Kathmandu: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organized an interaction program titled ‘Middle East Crisis and its Impact on Nepal’s Tourism’ at Aloft Kathmandu Thamel on April 10.
The program brought together key stakeholders, including government representatives, tourism industry leaders, international airlines operating in Nepal, travel trade associations, and experts, to discuss emerging challenges posed by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its implications for Nepal’s tourism sector.
Mukunda Prasad Niraula, NTB Executive Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, emphasized that the Middle East is a major hub for Nepal’s tourism source market and a gateway for European and American tourists. He underscored opportunities to diversify routes and assured that the Government of Nepal is committed to mitigating the challenges. He also noted that a special taskforce has been established to map out the way forward.
Deepak Raj Joshi, NTB CEO, presented the global context of the crisis, illustrating its direct impact on Nepal’s tourism through current data analytics. Ram Prasad Sapkota, Vice Chairman of NTB Executive Committee, highlighted exploring alternative routes and subsidy plans for cancelled bookings and rising airfares.
Airline representatives confirmed that they remain operational despite the crisis and are committed to supporting tourism, recommending alternative markets, simplified visa procedures, and communication to global travelers on wellness and sustainability practices in Nepal.
Ram Kaji Khadka, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that the government is proactively preparing to mitigate potential damages. He highlighted inter-ministerial coordination with diplomatic missions to explore alternative routes and emphasized leveraging India and China as tourism source markets for economic diplomacy.
NTB Executive Committee Members, including Narendra Deo Bhatta, Kumar Mani Thapaliya, and Rishi Ram Bhandari, discussed alternative air connectivity options, such as KTM–Australia, KTM–Hong Kong, and strengthening existing routes like KTM–Narita, to enhance aviation capacity and attract tourists from India and China.
Tourism industry leaders, including Sagar Pandey (TAAN), Binayak Shah (HAN), and Bishwesh Shrestha (NATO), highlighted booking cancellations from European markets, urged fuel concessions, stronger government-private sector collaboration, and diversification toward India and China. They stressed preparedness for long-term impacts and the importance of targeted incentives.
Santusta Kumar Basnet, Director of Operations at Tribhuvan International Airport, noted that the Air Operations Crisis Committee (AOCC) has been formed to manage limited parking and landing capacity amid the crisis.
Raj Gyawali, Founder of Socialtours, emphasized that timely and strategic communication is critical during a crisis, recommending hiring communication experts to disseminate accurate information and maintain Nepal’s image as a safe destination.
NTB reaffirmed its commitment to engaging stakeholders, facilitating meaningful discussions, and promoting Nepal as a safe and resilient tourism destination despite external uncertainties. The program concluded with a shared understanding of the need for collective action and strategic planning to safeguard and revitalize Nepal’s tourism sector.
