The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) is heading toward a closely watched leadership election for the 2026–2028 term, with three prominent tourism professionals, Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha, Yubika Bhandari and Bharat Jung Pandey, in the race for the presidency. The three candidates come from different professional backgrounds and have presented distinct approaches to strengthening Nepal’s travel trade, improving member services, expanding international tourism promotion and reforming NATTA.
The election is scheduled for August 14, 2026 (Shrawan 29, 2083 BS) during NATTA’s 59th Annual General Meeting and 25th Executive Committee Election. Their professional journeys, previous involvement in NATTA, proposed agendas, and supporting teams are likely to be important factors for members as they choose the association’s leadership for the next two years.
Three Tourism Leaders Step Forward for NATTA Presidency
| Details | Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha | Yubika Bhandari | Bharat Jung Pandey |
| Full Name | Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha | Yubika Bhandari | Bharat Jung Pandey |
| Profession | Tourism entrepreneur, travel-business leader and former international motorsport racer | Tourism entrepreneur, heritage specialist, architect, educator and policy advocate | Tourism entrepreneur and travel-business leader |
| Tourism Experience | More than 25 years | Nearly 20 years | More than 20 years |
| Tourism Company | Managing Director, Swaa Tours & Travels, established in 2006 | Managing Director, Shashi’s Holidays International Travel & Tours | Director, Everest Miracle Travels & Tours |
| Main Tourism Experience | Corporate travel, outbound tourism, destination management and international tourism promotion | Inbound tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, sustainable tourism, wellness tourism and destination development | Travel operations, tourism entrepreneurship, international business and tourism promotion |
| Other Professional Experience | Former international motorsport racer; recognized as Nepal’s first female international motorsport car racer | Former architect with Arch-Way Design Consultants; tourism educator; heritage and museum-related professional | Long-standing private-sector tourism entrepreneur and business manager |
| Leadership | Former Senior Vice President of NATTA; advocate for women’s entrepreneurship and leadership | Former General Secretary of NATTA; advocate for women’s leadership | Focuses on youth participation and wider member involvement in tourism |
| NATTA Experience | Long-standing involvement in NATTA; Secretary, 2020–2022; Senior Vice President, 2024–2026 | Joint Treasurer, 2020–2022; Secretary, 2022–2024; Secretary General, 2024–2026 | Executive Committee Member, 2020–2022 |
| Key NATTA Responsibilities | National and international tourism promotion; outbound tourism promotion and support | Research, training, heritage, culture, airline partnerships and institutional activities | Participation in organizational development and tourism-business issues |
| International Exposure | International tourism fairs, promotion, outbound tourism and global tourism networking | FITUR Madrid, China and Malaysia sales missions, BITM and international tourism forums | International tourism promotion, B2B networking, sales missions and market development |
| Distinctive Strength | Long tourism experience, extensive NATTA involvement, entrepreneurship and women’s leadership | Multidisciplinary background combining tourism, architecture, heritage, education and policy | Long private-sector tourism experience and strong member-focused business approach |
| Core Leadership Approach | Practical reform, business protection, international promotion and digital transformation | Policy advocacy, institutional reform, sustainable and heritage tourism, capacity building | Member protection, transparency, financial sustainability and digital transformation |
Three Slogans, Three Leadership Visions
The three candidates have presented distinct campaign messages for the NATTA 2026–2028 election. Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha has adopted the slogan “Strong Leadership, Secure Business – Prosperous Tourism for NATTA,” highlighting leadership, business security and tourism prosperity. Yubika Bhandari is campaigning under the slogan “Tourism Rises, Nepal Rises,” linking the growth of tourism with Nepal’s broader economic and national development. Bharat Jung Pandey has chosen “Strong NATTA, Prosperous Tourism – With Members, For Members,” emphasizing a member-focused NATTA and the prosperity of the tourism sector.
