Nepal to introduce free-visa regime in 2011 to attract more tourists

Kathmandu, July 26 (ANI): The Government of Nepal is likely to approve a proposal forwarded by its Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for introducing a free visa regime by 2011 in a bid to attract more foreign tourists.

According to a Republica report, 2011 is being observed as Nepal Tourism Year and MoTCA has proposed the government to waive visa fee at least for the campaign period.

Nepal has set a target to welcoming over a million foreign tourists in 2011. More than half a million foreign visitors had visited the country in 2009.

Laxman Bhattarai, spokesperson and joint secretary at MoTCA, said the proposal have been forwarded to Ministry of Finance to incorporate it in the budget for fiscal year 2010/11.

At present, according to Xinhua, foreign visitors to Nepal need to pay 25 dollars for a 15-day visa and 40 dollars for a month-long visa.

But visitors from SAARC countries are allowed to enter the country without a visa. (ANI)