Hotel workers announced fresh protest programs to press their demands relating to 10 percent service charge. Two hotel workers' unions jointly announced the protest and vowed to shut down all hotels unless demands are met by March 13. Hotel Worker's Union president Achyut Raj Pandey blames the government and hotel entrepreneurs for the crisis. The union has announced its protest program, which includes orientation to hotel workers on their protest, meetings, hoisting black flags in all hotels, mass meetings and a full-fledged strike. Hotel Association of Nepal president Narendra Bajracharya said the hotel industry in Nepal is facing a severe setback.
Entrepreneurs are concerned about the industry.
HAN had earlier charged the government of indifference to resolve the dispute. Nepal's tourism industry, regarded as backbone of the country's economy, is already facing a series of setbacks since December 1999 after the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu airport. Incoming tourist traffic dropped by almost 40 percent last year as a consequence of the hijacking. Maoist insurgency and garbage disposal in Katmandu and more recently the violence over Hrithik Roshan were other threats to the tourism industry in Nepal. The row between workers and hotel owners began when the employees demanded a 10 percent service charge levied on clients be given to workers.