Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Thamel Special Zone, organized a festive greetings exchange programme in Kathmandu to mark the upcoming celebrations of Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat and Chhath, bringing together government officials, hoteliers, security personnel and tourism industry representatives to strengthen coordination and discuss challenges facing Nepal’s hospitality sector.
The programme gave tourism stakeholders a platform to exchange festive wishes, discuss the current state of the hotel industry, and highlight the importance of government support and cooperation for the sustainable development of the hospitality sector. Discussions focused on addressing industry-related concerns and strengthening collaboration among public authorities, hotel entrepreneurs and tourism organizations.
Bagmati Province Government Pledges Support to Hotel Industry
Addressing the programme as the chief guest, Rajendra Prajapati, Minister for Industry, Tourism, Labour and Transport of Bagmati Province, said the provincial government was closely monitoring the challenges faced by the hotel industry. He assured hoteliers that the Bagmati Province Government was making efforts to address their concerns and facilitate the sustainable development of the hospitality sector.
The minister’s remarks highlighted the importance of continued engagement between the government and private-sector tourism businesses to address operational challenges and create a supportive environment for hospitality enterprises. As a key component of Nepal’s tourism industry, the hotel sector plays an important role in accommodating visitors, supporting tourism-related businesses and contributing to the local economy.
HAN President Highlights Challenges Facing Hospitality Sector
Speaking as the special guest, Binayak Shah, President of Hotel Association Nepal, highlighted the current situation of the hotel industry and the major challenges confronting the sector. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts among the government, hotel entrepreneurs and other tourism stakeholders to address industry-related concerns and strengthen the hospitality sector.
Sajan Shakya, Secretary General of Hotel Association Nepal and Coordinator of the Thamel Special Zone, delivered the welcome address, welcoming distinguished guests, hoteliers and industry representatives. The programme emphasized the importance of maintaining regular communication between the private sector and government authorities to identify industry concerns and work towards practical solutions that support the growth of tourism businesses.
Government Officials and Tourism Stakeholders Participate
The programme was attended by Pawan Kumar Pokhrel, Chief of the Bagmati Province Tourism Office; Youb Raj Shrestha, Treasurer of Hotel Association Nepal; Ram Sunder Bake, President of HAN-Bagmati; Bishwaraj Adhikari, Chief of Tourist Police; Inspector Upendra Bahadur Budhathoki of the Sohrakhutte Police Circle; and Rajuman Dangol, President of the Thamel Tourism Development Council. Representatives from the hotel and tourism industries also participated in the gathering.
The participation of tourism officials, security representatives and industry leaders underscored the importance of coordination among the institutions responsible for tourism development, hospitality services and visitor safety. Such engagement is particularly relevant to Thamel, one of Kathmandu’s major tourism hubs, where hotels and tourism businesses serve domestic and international visitors.
Festive Gathering Strengthens Tourism Industry Coordination
Beyond the exchange of festive greetings, the programme offered an opportunity for hoteliers, government officials and tourism stakeholders to interact, share concerns and reinforce professional relationships. The gathering highlighted the role of cooperation among industry representatives, government bodies and security agencies in addressing hospitality-sector challenges and supporting Nepal’s tourism development.
The event concluded with the exchange of warm wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity and continued success on the auspicious occasions of Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat and Chhath. The programme also reaffirmed the value of maintaining dialogue and cooperation among tourism stakeholders as Nepal approaches the major festive season.
