Chitwan, August 29
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai says he is determined to implement his recent announcement that citizens who have crossed the age of 70 years will get 50 per cent discount on airfares.
The minister’s statement comes at a time when it has been reported that private airline companies are reluctant to provide the discount.
But, speaking with journalists in Bharatpur of Chitwan district on Thursday, minister Bhattarai said serving the senior population was a shared responsibility of the government and the private sector.
“Maybe the companies also have their corporate social responsibility. I had expected them to make such an announcement. The ministry did because they did not,” he said.
In another context, the minister said the government was preparing to revise the domestic airfare as it was generally expensive currently, and it had hampered the tourism industry.