KATHMANDU, NEPAL Over 200,000 hotel workers across Nepal have vowed to strike from March 15 until their demand for a 10% service charge on hotel bills is met. Officials worry the strike might cripple the Himalayan kingdom s tourism industry.
The chief of the Hotel Association of Nepal, Narendra Bajracharya, recently told Reuters that an additional charge would discourage visitors, noting that Nepal is already an expensive destination.
Currently, hotels charge a 10% value added tax and 2% tourism development tax. (3/5/01)
SOURCE: Reuters