Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), the umbrella organization representing Nepal’s hotel and hospitality industry, has formed a Bagmati Province Ad Hoc Committee as part of its efforts to expand its organizational structure in line with Nepal’s federal system and strengthen the institutional development of the hospitality sector.
The committee has been formed as part of HAN’s broader campaign to establish provincial structures across the country during its six-decade-long journey. The association said the provincial committee will work to strengthen the hotel and tourism industry, promote hospitality services at the provincial level and improve coordination between the government and the private sector.
Ram Sundar Bakey appointed committee chair
Ram Sundar Bakey of Bhaktapur has been selected as the Chairman of the newly formed Bagmati Province Ad Hoc Committee. Netra Jung Thapa of Sindhuli has been appointed Vice Chairman, while Shivraj Duwadi of Chitwan has been named General Secretary and Lina Khadka of Kavre has been named Treasurer.
The committee members include Sameer Lama of Lalitpur, Rajaram Silwal of Dhading and Binod Jirel of Dolakha. Ghanshyam Shrestha, Gyanendra Kumar Bista, Prem Kantha Shrestha and Satyaram Suwal have been appointed as advisors.
The committee is expected to work toward the institutional development of the hotel and tourism industry, promotion of the hospitality sector across Bagmati Province and more effective cooperation between government agencies and private-sector stakeholders.
HAN prioritises regions with high tourist arrivals
Speaking at the committee formation programme, HAN Acting President Prabin Bahadur Pandey said the association has begun forming provincial committees by prioritising regions that receive significant numbers of tourists. He said the initiative would help make hospitality services more organised, efficient and accessible while contributing to the growth of Nepal’s tourism industry and the national economy.
Pandey said provincial-level structures would enable HAN to coordinate more effectively with local stakeholders and address the specific needs of hotel and hospitality businesses in different parts of the country. He also stressed the need to establish HAN regional offices in Kathmandu and Lalitpur to strengthen the association’s institutional capacity and provide better support to hotel entrepreneurs. According to him, HAN has already initiated discussions with the federal government regarding amendments to laws related to Nepal’s hotel and hospitality sector.
HAN raises concern over unregistered hotels
Pandey also highlighted the continued operation of a large number of hotels and hospitality businesses without proper legal registration and licences. He said nearly 30 percent of tourists visiting Nepal are still staying in hotels that do not possess the required legal licences.
He said bringing such businesses into the formal legal framework would help improve service standards, strengthen regulatory oversight and provide visitors with more reliable information about accommodation facilities. Legal recognition, he added, would also help promote the facilities available to tourists and support the overall professionalisation of Nepal’s hospitality industry.
Digital platform planned to provide reliable hotel information
HAN is also preparing to introduce a digital information platform featuring hotels affiliated with the association. The platform is expected to allow domestic and international tourists to access reliable information about accommodation and hospitality services available across Nepal.
The initiative is expected to improve the visibility of registered hotels and make it easier for visitors to identify reliable accommodation options while travelling across the country. HAN believes such a platform could also support the formalisation of the hospitality industry and strengthen the connection between tourists and service providers.
Hotel industry needs greater government recognition
HAN Legal Advisor Gandhi Pandit described the formation of the Bagmati Province Ad Hoc Committee as an important step in restructuring the association according to Nepal’s federal system.
He said the hotel industry is one of the country’s key sectors for investment, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings, but has not yet received adequate recognition and support from the government. Pandit stressed the need for greater policy support and cooperation to enable the hotel and hospitality industry to realise its full potential and make a stronger contribution to Nepal’s economic development.
New committee vows to promote quality services
Chairman Ram Sundar Bakey said the newly formed committee would work to strengthen Nepal’s tourism and hospitality industries by promoting quality services and improving coordination among stakeholders. The committee formation is expected to provide a stronger institutional platform for hotel entrepreneurs in Bagmati Province and help address issues affecting the hospitality sector through improved cooperation with government agencies, local authorities and tourism stakeholders.
Bagmati Province is home to some of Nepal’s most important tourism destinations, including Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, the Langtang region and several cultural and natural attractions. HAN believes the establishment of a dedicated provincial structure will help strengthen coordination and promote the sustainable growth of the hospitality sector across the province.
Bagmati Province Ad Hoc Committee
- Chairman: Ram Sundar Bakey, Bhaktapur
- Vice Chairman: Netra Jung Thapa, Sindhuli
- General Secretary: Shivraj Duwadi, Chitwan
- Treasurer: Lina Khadka, Kavre
- Members: Sameer Lama, Lalitpur; Rajaram Silwal, Dhading; Binod Jirel, Dolakha
- Advisors: Ghanshyam Shrestha, Gyanendra Kumar Bista, Prem Kantha Shrestha and Satyaram Suwal
The Bagmati Province Committee Formation and Declaration Programme was scheduled to be held at Hotel G Ramayana on Kaladhara Marg, Kathmandu, at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Shrawan 8, 2083.
