Tourism Associations Interact on Tourism Policy 2081

KATHMANDU, Dec 31:Tourism associations including the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN), Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) along with other associations specializing on their specific tourism service delivery  convened an interaction on December 29, 2024 at Hotel Yellow Pagoda.

 

The event discussed, deliberated and analyzed the major issues and demands to be included in the tourism policy  bill to trigger the growth and development of the industry. 

 

The event aimed to foster inclusiveness among tourism players, ensuring alignment with contemporary needs and future aspirations as demanded by the private sector. 

 

The forum featured thematic and sectoral presentations which were respectively delivered by the CEOs of Tourism Associations, namely Mr Tek Bahadur Mahat from HAN,  Mr Raghu Nath Bidari, NATTA, Mr Jinesh Sindukar, NMA and Mr Ram Chandra Sedai from TAAN,  highlighting their insights, feedback and strategic recommendations for the proposed draft bill of tourism policy. 

 

The key agendas deliberated at the event include sustainable tourism, innovative practices, regulatory frameworks, and role of technology in improving tourist experiences, among others. 

 

The presidents of Tourism Associations also addressed the session underscoring on the issues to be prioritized to make the industry private sector friendly. TAAN president Mr Sagar Pandey, HAN President Mr Binayak Shah, NATTA President Mr Kumar Mani Thapaliya delved deeper into the common issues of the tourism industry. They raised the demand of special legal, financial, promotional and facilitations to promote the tourism sector at large.

 

The chief guest Dr. Ganesh Prasad Pandeya, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and private sector stakeholders to revitalize and innovate tourism in Nepal. He remarked, 'A well-defined tourism policy is crucial for the sustainable development of our industry. It should incorporate the voices of all players in the sector to ensure we attract tourists while preserving our cultural and natural heritage.'

 

Participants engaged in constructive discussions aimed at proposing actionable strategies that could be integrated into the new policy. The collaborative atmosphere facilitated an exchange of ideas and insights that resonated with the collective vision of advancing Nepal's tourism sector.

 

NTB Excecutive Board Member Rishi Bhandari, Senior Tourism Entrepreneur Mr Jyoti Adhikari, NMA Senior Vice President Mr Thakur Pandey, NMA secretary Mr Mohan Lansal and other presidents ans representatives of tourism associations opined on the issues to be included in the proposal bill of tourism policy. 

 

In the second session, the meeting was addressed by special guest Ms Indu Ghimire, Joint Secretary of tourism ministry, expressing deep conviction that the joint meeting would make the draft bill an inclusive one.

 

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the participants to continue working together to refine their proposals and ensure that the voices of all tourism stakeholders are heard in the finalization of the Tourism Policy 2081.