The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has urged the government and concerned institutions to strengthen apprenticeship opportunities as Nepal’s growing hotel sector creates increasing demand for trained hospitality workers. The association made the call during a policy dialogue held on September 21, 2026, with participation from government officials, CTEVT representatives, hospitality colleges, hotel human resource departments and industry stakeholders. The discussion focused on expanding apprenticeship opportunities and making industry based training more effective.
HAN Calls For Wider Apprenticeship Opportunities
HAN President Binayak Shah said the rapid growth of hotels has created more employment opportunities but has also increased the need for qualified and practical skilled workers. He stressed the need to introduce diploma level apprenticeship programs while increasing the existing pre diploma quota to meet the hospitality sector’s workforce requirements. Shah also emphasized improving the quality, recognition and effectiveness of apprenticeship programs.
He further called for greater private sector involvement in technical and vocational training. According to Shah, eligible private sector organizations should be allowed to obtain affiliation and operate apprenticeship based programs, while Rule 16(A) of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council Regulations, 2083 should be implemented effectively to enable qualified industries to run such programs.
19 Disaster Affected Students To Get Hotel Jobs
The dialogue also highlighted an opportunity for 19 apprenticeship students from Post Bahadur Bogati Polytechnic Institute, Nuwakot, a disaster-affected area, to gain employment in the hotel sector. The students will be provided opportunities based on their individual interests and preferences, allowing them to gain practical experience while entering the hospitality workforce.
HAN Secretary General Sajan Shakya said the association has been involved in apprenticeship initiatives for the last four years and has supported the placement of trainees in hotels for practical learning. He said the growing number of hotels requires an expansion of apprenticeship quotas and added that the private sector should be permitted to independently operate apprenticeship programs without unnecessary delays.
Hotels Seek Better Training And Assessment
Hotel representatives raised concerns about whether current apprenticeship programs adequately prepare trainees for the varied responsibilities of the hospitality industry. Bishnu Shrestha, Head of Human Resources at Hotel Himalaya, noted that many trainees seek experience across several hotel departments rather than limiting themselves to one specialization. He suggested that educational institutions should conduct regular assessments and monitoring throughout the apprenticeship period to ensure trainees are developing the required skills.
Mohan Katuwal, Vice President of the Federation of Small and Cottage Industries, said apprenticeship provides an important link between classroom learning and actual workplace requirements. He called for policies that encourage graduates to gain at least two years of industry experience and urged authorities to introduce more flexible arrangements that allow businesses to participate effectively in skills development.
Government And CTEVT Back Apprenticeship Expansion
Bagmati Province Secretary Khubiram Adhikari said the current quota of 100 apprenticeship trainees should be increased in response to the rising demand for skilled workers. He noted that the provincial government is making significant investments in education and emphasized that cooperation with the private sector would be important for making apprenticeship programs stronger and sustainable.
Anoj Bhattarai, Officiating Member Secretary of CTEVT, welcomed the hospitality industry’s involvement and said work was underway to revise relevant regulations. He said diploma level apprenticeship programs would be introduced or further advanced soon.
Representatives including Dr. Jiwak Bajracharya, Samjhana Basnyat, Rohit Dahal, Abha Shah, Ashlesha Karki, Narayan Paudel, Amir Pradhanang and Niraj Pudasaini also took part in the discussion, which provided a platform for government, education and hospitality stakeholders to explore ways to expand practical training and develop a more skilled, employment ready workforce.
