Kathmandu- On the occasion of the 46th World Tourism Day, a message has been conveyed to the international community that Nepal is a safe, open, and tourist-friendly destination.
At a program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board on Saturday, speakers said Nepal’s tourism sector has entered the recovery phase after the crisis created by the recent Gen Z movement. They also expressed a commitment to making tourism the cornerstone of sustainable development.
The 46th World Tourism Day was celebrated under the theme 'Tourism and Green Transformation.'
A message from Prime Minister Sushila Karki was read out on the occasion. In her message, she noted that Nepal is an attractive destination for tourists because of its unique natural beauty, biodiversity, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual culture, and world-famous Himalayas.
The message stated, 'It is necessary to make tourism a strong foundation of the national economy. For foreign currency earnings, job creation, and income growth, the identification, promotion, and preservation of lesser-known tourist destinations is indispensable.'
The Prime Minister also acknowledged that the Gen Z movement, driven by aspirations for good governance, had caused problems in the tourism sector, but said that recovery has already begun.
Her message added, 'This year’s Tourism Day inspires us to promote tourism as a pillar of sustainable development, mutual understanding, and international friendship. Tourism allows our guests to experience the essence of our tradition of Atithi Devo Bhava (Guests are God). The Government of Nepal is committed to making this sector the backbone of the national economy through the expansion of tourism infrastructure and the promotion of service quality. I also wish to convey to the international community that Nepal is safe.'
Hari Prasad Mainali, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, who chaired the program, said that tourism development is not possible without cooperation from the private sector, and emphasized that the Ministry is always open to removing policy and legal hurdles.
He said, 'Although the Gen Z movement on September 9 and 10 caused damages to the tourism sector, it is encouraging to see the private sector working with high morale to revive the industry. The Ministry is always ready to facilitate solutions to the challenges faced by the private sector.'
Similarly, Joint Secretary Indu Ghimire highlighted that tourism has achieved short-term recovery and assured that the government stands together with entrepreneurs. She said, 'With recovery underway, it is necessary for all stakeholders to join hands for sustainable transformation. Tourism cannot be complete with only the government or the private sector; both must move together. The Ministry is committed to creating the necessary environment for this.'
Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi, highlighting that World Tourism Day has been celebrated since 1980, said that tourist arrivals in Nepal are now entering a recovery phase after the Gen Z movement.
'Before the movement of September 9 and 10, the daily average of tourist arrivals was around 3,300. During the week of the movement, it dropped to 1,600, but rose to 2,200 in the second week, and this week has reached around 2,900.'
He added that every crisis has seen the government and private sector unite for tourism revival, and that the message that Nepal is a safe and tourist-friendly destination has reached the international community.
On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Nepal Tourism Board also honored institutions and individuals who have made significant contributions to the tourism sector.
Among the honorees was Api Himal Rural Municipality of Darchula, recognized for its notable contribution to the development, promotion, and management of trekking and adventure mountain tourism.
Similarly, Chhirring Tendi Sherpa of Solukhumbu was honored for serving as a climbing guide for over 50 years in the promotion of trekking and mountaineering tourism.
Others honored included Ang Norbu Sherpa for contributions to mountain rescue, Siddhi Bahadur Tamang for setting a world record by summiting Mt. K2 along with 11 ascents of Mt. Everest and 6 of Mt. Manaslu, Rabindra Raj Pandey from the domestic civil aviation sector, Kumar Mani Thapaliya, President of NATA, as an emerging leader in the tourism industry, Sabina Karki from the tourism journalism sector, and representatives of 19 different organizations and individuals.
On the same occasion, the Nepal Tourism Board and the Village Tourism Promotion Forum jointly launched a book titled 'Village Tourism and Identity.'
To mark World Tourism Day, the first arriving tourists to Nepal on Saturday — American citizen George Cordell Braun and Chilean citizen Herzog Amunategui — were given a special welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport by Hikmat Singh Ayer, Senior Director at the Nepal Tourism Board.
