Recently, there were rumors in the media and social media that new and strict restrictions have been imposed on Indian tourists visiting Nepal. However, the Nepal government has completely denied these speculations. The Nepal Tourism Board and concerned ministries on Wednesday clarified that reports of limiting the number of Indian visitors or introducing strict rules are completely baseless and false.
In an official statement, the Nepal Tourism Board expressed deep concern over the misleading reports. The board said that the demands of making identity cards mandatory for crossing the Nepal-India border, reducing the maximum stay of tourists to 30 days or impounding vehicles for longer stays are not true. The government has not made any changes to the length of stay or rules for Indian tourists. The historical and cultural ties and open border system between the two countries remain intact.
Instead of imposing restrictions, Nepal government has taken new measures to facilitate tourists. A new online registration system has been introduced to ease the journey of Indian and international visitors traveling to Nepal by land in private vehicles. With this facility, tourists will now be able to pay their vehicle fees online from their homes and get entry permits easily.
In April, several new rules were introduced for Indian tourists to visit Nepal. Those reports claimed that Indian vehicles could ply in Nepal for only 30 days a year with a daily fee. Even the slightest mistake can lead to vehicle impoundment. It was also learned that a duty ranging from 5 percent to 80 percent would be charged for the purchase of goods worth more than N100. However, after the latest clarification from the Government of Nepal, it has been proved that this was just a rumour.
