Entrepreneurs in Pokhara have urged Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to request China to conduct regular flights to the newly built international airport in Pokhara from different Chinese cities.

They have also urged the prime minister to make an effort for the opening of the Korala pass that connects Mustang and Tibet.

Nepal's Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled for an official visit to Beijing on September 23.

The travel trade entrepreneurs have put forward demands such as declaring Pokhara as a destination for Chinese tourists, opening the Consulate General of China in Pokhara, and launching packages to attract Chinese tourists to the lake city.

Ananda Raj Mulmi, former president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said that the Chinese government is not serious enough to start a regular flights to Pokhara International Airport, which was constructed under its loan.

Mulmi added that economic activities in Pokhara could increase if regular flights were conducted from Chengdu, Kunming and Hong Kong.

On January 1, Prime Minister Dahal inaugurated Pokhara International Airport, built with a $215.96 million loan from China EXIM Bank.

Since then, there have been no international flights at the new airport.

“If the government can’t operate regular international flights in Pokhara, the prime minister should request the Chinese government to convert the loan into a grant,” said Mulmi.

The traders also complained that the government is not serious about operationalising the Korala pass.

“China already has state-of-the-art infrastructure on their side, but there is no preparation for even a basic facility on Nepal’s side,” said Baburam Giri, central member of the FNCCI.

“The government must show urgency to set up customs and other infrastructure to make Korala pass a commercial trade route.”

Giri said that if the Triveni pass on the Nepal-India border is connected with the Korala pass on the Nepal-China border via a reliable highway, it could facilitate commerce of all three countries Nepal, India and China.

The Chinese government has constructed a blacktopped road connectivity to Dhongwasen market–around 45 kilometres away from Korala Pass.

In addition to that, they also have constructed two buildings for customs, immigration and security officers.

Nepal government has also allocated around 1,700 ropanis of land (86 hectares) for the construction of a dry port in Korala at an altitude of 4,660 metres.

The land has already been transferred to the ownership of Mustang Customs for the construction of parking, administrative buildings, security checkposts and so on.

However, no significant progress has been made so far on the Nepali side.

Pema Narayan Shrestha, president of the Pokhara Tourism Council, said that the Korala pass is important for tourism as well, apart from the commerce perspective.

“Once the Korala pass comes into operation, it will be the shortest route to Mansarovar–one of the most revered pilgrims of Hindus,” said Shrestha.

The 435-kilometre-long Kaligandaki Corridor connects the Korala border with the Triveni border.

In March, Beijing allowed its citizens to travel to Nepal as tourists after more than three years.

China was Nepal’s second-largest tourism source market after India before the start of the Covid pandemic. Pokhara has been the favourite destination for Chinese tourists.

Arrivals from the northern neighbour were blocked after all flights linking China and Nepal were suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.