Nepal tour groups in strike plea

Nepal has lost its peaceful reputation

Tourism groups in Nepal are urging Maoist rebels to call off a national strike scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Hotels, airlines and trekking agencies say the three-day stoppage would damage the country's tourism industry.

Violence is on the rise again in Nepal after the rebels pulled out of peace talks last month aimed at ending seven years of war.

Tourism is a major source of foreign currency and employment in Nepal.

But in recent years, travellers have stayed away because of security concerns arising from the Maoists' violent campaign for a communist state.

Rebel demands

A ceasefire deal struck in January led to a marginal recovery in tourist numbers, but any hopes for major revival have been dashed by the collapse of the peace process.

The rebels have planned a three-day shutdown across the country beginning this Thursday.

The move is aimed at forcing the government to accept a key rebel demand for a constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution.

Disagreement on the issue caused the breakdown of the seven-month peace process last month.