Tourism professional, policy advocate, and heritage specialist Yubika Bhandari has officially announced her candidacy for the post of President of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) for the 2026–2028 term. Her announcement comes ahead of NATTA’s 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 25th Executive Committee Election, scheduled to take place on August 14, 2026 (Shrawan 29, 2083 BS) in Kathmandu.
Bhandari, who currently serves as Secretary General of NATTA (2024–2026), is entering the presidential race with nearly two decades of professional experience in Nepal’s tourism industry. Her campaign emphasizes strengthening the travel trade through innovation, capacity building, sustainable tourism development, and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Election to Shape NATTA’s Future Leadership
The upcoming election is expected to be a significant milestone for Nepal’s travel industry as NATTA prepares to elect a new executive committee to guide the organization over the next two years. The decision to hold the AGM and election was made during the association’s 24th Executive Committee meeting held on July 8, 2026 (Ashadh 24, 2083 BS).
Established on March 10, 1966 (Falgun 27, 2022 BS), NATTA has remained one of Nepal’s oldest and most influential tourism organizations, representing tour operators and travel agencies while advocating for tourism-friendly policies, professional standards, and industry development. For nearly six decades, the association has played a vital role in promoting Nepal as a global tourism destination and strengthening the country’s travel sector.
Campaign Built on Experience and Industry Leadership
Bhandari brings a diverse academic and professional background to her candidacy. Holding a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) and an Executive MBA, she has combined expertise in tourism management, heritage conservation, business leadership, and policy advocacy throughout her career.
Bhandari currently serves as the Managing Director of Shashi’s Holidays International Travel & Tours Pvt. Ltd., a second-generation travel company specializing in inbound tourism, cultural experiences, and heritage-based travel across Nepal and the Himalayas. Under her leadership, the company has focused on expanding community-based tourism, promoting authentic cultural experiences, and embracing digital transformation within the travel business. Her previous professional experience also includes serving as an architect with Arch-Way Design Consultants, where she contributed to heritage conservation and museum-related projects, as well as teaching tourism management at the master’s level.
Longstanding Contribution to NATTA
Bhandari has remained actively involved in NATTA’s leadership for several years, progressively serving in multiple executive roles. Before becoming Secretary General, she served as Secretary (2022–2024) and Joint Treasurer (2020–2022) while also leading various committees focusing on research, training, heritage, culture, and airline partnerships.
Her tenure has been marked by initiatives aimed at enhancing professional standards within Nepal’s tourism industry, improving skills among tourism entrepreneurs, and strengthening institutional cooperation with government agencies and international development partners.
Leading Nationwide Tourism Capacity Building
One of Bhandari’s most notable contributions has been coordinating nationwide tourism training and capacity-building programs in collaboration with organizations including the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Labour Organization (ILO), Nepal Investment Board (NIB), Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), and USAID.
Among these initiatives was the implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Livelihood Recovery Programme (STLRP), through which more than 700 tourism professionals from all seven provinces received training to strengthen business resilience and improve service quality following the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also coordinated numerous tourism development programs focusing on wellness tourism, heritage conservation, digital transformation, and sustainable destination management.
Promoting Heritage-Based Tourism
Beyond travel business management, Bhandari has earned recognition for integrating Nepal’s rich cultural heritage into tourism development. She has contributed to documentary projects highlighting traditional Paubha art, supported the development of heritage walk mobile applications, prepared promotional materials for heritage tourism initiatives under World Bank-supported projects, and currently leads documentation of heritage sites in Okubahal with support from the Rubin Museum. Her editorial leadership of Sacred Pathways, the official publication of the Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) 2025, further reflects her commitment to promoting Nepal’s cultural and spiritual tourism assets internationally.
Strong Presence in National and International Tourism Forums
Throughout her career, Bhandari has represented Nepal’s tourism industry at numerous national and international events as a speaker, moderator, coordinator, and panelist. She has coordinated Nepal’s participation in international travel exhibitions such as FITUR in Madrid, sales missions in China and Malaysia, and has spoken at major tourism forums including the Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM), Capital Nepal Hotelier’s Summit, the UNDP Human Development Report Launch, Kalinga Literary Festival, and the Asian Resilience Summit. Her engagements have largely focused on sustainable tourism, digital transformation, Buddhist tourism, resilience, wellness tourism, and destination development.
Active Role in Government Tourism Committees
In addition to her work within NATTA, Bhandari currently serves on several government-level committees related to tourism policy and development. She has contributed to committees under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Finance, supporting tourism planning, budget allocation, wellness tourism initiatives, and national tourism awards. She is also a founding member and former General Secretary of the Tourism Sisterhood Nepal Association, an organization promoting women’s leadership in Nepal’s tourism sector.
Academic Excellence and National Recognition
Bhandari’s academic achievements have also earned national recognition. She received the prestigious Nepal Bidhya Bhushan ‘Ka’ award from former President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the Chancellor’s Gold Medal from Pokhara University, the Dean’s List Recognition during her Executive MBA studies, and recognition for preparing the Best Business Development Plan. These accomplishments complement her professional experience across tourism, business management, architecture, heritage conservation, and public policy.
Vision Focused on Resilient and Inclusive Tourism
With her official candidacy, Bhandari is positioning herself as a leader committed to building a more resilient, innovative, and inclusive tourism industry. Her vision emphasizes strengthening NATTA’s institutional capacity, enhancing professional training, promoting heritage and wellness tourism, encouraging digital innovation, supporting sustainable tourism practices, and expanding Nepal’s international tourism partnerships.
As NATTA prepares for its upcoming election, members will determine who will lead one of Nepal’s most influential tourism organizations during a period of increasing international competition, changing travel trends, and continued efforts to strengthen the country’s tourism economy.
