Kathmandu. Tourism-related business associations and umbrella organizations in Nepal have begun preparations to establish a unified tourism federation, citing the need for stronger private-sector coordination and greater government accountability in the development of the tourism industry.
A meeting of tourism associations, organizations and business leaders held in Kathmandu on Sunday discussed the formation of a separate tourism federation as well as reforms at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Airlines.
Tourism entrepreneurs said the private sector has invested billions of rupees in the industry, but inadequate government initiatives and a lack of an enabling business environment have prompted tourism businesses to come together.
Shiva Adhikari, former president of the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), said the private sector needs to take a more active role in addressing the challenges facing tourism.
The meeting emphasized the need for a common agenda, collective initiatives and results-oriented cooperation among tourism-related private-sector organizations to address shared problems, promote institutional reforms and ensure the long-term development of Nepal’s tourism industry.
The views were expressed during a Presidential Breakfast Meeting chaired by Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), at Hotel Moonlight in Paknajol, Kathmandu.
Representatives and presidents of major tourism organizations, including the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), TAAN, PATA Nepal Chapter, NARA, Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), and Skal Nepal, participated in the meeting.
The participating organizations have proposed joining forces under a single federation to strengthen the voice of Nepal’s tourism private sector.
HAN President Binay Shah said the decision was driven by the need for the private sector to take greater responsibility for protecting business interests and promoting tourism.
“The private sector needs to take the initiative itself to protect business interests and promote the tourism sector. That is why we have decided to organize under a single federation,” Shah said.
According to Shah, tourism businesses had already been discussing the formation of a federation for some time, but Sunday’s meeting marked a decision to move forward with the process more actively.
Business leaders said the proposed federation would not simply become another organization in the sector. Instead, it would serve as a coordination platform among existing tourism associations, identify common challenges, engage with the government collectively, and present a unified private-sector position on policies, budgets and implementation.
The federation is also expected to develop mechanisms aimed at producing more tangible results for Nepal’s tourism industry, particularly at a time when industry leaders are calling for reforms and stronger institutional performance.
