Nepal Tourism Board Unveils Rs 1.59 Billion Budget to Focus on Global Promotion and Sustainable Growth

Kathmandu: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has approved a budget of Rs 1.59 billion for the fiscal year 2025/26, with a major focus on international promotion and sustainable tourism development. The budget was endorsed by the Board’s Executive Committee on June 15, 2025.

According to Rishi Ram Bhandari, coordinator of the budget formulation subcommittee, 70 percent of the total budget has been allocated for international marketing efforts, including plans to establish a permanent NTB office in India, Nepal’s largest tourist source market, which saw over 400,000 Indian visitors in 2024. The office is expected to open in Delhi or another major Indian city to enhance Nepal’s tourism outreach.

Bhandari described the budget as “historic and ambitious,” aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector and increasing tourist arrivals by at least 15 percent in the current fiscal year.

NTB Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi stated that the budget is more than just financial planning—it is a roadmap for a new era in Nepal’s tourism. “This budget focuses on employment generation, sustainable development, and increasing national production and foreign exchange earnings through tourism,” he said.

Key Budget Highlights:

• International Promotion: Programs will be conducted in over 50 source markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and various European countries. The Board will participate in global tourism fairs and invest in digital marketing, international media collaboration, influencer tours, and promotional campaigns under the theme “Nepal: Lifetime Experience.”
  
• Major Events & Campaigns: Special promotional events such as the Buddhist Travel Mart, Himalayan Travel Mart, Adventure Travel Mart, Safari Tourism Mart, and the Sagarmatha Samman Program will be held.
  
• Human Resource & Infrastructure Development: The Board aims to train 5,000 professionals for the tourism industry, develop or preserve 25 tourism infrastructures, and strengthen trekking routes, establish Namaste Centers, and promote green hospitality. Training will also include language and digital skills for tourism workers.
  
• Regional Focus: Rs 116.6 million has been allocated for establishing and operating a new provincial office. Emerging destinations in Far West, Karnali, and Eastern Nepal will be promoted through destination-specific campaigns in collaboration with provincial and local governments.
  
• Budget Allocations:
  Rs 436.1 million – Tourism market management and promotion
  Rs 129.5 million – Public relations and publicity
  Rs 26.7 million – Research, planning, and monitoring
  Rs 186.3 million – Tourism heritage and resource development
  
• Domestic Tourism Promotion: Local events such as the Pokhara Travel Mart, Road Festival, and promotion of adventure tourism including paragliding competitions, elephant festivals, and jungle safaris will be conducted.
  
• Smart and Sustainable Tourism: The Board will promote digital tourism through the Tourism Information Management System (TIMS), set up a disaster management fund, and implement programs related to climate change sensitivity, international cooperation, and the “Smart Tourism Nepal” initiative in collaboration with the private sector and local bodies.
  

CEO Joshi emphasized, “This budget is not just a financial statement, it is a blueprint for Nepal’s tourism renaissance. With strategic, market-based planning and sustainable practices, we aim to build the foundation for the next decade of tourism growth.”