Kathmandu: Nepal’s tourism sector has suffered preliminary economic losses estimated at Rs 52.67 billion due to floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers and subsequent landslides, according to an assessment report presented to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on Monday.
The preliminary report estimates total losses at Rs 52.67 billion, 45 lakh, 76 thousand and 500, with major damage reported in tourism infrastructure, hotels and tourism businesses, transportation, trekking trails and tourist management, particularly in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha.
The report was presented by Sahadev Dhamala, coordinator of the Nepal Tourism Board’s Quick Response Team (QRT) and an executive board member, during a discussion on the impact of the floods and tourism recovery. Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Khadga Raj Paudel ‘Ganes’ attended the program along with ministry secretary Mukunda Niraula, senior officials, Nepal Tourism Board representatives and private-sector stakeholders.
Hotels and tourism revenue among hardest hit
According to the report, the hotel sector recorded the highest preliminary loss at Rs 19.56 billion. Losses in foreign tourism earnings were estimated at Rs 14.60 billion, while human resources and tourist management suffered an estimated Rs 12.27 billion in losses.
The report also estimates losses of Rs 1.66 billion in heritage and tourism infrastructure, Rs 1.51 billion in vehicles, Rs 1.38 billion in restaurants and Rs 1.27 billion in commercial activities in the Langtang area.
Domestic tourism revenue losses were estimated at Rs 19.87 million, while rafting and camping sites suffered losses of around Rs 15.5 million and trekking trails around Rs 5 million.
794 people remain unaccounted for
The report states that 1,117 Nepali and foreign nationals were affected or became unaccounted for following the floods and landslides. Of them, 310 people were safely rescued, while 13 others have since made contact.
A total of 794 people remain unaccounted for, including 606 foreign nationals and 188 Nepali citizens. Among those rescued, 258 were men and 52 were women.
Senior Nepal Tourism Board Director Hikmat Singh Ayer said search and rescue operations began within approximately one hour of the incident in coordination with Tourist Police, travel and trekking companies and Kailash Mansarovar tour operators.
Focus on climate-resilient tourism recovery
The report recommends that post-disaster tourism recovery should not be limited to rebuilding damaged structures. It calls for the development of a safe, sustainable and climate-resilient tourism system that takes future climate-related risks into account.
Ayer said a concept has been proposed to develop the Rasuwa region as a long-term “Climate Heritage” destination. He also recommended maintaining a 24-hour crisis cell and QRT within the Tourism Board to ensure rapid coordination and response during emergencies, with an annual budget of Rs 100 million to Rs 500 million.
Dhamala said tourism businesses, hotels and trekking trails had suffered extensive damage and called for immediate relief, tax exemptions and concessional recovery packages for affected entrepreneurs. He also emphasized the need to quickly restore alternative trekking routes and transport connectivity and communicate internationally that Nepal remains safe and open to tourists.
Recovery plan to be drafted
The meeting also discussed measures to restore and rehabilitate the tourism sector affected by the Bhotekoshi floods. Minister Paudel assigned the concerned committee the additional responsibility of preparing a draft tourism recovery plan to improve coordination, rapid response and post-disaster recovery mechanisms.
Minister Paudel said the government has prioritized the rescue of tourists stranded in flood-affected areas and the reconstruction of damaged tourism infrastructure. He also pledged to implement a joint action plan prepared in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board and private sector, with the aim of restoring security, communication and transportation access to major destinations before the upcoming tourism season.
The preliminary assessment has highlighted the need for evidence-based and integrated information systems, climate-adaptive tourism infrastructure, early-warning mechanisms, expansion of Tourist Police and institutional development of tourism insurance.
As part of tourism recovery and international promotion, the meeting also proposed organizing press briefings and “Nepal Night” promotional events in two Indian cities to reinforce Nepal’s tourism message in international markets.
