be doubled from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 from first March of 2014, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) states.
The revision, which has been made after nine years is imposed on the outgoing foreign travelers departing from Nepal and is carried out only from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
‘With a bigger budget, the Board will now prepare and execute 5 years plan to go through the market that has been undiscovered before,’ says Subash Nirola, Acting Chief Executive of NTB urging all members of Nepalese travel trade industry to join in hands for the purpose.
The fee which is collected by NTB was introduced in 1999 to fund the promotional activities of NTB, levying 2% service charge in tourism services. However, the funding mechanism was later changed in 2005 with the levy of Rs 500 to all foreign travelers exiting from (TIA).
Nirola added that the increased revenue will permit the Board to concentrate more on international promotion and domestic tourism development.
According to NTB, the devaluation of Nepali currency and stiff competition in international tourism has forced the Board to increase the fee. ‘Over the last few years, the price rise in the international market coupled with the devaluation of Nepalese currency and stiff competition among destinations, for their presence in the international tourism market, has made it difficult for Nepal Tourism Board to fare well in the international promotion,’ the board said in a statement.