Nepal’s tourism industry has called for a more comprehensive and forward-looking Tourism Bill 2081, arguing that the country’s tourism legislation must evolve alongside the changing nature of the industry and create a stronger foundation for long-term growth. The issue came under discussion at a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee, where representatives from the tourism sector, including the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), presented their concerns and recommendations regarding the proposed bill. Stakeholders stressed that Nepal’s future tourism framework should be broader, more effective and capable of accommodating emerging forms of tourism rather than concentrating on a limited number of established activities.
Industry seeks a tourism law built for the future
Tourism stakeholders told the committee that Nepal needs legislation that looks beyond the immediate needs of the industry and provides a long-term framework for wider tourism development. They argued that the country’s tourism sector is changing and that the proposed legislation should reflect this transformation by creating space for different tourism products, business models and visitor experiences. Rather than treating tourism as a narrowly defined industry, stakeholders called for a broader approach that can respond to new opportunities and strengthen the overall tourism business environment. Their emphasis was on making the proposed bill more comprehensive so that it can support the tourism sector effectively over the long term.
The stakeholders specifically called for newer and more diverse forms of tourism to be incorporated into the proposed legislation. Green tourism, wellness tourism, religious tourism and wedding tourism were among the sectors highlighted during the discussion, alongside other innovative approaches to tourism. Their recommendations indicate a desire to broaden Nepal’s tourism portfolio and ensure that emerging tourism concepts receive appropriate recognition within the country’s legal framework. The stakeholders believe that incorporating such areas into the Tourism Bill 2081 would make the legislation more relevant to the evolving tourism landscape and provide a stronger basis for developing a wider range of tourism opportunities.
HAN raises concerns over casino-focused provisions
The discussion also brought specific concerns from the hotel industry to the committee’s attention. Binayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), said the draft of the Tourism Bill 2081 appears to place excessive emphasis on casino expansion. His criticism focused on the direction of the proposed legislation, suggesting that the bill should address the broader development of tourism businesses rather than giving particular emphasis to casino-related activities. The concern reflects the hotel sector’s position that the legislation should establish a balanced framework that responds to the wider requirements of Nepal’s tourism industry.
Shah also called for the removal of specific provisions concerning four-star and five-star hotels. According to the information presented at the committee meeting, the draft includes a provision under which four-star and five-star hotels would be overseen by the association, as well as a compulsory arrangement requiring hotels operating casinos to take a 10 percent share in connection with casino operations. Shah argued that these provisions should be removed from the proposed bill. His intervention placed the practical concerns of hotel operators directly before the parliamentary committee as lawmakers consider how the legislation should be revised.
Committee highlights tourism’s wider national importance
Committee Chair Sumnima Udas stressed that the significance of tourism extends well beyond the operation of hotels, travel companies and other tourism businesses. She described tourism as an important foundation of the national economy, while also highlighting its contribution to Nepal’s national pride and the expansion of the country’s international relations. Her remarks placed the discussion over the Tourism Bill within a broader national context, recognizing tourism as a sector with economic as well as international importance for Nepal.
Udas also stressed that the proposed legislation should be examined with serious attention to stakeholder recommendations before revisions are made. She called for the views and suggestions of organizations and individuals involved in the tourism sector to be collected and considered during the legislative process. Such consultation, according to the committee chair’s position, would help ensure that the final legislation takes into account the concerns and practical experiences of those directly involved in Nepal’s tourism industry.
Emerging tourism models take center stage
One of the most significant aspects of the discussion was the call to formally recognize new and innovative tourism styles within Nepal’s tourism framework. Green tourism, wellness tourism, religious tourism and wedding tourism were specifically identified by stakeholders as areas that deserve greater attention. Their inclusion in the discussion reflects a broader effort by tourism representatives to encourage the industry to move beyond its traditional areas of focus and recognize the changing interests of travelers.
The stakeholders’ recommendations suggest that Nepal has an opportunity to establish a tourism law that is flexible enough to accommodate different forms of tourism as the industry develops. By calling for a broader range of tourism activities to be considered under the bill, representatives are seeking a framework that can support diversification while giving emerging tourism sectors greater recognition. The proposal is therefore not limited to changing individual rules; it also raises questions about the overall direction and scope of Nepal’s tourism policy.
Private sector calls for its concerns to be reflected in legislation
The participation of the Hotel Association Nepal and other tourism stakeholders has brought the private sector’s perspective into the parliamentary discussion over the proposed bill. Their recommendations cover both the broader direction of tourism development and specific provisions they believe should be changed. The call for wider tourism categories to be recognized is accompanied by the hotel sector’s demand for revisions to provisions related to hotels and casinos, showing that stakeholders are seeking both strategic and practical changes to the proposed framework.
The committee’s willingness to gather stakeholder views is particularly important because the proposed law will provide a legal framework for a sector involving a wide range of businesses and tourism activities. The discussion has therefore highlighted the need for lawmakers to consider the industry’s recommendations carefully before finalizing revisions. Stakeholders have made clear that they want the legislation to support the broader, long-term and effective development of tourism, while also ensuring that individual provisions are practical for businesses operating within the sector.
A critical discussion for Nepal’s tourism future
The latest committee discussion has placed the proposed Tourism Bill 2081 at an important point of consideration, with stakeholders calling for significant attention to both the scope of the legislation and specific provisions contained in its draft. Their recommendations include expanding the bill to recognize emerging tourism sectors, while the hotel industry has separately raised objections to provisions it considers overly focused on casinos and certain hotel-related requirements.
The discussion ultimately underlines the importance of creating a tourism framework that reflects the breadth and changing character of Nepal’s tourism industry. With tourism recognized by the committee as an important part of the country’s economy, national identity and international relations, stakeholders are urging lawmakers to approach the bill with a long-term perspective. As the legislative discussion continues, the collection and consideration of recommendations from the tourism industry will remain an important part of determining how Tourism Bill 2081 is ultimately shaped.
