Immediate Past President of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Kumar Mani Thapaliya, has been appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Tourism & Air Transport Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).
Kumar Mani Thapaliya received his formal appointment letter at a programme held at the FNCCI Secretariat in Kathmandu on October 2, 2026. The appointment has been made under the leadership of FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha, with Shangharsa Bista serving as Chairperson of the Tourism & Air Transport Committee.
Committee to strengthen private-sector role in tourism
The Tourism & Air Transport Committee provides an institutional platform for the private sector to engage in the promotion and sustainable development of Nepal’s tourism industry. The committee focuses on a range of issues affecting the tourism and aviation sectors, including tourism infrastructure and services, service standards, industry challenges, policy dialogue and stronger coordination between the government and private sector. With Thapaliya joining as Vice-Chairperson, the committee is expected to benefit from his experience in the travel and tourism industry, particularly in areas related to travel trade, air connectivity and tourism policy.
Extensive experience in Nepal’s tourism sector
Kumar Mani Thapaliya is a long-standing tourism entrepreneur and industry leader with extensive experience in Nepal’s travel and tourism sector. He served as President of NATTA from 2024 to 2026 and currently serves as the association’s Immediate Past President. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Precious Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd. and served as a Board Member of the Nepal Tourism Board in 2025, where he brought private-sector experience to the country’s national tourism institution. In recognition of his contribution to Nepal’s tourism sector, Kumar Mani Thapaliya received the Tourism Excellence Award 2025 from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on the occasion of World Tourism Day.
Focus on tourism policy and international cooperation
During his tenure as NATTA president, Kumar Mani Thapaliya was actively involved in tourism policy advocacy, industry representation and international cooperation. His leadership involved engagement with tourism organisations and industry stakeholders in countries including Spain, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
These engagements helped strengthen professional networks and create opportunities for Nepal’s travel and tourism industry in international markets. Kumar Mani Thapaliya also serves as a Board Member of the Universal Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations (UFTAA), representing Nepal’s travel-trade interests within the global travel-agent community.
New role to address aviation and tourism challenges
In his new position at FNCCI, Thapaliya is expected to bring his travel-trade experience to the Federation’s broader private-sector platform. His areas of engagement are expected to include tourism policy, aviation and air connectivity, tourism infrastructure, investment, business competitiveness and public-private cooperation.
The appointment is also expected to strengthen coordination among tourism associations, airlines, government agencies and other industry stakeholders in addressing challenges facing Nepal’s tourism and aviation sectors. The committee will work toward creating a stronger platform for private-sector engagement and policy dialogue, with the broader objective of supporting sustainable growth and competitiveness in Nepal’s tourism industry.
