Tourism entrepreneur and travel-business leader Bharat Jung Pandey has been elected President of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), securing 188 votes in the association’s 25th Executive Committee Election.
Pandey, Director of Everest Miracle Travels & Tours, emerged victorious over fellow presidential candidates Yubika Bhandari, who received 158 votes, and Jiswan Tuladhar Shrestha, who secured 106 votes. The election was held during NATTA’s 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Soaltee Hotel, Kathmandu, on August 14, 2026 (Shrawan 29, 2083 BS).
Pandey Secures Clear Victory
With 188 votes, Pandey secured the highest number of votes among the three candidates and will lead NATTA for the 2026–2028 tenure. His victory marks the beginning of a new two-year leadership period for the association at a time when Nepal’s tourism and travel sector is seeking stronger international market promotion, improved business facilitation, digital transformation and greater coordination among tourism stakeholders. The election attracted significant attention from tourism entrepreneurs as NATTA remains one of Nepal’s key representative organizations for tour and travel businesses.
More Than Two Decades in Tourism
Pandey brings more than 20 years of experience in Nepal’s tourism industry. As Director of Everest Miracle Travels & Tours, he has been involved in travel operations, tourism entrepreneurship, international business, tourism promotion and market development.
Over the course of his career, Pandey has worked extensively in international tourism promotion, B2B networking, sales missions and the development of international tourism markets. His long-standing involvement in the private sector has established him as an experienced tourism entrepreneur and business manager. He has also emphasized greater participation of young tourism entrepreneurs and wider involvement of NATTA members in the association’s activities.
Previous Experience in NATTA
Pandey is not new to NATTA leadership. He previously served as a Member of NATTA’s Executive Committee from 2020 to 2022, gaining direct experience in the association’s institutional development and tourism-business affairs.
During his previous tenure, he participated in discussions and initiatives related to the interests of tourism entrepreneurs and the broader development of Nepal’s travel and tourism industry. His return to NATTA leadership as president comes with an understanding of the association’s internal operations as well as the challenges faced by travel businesses.
Good Governance and Member Participation at the Core
Pandey’s election agenda places strong emphasis on good governance, transparency and greater member participation. He has proposed strengthening NATTA as a financially sustainable and member-oriented organization while improving its role in national and international tourism development.
His major priorities include international tourism promotion, improved coordination on air tickets and airline-related issues, tourist transportation, embassy and diplomatic coordination, capacity building and international cooperation. He has also placed emphasis on developing “Digital NATTA” to improve communication, services and institutional efficiency through technology.
Focus on International Markets and Tourism Expansion
Pandey’s agenda also covers the expansion of Nepal’s inbound tourism and multi-country tour operations. His proposed priorities include strengthening international coordination, expanding tourism markets and improving Nepal’s competitiveness in the global travel industry. He has emphasized stronger B2B networking and international promotional activities to increase Nepal’s visibility as a tourism destination and create greater business opportunities for Nepali travel companies.
Member Protection and Business Facilitation
Another major component of Pandey’s agenda is the protection of NATTA members and the creation of a more supportive business environment for travel entrepreneurs. His priorities include member protection, business facilitation, financial sustainability and institutional transparency. He has also highlighted the need for clean infrastructure and sustainable tourism development to support the long-term growth of Nepal’s tourism industry.
NATTA Begins New Two-Year Leadership Tenure
Established on March 10, 1966, NATTA has played a significant role in representing Nepal’s tour and travel entrepreneurs for nearly six decades. The association has been involved in tourism promotion, private-sector advocacy and policy discussions with government and other industry stakeholders.
With Pandey now elected president for the 2026–2028 tenure, the new leadership is expected to focus on strengthening the travel trade, expanding international tourism markets, improving member services and addressing the practical challenges faced by tourism businesses.
His victory gives NATTA a president with more than two decades of private-sector tourism experience and previous executive committee experience. The coming two years will therefore be closely watched by tourism entrepreneurs as the association works toward a financially strong, empowered, digitally enabled and internationally connected NATTA.
