According to a report in kantipuronline.com by Lila Ballav Ghimire, tourism and hotel entrepreneurs in Eastern Nepal have appealed to the government to raise the issue of opening an immigration office at the Jogbani border (in Araria district of Bihar, India) during the Nepal Prime Minister’s visit to India. They said that tourists cannot be attracted to the Eastern region due to a lack of an immigration office, which can be set up with a little effort by the Nepali government.
According to Bhabish Kumar Shrestha, President, Biratnagar Association of Travel Agents, lack of an immigration office was a hindrance to the tourism sector in Eastern Nepal and that an office will facilitate sight-seeing in places like Bhedetar, Millkeyjaljaley, Sankhu-wasabha, Taplejung, Ilam in Nepal and Darjeeling in India in shorter period of time. Currently, tourists arriving from Gaya, India have to make a detour to Kakkarbhitta to enter Nepal. Tourism and hotel entrepreneurs said that they had been losing business because foreign visitors were not allowed to enter Nepal through Jogbani.
Rajendra Shrestha, Owner, |