The government of Nepal and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has issued a public notice urging all operators to refrain from conducting adventure and recreational activities without proper authorization. The ministry emphasized that activities such as bungee jumping, swing, canyoning, skydiving, zip-lining, zip coaster rides, jet skiing, and motorboating must only be operated after obtaining official permits and strictly adhering to safety standards.
Legal Provisions for Licensing and Operation
According to the Tourism Act 2035 and the Tourism Industry Service Delivery Directive 2070, the responsibility for granting licenses to adventure tourism-related companies lies with the Department of Tourism. The ministry clarified that all such businesses must be registered and licensed under existing laws and must comply with safety-sensitive operational standards to ensure the well-being of participants.
Rising Concerns Over Illegal Operations by Nepal Government
The notice comes amid increasing complaints about unauthorized adventure tourism activities being conducted in various parts of the country. The ministry has expressed serious concern over operators running such activities without conducting proper safety assessments or obtaining required permits. It stated that operating adventure sports without authorization is a violation of the law and poses significant risks to public safety.
30-Day Deadline for Compliance
The ministry has directed all unlicensed operators to immediately halt their activities. It has also given a maximum of 30 days for such companies or organizations to contact the Department of Tourism with the necessary documents to initiate the licensing process. Failure to comply or begin the licensing procedure within the stipulated timeframe will result in legal action as per existing laws, the ministry warned.
