The ‘dollar fare’ (high airfare) being charged from foreign citizens and non-resident Nepalis on domestic flights will be removed from the Karnali and Sudurpaschim regions in the first phase. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Poudel (GUNES) has said that preparations are underway to gradually implement the two-tier fare system across the country by ending it.

In a conversation with Kantipur at the Ministry of Tourism on Thursday, Minister Poudel said that such a system, which is not seen in other countries of the world, is in place only in Nepal and that it needs to be ended. ‘I have traveled to many countries, there is no such discrimination anywhere,’ he said. ‘I had planned it as soon as I came to the ministry, but the implementation was stopped due to the sudden increase in fuel prices. The ministry will take a decision on this matter after the fuel prices normalize.’

Currently, foreign tourists have to pay twice to three times more expensive fares than Nepali passengers on domestic flights. According to Minister Poudel, this has forced non-resident Nepalis, in particular, to travel expensively in their own country. 'If a passenger paying a dollar fare from Kathmandu to Bardiya can travel to Africa, observe tigers and return to Europe,' he said, giving an example. 'How can tourism be promoted in such a situation?'

He said that there is no such discrimination in public green number plate transport designated for tourists, and that the different fare policy applicable only to air services is unequal and unreasonable. Minister Poudel informed that discussions have begun with airline operators and that companies flying to the Far West and Karnali regions have been urged to remove the 'dollar fare' in the first phase.

Earlier, there was a provision for airline companies to contribute the additional funds raised from abroad to the 'Remote Development Fund' established with the aim of using them for the development of remote areas, but he mentioned that this amount has not been deposited regularly since 2058 BS.

The domestic flight 'dollar fare' controversy has also become a subject of judicial debate. A writ was previously filed in the Supreme Court against the dollar fare system started by the then Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation with Mountain Flight in 2027 BS. Currently, 9 airline companies in Nepal are implementing different fares for domestic and foreign passengers, according to which foreigners have to pay 100 to 240 percent more than Nepalis.

Kailali tourism entrepreneur Tapendra Rawal had filed a writ in the Supreme Court claiming that this system is without legal basis, discriminatory and an obstacle to tourism promotion. The Supreme Court had sought written responses from the government, the Ministry of Tourism and the Civil Aviation Authority. The writ alleged that the 'dollar fare' hindered the development of the tourism sector in the mofussil, violated consumer rights and was against the constitution. The writ petition states that although the directive on air fare determination provides for the determination of fares within the minimum and maximum limits, the 'dollar fare' has been implemented contrary to that. Although the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal formed a study task force on this issue in 2077 BS, the recommendation could not be implemented due to disagreements from airline companies and the Covid pandemic.