The Non-Residential Nepali Association (NRNA), in conjunction with the Nepal Tourism Board and other concerned authorities, launched a cleaning campaign “Atithi Devo Bhawa” at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday. 

The month-long campaign aims to transform the TIA into as clean and well-managed as other international airports and make the experience of tourists during both their arrivals and departures pleasant.

Along with the training and cleaning campaign, technologies are being updated with more resources allocated for the security of workers to ensure that facilities at the TIA meet the international standards, according to Rohini Bhattarai, in charge of the airport’s cleaning division.

The TIA, the country only international airport, has been facing a widespread criticism for poor sanitation and maintenance. Khem’s Cleaning Services, a cleaning company based in Australia, is training the workers during the campaign.

“Sanitation is the biggest measure of civilisation and airport provides the first glimpse of the nation,” said CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Raj Joshi. “Maintaining cleanliness in the airport is of utmost importance.”

Sanjiv Gautam, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, promised to keep the TIA neat and tidy beyond the campaign period. “Sanitation is a continuous process.

Even after the end of the cleaning campaign, the authority will put in same level of efforts to keep the airport clean,” he said.

The organisers said the campaign’s duration could be extended if the desired results are not achieved.