KATHMANDU:- The government has initiated an ‘online’ service to facilitate Indian tourists and tourists from other countries entering Nepal through the land route using vehicles.
The Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance has developed and brought into operation the system through which foreign vehicles entering Nepal via surface route can fill out the form and pay revenue online.
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle inaugurated the system amidst a programme here today. With the new system coming into effect, tourists coming from India and other third countries to Nepal with vehicles can fill out their details and pay revenue online.
Earlier, there was a compulsion for such vehicles to physically obtain a temporary permit card at customs checkpoints. Also, during travel in Nepal, there was a situation where travellers had to go to customs checkpoints to renew their travel duration or pay fines.
However, with the introduction of the new online system, tourists entering Nepal can now fill out the permit for their vehicle online from home and pay online, allowing them to travel in Nepal without any hassle.
While inaugurating the new online facilitation service, Finance Minister Dr Wagle stated that the troubles previously faced by tourists at border areas will now be removed.
“This initiative has been started in the implementation of the government’s announcement to follow good governance and provide efficient, quality public services,” said Finance Minister Dr Wagle.
“We want government services to be fast and efficient so that tourists face no difficulties.”
Director General of the Department of Customs Shyam Prasad Bhandari said that permits for foreign vehicles carrying tourists entering Nepal are now ‘digital’. To use the services, one must visit the customs department’s “website,” click on the TIV title under the ‘Our Services’ section, and fill in the details online from there.
After updating all the details, a QR code that displays all the information to the customer is received. Based on that, after paying the required fee, vehicles can enter Nepal.
The Department has stated that currently, tourists do not come via land through the Chinese border with Chinese vehicles, and in cases when they do come, this service is also available for them.
For the time being, the Department believes that tourists from India and Bangladesh will benefit from this service.