KATHMANDU, Nepal- The government has made some amendments in the existing rules that direct the hotels running with star standardization upgrade their facilities in line with the international norms. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has amended the standardization criteria in consultation with the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN).
The amendments include addition of deluxe five star hotels in the standard list, 20 percent increase of rooms in all star hotels, mandatory Wi-Fi, CCTV LCD/LED TV facility in all rooms of star hotels.
Earlier, the government has issued the order in the gazette entitled “Hotel Standard 1998” based on Hotel Lodge, Restaurant, Bar and Tour Operator Regulation 1981.
“In order to improve the quality of services as well as standard of hotels in Nepal. The amendments would be published in the Nepal gazette soon,” said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, spokesperson for MoCTCA.
The hotel standardization committee which included members from MoCTCA and HAN had come up with various suggestions, which have been forwarded to the Ministry of Law and Justice for final approval.
The committee has focused more on modernization and standardization of the hotels, especially the star hotels, said a committee member. HAN has compiled with the standards of Hotel Association Thailand, Australian Hotel Association and Indian Hotel Standard to prepare the draft amendments.
The amendments mostly focus on deluxe star hotels targeting upcoming chain hotels and existing five star hotels seeking upgrade. The deluxe hotels should meet the criteria such as a minimum of 200 rooms, more than five food and beverage outlets, banquets of 6,000 square feet and above, vehicle scanning equipment and baggage scanner, among others.
For non star hotels, the proposed amendments include removing the criteria of compulsory parking area and adding up facilities so as to convert into star hotels. “The amendments for non star hotels are basically for registration,” said Sapkota.
