Kathmandu: Nepal marked the 46th World Tourism Day on Saturday with the message that the country is a safe, open, and tourism-friendly destination. The event, held at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) assembly hall and organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in coordination with NTB, highlighted Nepal’s recovery after the recent Gen-Z movement and its commitment to making tourism a pillar of sustainable development.
This year’s celebration was observed under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.” A message of best wishes from Prime Minister Sushila Karki was read out, emphasizing Nepal’s unique natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural diversity as attractions for international visitors. “It is necessary to make tourism a strong foundation for the national economy,” the message stated, assuring the international community that Nepal is safe and ready to welcome tourists.
Tourism Minister Hari Prasad Mainali said the private sector has shown resilience despite setbacks, while Joint Secretary Indu Ghimire stressed the need for government–private sector cooperation to ensure sustainable transformation. NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi noted that tourist arrivals, which had dropped to 1,600 per day during the Gen-Z movement, have since recovered to nearly 2,900 per day. “This sends a message to the international community that Nepal is safe and tourism-friendly,” he said.
On the occasion, NTB honored 19 organizations and individuals for their contributions to tourism, including Api Himal Rural Municipality of Darchula, veteran climbing guide Tshiring Tendi Sherpa of Solukhumbu, mountain rescuer Ang Norbu Sherpa, Everest record-holder Siddhi Bahadur Tamang, and others from the aviation and tourism sectors.
A book titled Village Tourism and Identity was also launched by NTB and the Village Tourism Promotion Forum. In a symbolic welcome, the first foreign tourists to arrive in Nepal on World Tourism Day, George Cordell Branun of the United States and Herzog Amunategui of Chile were greeted at Tribhuvan International Airport by NTB Senior Director Hikmat Singh Ayer.
