Nepal to resume flights in boost for virus-hit tourism sector

Nepal's tourism sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. /AFP

Nepal said Tuesday it will resume international commercial flights in mid-August, in a boost for its coronavirus-hit tourism sector.

The Himalayan nation shut its airports in late March to control the spread of the virus, which has so far reported 17,844 positive cases with 40 deaths caused by the virus in the country.

The shutdown hit just before the peak of the tourism season, when hundreds of mountaineers and trekkers visit Nepal, costing the industry – a key part of the country's economy – millions of dollars.

The decision to restart commercial domestic and international flights from August 17 was taken in a cabinet meeting Monday, Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Yogesh Bhattarai said.

"The ministry is working on safety protocols for airport management, flight operators and passengers for the purpose," he said.

All arriving and departing international passengers would need to have a certificate to prove they are not carrying the virus.

Bhattarai said arriving travelers would also have to stay in quarantine, but he didn't specifying the duration.

About one-third of the 1.2 million visitors to Nepal last year arrived during the autumn season, according to government figures.

Source(s): AFP