Key Election Agendas of the Three Panels
The three panels have presented separate agendas covering international tourism promotion, policy and aviation reforms, digital transformation, member protection, capacity building, transportation, outbound tourism, sustainable tourism and institutional reform. While each panel has its own priorities, their agendas broadly focus on strengthening NATTA and addressing the practical challenges faced by Nepal’s travel and tourism businesses.
| S.N. | Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha | Yubika Bhandari | Bharat Jung Pandey |
| 1 | International Tourism Promotion | Establish Tourism as a National Priority Industry | Good Governance, Transparency and Member Participation |
| 2 | IATA and Air Ticketing Reforms | Policy and Aviation Reforms | International Tourism Promotion |
| 3 | Support for New Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses | Establish a Dedicated Tourist Bus Park | Air Tickets, Airlines and Tourist Transportation |
| 4 | VAT and Air Ticket Issues | Expand International Tourism Promotion | Embassy and Diplomatic Coordination |
| 5 | Tourist Bus Services and Intercity Connectivity | Establish NATTA Legal and Financial Help Desk | Capacity Building and International Coordination |
| 6 | Restructuring of NATTA’s Working Committee | Resolve IATA and Ticketing-Related Problems | Digital NATTA |
| 7 | Smart NATTA and Digital Transformation | Accelerate Digital Transformation and Member Services | National and International Tourism Development |
| 8 | Action Against Unauthorized and Illegal Tourism Activities | Promote Nepal Through Diplomatic Networks and Soft Power | Inbound and Multi-Country Tour Management |
| 9 | Regional Development and Strengthening of Air Connectivity | Facilitate Luxury Tourist Vehicle Imports | Clean Infrastructure and Sustainable Tourism Development |
| 10 | Challenges in Outbound Tourism | Address Outbound Tourism and Cross-Border Travel Challenges | Member Protection and Business Facilitation |
| 11 | Capacity Building and Technology Transfer | Financially Strong, Empowered and Expanded NATTA | |
| 12 | Facilitation of Domestic Tourism |
Candidates Register Complete Panels
Along with their presidential candidacies, the three contenders have registered candidates for key executive positions and executive committee membership.
| Position | Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha Panel | Yubika Bhandari Panel | Bharat Jung Pandey Panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha | Yubika Bhandari | Bharat Jung Pandey |
| Senior Vice President | Bishnu Pandey | Varun Mehta | Sunil Sharma |
| Vice President | Pragya Pathak Sharma | Dhak Nath Kafle | Sabita KC Bhattarai |
| Secretary General | Sushil Pant | Krishna Prasad Dhakal | Raj Kumar Devkota |
| Secretary | Ramesh Ghimire | Shraddha Joshi | Ramesh Parajuli |
| Treasurer | Krishna Prasad Dhakal | Rama Kumari Pyakurel | Diki Sherpa |
| Joint Secretary / Joint Treasurer | Dr. Bimala Dahal | Bidur Khatiwada | Jeevan Koirala |
| Executive Member | Trilochan Neupane | Pradeep Prasad Udaya | Dinanath Pandey |
| Executive Member | Anu Adhikari (Raut) | Bibash Poudel | Dinesh Mainali |
| Executive Member | Sudarshan Gajurel | Shree Ram Thapa | Dipak Marasheni |
| Executive Member | Dinesh Ghimire | Ms. Smarika Thapa | Nabin Gurung |
| Executive Member | Roman Sapkota | Sanket Dahal | Prakash Lohani |
| Executive Member | Ashok Kumar Baniya | Dr. Umesh Gupta | Sarala Sapkota |
| Executive Member | Jamuna Pandey (Upadhyaya) | Hom Bahadur Pariyar | Suman Lal Shrestha |
| Executive Member | Rojina Ranjit | Rajendra Prasad Tripathi | Swastika Pradhan |
A New Direction for NATTA
With the NATTA election scheduled for tomorrow, August 14, 2026, the travel trade is set to choose its leadership for the 2026–2028 term. Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha, Yubika Bhandari and Bharat Jung Pandey have each brought different experiences and priorities to the race, from business protection and digital transformation to policy reform, sustainable tourism and international promotion. The election will decide who leads NATTA for the next two years, while the strong competition and clear agendas have created an opportunity for the association to move toward more effective representation, stronger member services and a more competitive and resilient tourism industry.
