An app named ‘Tourist Bus Nepal’ has been launched for the convenience of visitors in booking bus tickets to various tourist destinations. The app is developed by Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN), the umbrella organization of tourist bus entrepreneurs.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati inaugurated the app amidst a program here on Wednesday. On the occasion, Minister Kirati said that the Ministry is working on amending the Tourism Act.
On a different note, he said Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)’s budget would not be passed until it reformed its budget. “The NTB’s budget cannot be passed hurriedly until and unless it is reformed. The Board’s budget cannot be endorsed immediately to fulfill the interests of some people for commissions,” he said.
He mentioned that it was not the responsibility of the Tourism Board to build physical infrastructures. Saying the Department of Tourism builds the physical infrastructures for the development of the tourism sector, Minister Kirati clarified that Nepal Tourism Board promotes tourism activities.
The tourism minister shared that NTB could not spend Rs 800-900 million on European visits in the name of bringing in tourists in Nepal.
He further said that no one has the facility to take relatives for visiting different countries and distribute and sell expensive goods from the Board’s expenses.
The app was launched to facilitate domestic and foreign passengers book tickets online for tourist buses plying between Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini and Janakpur, said Krishna Acharya, president of TBAN. For the service, TBAN has coordinated with digital payment systems, Khalti, IME Pay and Prabhu Pay. Around 100 tourist buses leave Kathmandu for various tourist destinations on a daily basis, it has been said.
