Hotels to Receive Facilities Similar to Productive Industries

Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Dipak Khadka has pledged to provide facilities to the hotel industry on par with productive industries.

While receiving a memorandum submitted by the District Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association at the ministry today, Minister Khadka said that since tourism is a highly sensitive sector directly linked with the economy, the government is working to classify hotels under productive industries and provide necessary concessions.

The association highlighted that hotels are continuously facing losses and struggling to cover operational expenses, urging the minister to ensure electricity tariff concessions equal to those granted to productive industries.

Association President Suresh Baral stressed that tourism is not only a source of revenue but also brings foreign currency, creates employment, and promotes Nepal globally. He demanded that the hotel sector be given special facilities to strengthen its role in the economy.

Although the government, in its current fiscal year budget, announced recognition of hotels and restaurants as productive industries and promised electricity tariff concessions, the provision has yet to be implemented in practice.

President Baral further expressed hope that electricity tariff relief would provide significant support to hoteliers amid the ongoing economic downturn and difficult business conditions.