Tuesday 30th May 2023
The government of Nepal has selected 78 hotels and resorts for quarantining travelers entering the landlocked country via air travel. The selected quarantine spots include luxury hotels.
Before this decision, the Nepali government operated eight hotels to quarantine the travelers flying to the country as the Nepal-India air bubble arrangement is active. Now, Nepal has added 70 more hotels to this list and has brought the total to 78 hotels.
The 78 hotels have willingly agreed to participate in this quarantine program. As per the norms, the air passengers will be in this hotel isolation for a minimum of 10 days. The air passengers will be allowed to board the flights to Nepal only if they display their hotel booking for the stipulated time.
While presenting the budget for 2021/22, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel announced that the selected hotels, which will become isolation centers, will receive incentives. As per the Director-General of DoT Rudra Singh Tamang, the 78 hotels should be in the areas mentioned in the criteria for Nepali and foreign international air travelers. This decision comes after Nepal allowed international flights from June 1.
Air India, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines can fly one flight every week, while Nepal Airlines operates two flights per week. Considering that foreigners from international destinations will visit Nepal in increasing numbers, Nepal decided to enforce this countermeasure to combat the pandemic.
Eight hotels, Ananda Ashram, Airport Hotel, Amadablam Hotel, A One Resort, Farm House Resort, Mahadev Hotel, Readers Inn, and View Bhrikuti are already participating in this program. Now, the government has brought on another 70 hotels.
Of the new 70 hotels, a total of seven 5-star luxury hotels have agreed to pitch in their resources. Shangri-La Hotel, Radisson Hotel, Hotel Yak & Yeti, Hyatt Regency The Soaltee, Hotel Aloft, and Hotel Everest are the luxury quarantining destinations for the Nepali and foreign jet setters who enter Nepal.
Apart from these, there are 51 standard tourist hotels in the vicinity of the airport. A range of hotels will become quarantining spaces in Gaushala, Battisputali, Bag Bazar, Lainchaur, and Dhulikhel areas. Park Village and Gokarna Forest Resort are among the new hospitality destinations quarantine spaces.
Nepal has issued a mandate saying, “Any hotel not adhering to the Hotel Quarantine rules shall be penalized as per the Infectious Disease Act 2020.” The non-star hotels would charge NPR 3,000 per head. Under this tariff, all three meals are covered.
The star hotels are exempted from this policy. They are allowed to bill the staying jet setters as per their hotel policy.
Nepal has stipulated that the hotels with a minimum of 20 rooms and a compound to lounge about qualify for this quarantine program. The hotel destinations should be stocked up on food, water, and logistics to provide a hassle-free stay for jet setters. Most importantly, they ought to have space where the COVID-19 swab tests can be conducted.
The lodging should have ample bed & bath facilities. Additionally, they should be equipped with a television and Wi-Fi options. “Food and other services should be provided in the passage or occupied rooms,” according to the criteria set by the Department of Tourism.
As is the global norm, hotels should have sanitizers and toiletries for sanitizing purposes. However, the fitness and dining facilities such as buffet dining and gyms should be closed until further notice.
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