Jamunaha border point reopens to third-country nationals after six years

Nepalgunj, Jan 31: Movements of people from third-world countries have resumed through the Jamunaha border point between Nepal and India in Banke district nearly after six years.     

The Immigration Office at Jamunaha in Banke has fully reopened arrival and departure services for foreign nationals since last week, making cross-border travel easier for tourists.     

Durga Kumari Oli, Chief of the Immigration Office at Jamunaha, shared that with the resumption of service, two tourists from third-world country have already passed through the border to India.     

Oli noted that this marks the first time in about six years that full arrival and departure services have been operational at Jamunaha border point.     

She assured that there will be no inconvenience for any tourists travelling to this border point. "We have put in place all necessary services to facilitate their arrival and departure," she mentioned.     

She added that tourists can now travel freely from Nepal to India and vice versa through this border point which, she believed, would benefit Nepal's tourism sector.     

She expressed her confidence that tourists entering Nepal via Jamunaha border point would be able to visit major tourist destinations in Banke and Bardiya districts, leading to increased revenue collection.     

Similarly, Indian journalist SK Madhesiya expressed his confidence that the reopening of the border point would benefit both countries, noting that third-country tourists arriving Nepal via India would now have direct access to Nepal's tourist destinations.     

Likewise, Dilliraj Regmi, Chairperson of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Banke chapter, informed that local business operators are the happiest with the reopening.     

He viewed that third-country tourists entering Nepal through India can fully enjoy tourist attractions in Banke and Bardiya districts.     

He opined that the visitors could observe tigers and other wildlife in Banke National Park and Bardiya National Park.     

Movements of third-country tourists through the Jamunaha border point had been suspended since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.(RSS)