Entry fees: When tourists’ and trekkers are made to pay double fees, ironically, for the holidays of a lifetime…

Rasuwa – December 5^th
Nepal is probably the only country on earth where visitors from all walks of life, irrespective of economical status, creed or color, are called ‘pahunas’ {guests} and treated like Gods, as per the culture of the country, but paradoxically, tourists entering Rasuwa in western Nepal are forced to pay double fees, for viewing nature in all its natural forms.
Tourism entrepreneurs say the Langtang National Park and District Development Committee {DDC}, Rasuwa, have been collecting fees from tourists separately.

The Langtang Park collects Rs. 1000 from each trekker under the national park act and the DDC charges Rs. 300 per tourist under the so-called Autonomous Governance Act, violating orders and directives of the Ministry of Local Development. The ministry had earlier directed the DDC not to collect fees of any kind from visitors. Entrepreneurs are of the view that the double fee collection practice sends a negative message to tourists’ and will consequently be affecting tourism to this district.

They have called up on the concerned authorities to resolve this issue of double fees at its earliest.