1,000 foreign tourists waiting for flights back to homes

Some 1,000 foreign tourists in Nepal are awaiting flights back to their homes as the world is struggling to cope with the global pandemic of COVID-19.

They had arrived in Nepal for trekking, mountain climbing and other purposes in spring season.

They are seeking the help of embassies of their respective countries and tourism related organisations to return homes. According to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) chief executive officer Dr Dhananjay Regmi, such a number of foreign tourists from around 60 countries including China have got stuck in the country due to lockdown against the virus and they want to return homes as soon as possible.

Some of them are requesting the NTB to help towards that end. Today alone, a team of 19 Chinese reached the NTB with the same request.

Similarly, a total of 4,532 tourists, mostly from the European countries- Germany, France and New Zealand and from Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives, Russia, Czech Republic, America and Britain returned home amidst the period of lockdown which has been in force since March 24 and the NTB had facilitated for so. They were rescued through chartered and cargo flights.

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)'s chief immigration officer Sagar Acharya said a total of 35,023 tourists including Indians had entered Nepal via air routes in May this year.

Presently, no foreign tourists remain in quarantine. Those put in quarantine earlier were freed with the completion of a 14-day stay.