September 6: Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) has urged the government to make arrangements for Nepali tourists to visit foreign countries without any hassles.

NATTA President Ramesh Thapa has expressed concerns regarding the new provision related to visit visa that discourages Nepali citizens from visiting foreign countries.

Issuing a press statement on Monday, NATTA President Thapa said that the Tourist Visa Departure Permission Work Procedure 2079 has provisions that restrict Nepalis from visiting foreign countries.

Therefore, Thapa has requested the government to amend such provision to facilitate Nepali tourists.

NATTA argues that the work procedure issued by the government has challenged the basic rights of Nepalis to freely visit foreign countries.

“NATTA stands with the government to discourage illegal trafficking of humans in the name of tourist visa. However, the work procedure that discourages tourism business has posed a problem for the tourism entrepreneurs,” reads the statement issued by NATTA.

As per the work procedure, any Nepali willing to visit foreign countries in tourist visa need to submit details that he/she earns at least Rs 400,000 a year and has a bank balance of at least Rs 200,000. In addition to this, the aspiring tourist also need to present documents that prove that they are paying taxes to the government.