11 July 2008
Nepal tourism may suffer serious setback
(Zeenews) Nepal's tourism industry, recovering from a decade-long insurgency, may face a substantial setback this year as the Chinese Embassy has halted issuing visas for tourists visiting Tibet through the Himalayan country. This season, tour operators have been unable to get a single visa, said Rameshwor Sapkota, chairman of the Association of Trans-Himalayan Tour Operators in Nepal. An official at the Nepal Tourism Board has estimated that the country may lose some 20,000 to 25,000 visitors if the situation continues throughout the year. Although China officially lifted the ban on issuing visas on 01 July, in practice, none have been issued, he said.