Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has expressed his commitment to push for the recognition of the hotel industry as equivalent to other industries in terms of status and benefits. Speaking at the Hotelier Summit organized by Capital Nepal today, Paudel assured that the government is working towards granting the hotel sector similar facilities as those provided to industries.
Reflecting on his previous tenure as Finance Minister, Paudel mentioned that he had included a provision in the budget to recognize hotels as industries. However, due to his departure from the government, the implementation of that provision was stalled. “I had included this in the budget, but before I could ensure its implementation, I had to leave the government. Now, the time is right,” he said. “The current government is committed to recognizing hotels as industries and offering the same facilities. We will proceed by consulting stakeholders and advancing based on their suggestions.”
Deputy Prime Minister Paudel also emphasized the need to make the Nepal Tourism Board more dynamic and effective. “It’s essential to enhance the role of the Tourism Board. With the selection of a new Executive Director, the government will take concrete steps to implement necessary reforms,” he added.
He further highlighted the importance of efficiently operating the Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport and accelerating the construction of the Nijgadh International Airport. “The government has made great strides with the completion of Gautam Buddha and Pokhara International Airports,” Paudel said. “Several discussions and consultations, including with the Prime Minister, have taken place to ensure their effective operation. It’s now critical to fully utilize these airports to promote tourism.”
Dr. Narayan Prasad Regmi, Director General of the Department of Tourism, expressed confidence in effective coordination among various agencies to promote tourism. Vinayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association Nepal, stressed the need for programs that attract tourists, noting that the existing hotel infrastructure can accommodate 3.5 million tourists.
Former CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, Prachandaman Shrestha, and former President of the Hotel Association Bhawanani Rana, also emphasized the need for policy and structural reforms to create an investment-friendly environment in the tourism sector.
