The Hotel Professionals Federation Nepal (HPFN) has submitted an 11-point memorandum to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, calling for immediate relief, rehabilitation, recovery and tourism promotion measures for hotels and restaurants affected by the devastating Bhote Koshi floods of August 26.
A delegation led by HPFN President T.R. Bhandari met with Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel on Wednesday and briefed him on the ground realities faced by tourism entrepreneurs in flood-affected areas, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.
The delegation included central and Bagmati Province representatives of HPFN, hotel entrepreneurs from the affected areas and representatives of families directly impacted by the disaster. According to the federation, the delegation presented not only official information but also the firsthand experiences and concerns of affected business owners and communities.
Hotels Face Severe Physical and Financial Losses
The federation said the floods caused extensive damage to hotel and restaurant buildings, physical structures, furniture, kitchen equipment, electrical appliances, machinery, food stocks and other business assets. In several cases, entrepreneurs also suffered damage to their homes, land and other personal property.
With businesses either completely shut down or operating at severely reduced capacity, affected entrepreneurs are facing mounting financial pressure. Bank principal and interest payments, rent, employee salaries, taxes and other financial obligations have continued despite the loss of business income. HPFN warned that without immediate government intervention, many affected tourism businesses could face prolonged closure or permanent displacement.
What Is Included in the 11-Point Memorandum?
The federation has called for a comprehensive package covering both immediate relief and long-term recovery of tourism businesses.
Among its key demands are:
- Detailed assessment and official documentation of losses suffered by affected hotels and restaurants
- Provision of concessional refinancing facilities
- Special interest subsidies for affected businesses
- Rescheduling of existing bank loans
- Special loan relief for businesses suffering complete losses
- Measures to restore employment in affected businesses
- Long-term leases of secure alternative locations for displaced businesses
- Fast-track processing of insurance claims
- Waiver or reduction of taxes and business renewal fees
- A clear and time-bound tourism recovery program for affected destinations
- Special measures to restore tourism activities and promote affected destinations
HPFN has emphasized that affected hotels and tourism businesses should be brought back into operation through a coordinated recovery, rehabilitation and revival framework rather than through short-term relief alone.
Special Tourism Recovery Program Sought for Rasuwa
The federation has specifically called for the implementation of a “Rasuwa Tourism Recovery and Promotion Special Program”, citing the district’s significant natural, religious, cultural and adventure tourism potential. Rasuwa is home to destinations including Gosaikunda and Langtang, while its proximity to the international border with China gives it additional strategic importance for tourism.
HPFN has also highlighted the potential for future Kailash-Manasarovar tourism through the northern border corridor. The federation believes that restoring tourism infrastructure and confidence in Rasuwa could help revive local businesses while opening opportunities for new tourism products and stronger international connectivity.
Tourism Promotion Should Be Linked With Foreign Relations
HPFN has also urged the government to connect Nepal’s tourism promotion strategy with its diplomatic relations and foreign policy, particularly in the context of Rasuwa’s strategic geographical position. It has called for coordination among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Department of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board, provincial and local governments, and the private sector.
According to the federation, such coordination could facilitate border infrastructure development, tourist movement, bilateral tourism cooperation, joint destination promotion and programs aimed at attracting international visitors. The federation believes these measures could accelerate tourism recovery in Rasuwa and other northern border areas and contribute to broader economic growth.
Tourism Recovery Task Force Proposed
HPFN has proposed the formation of a dedicated Tourism Recovery Task Force under the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The task force should include representatives from the Department of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board, provincial and local governments, and the private sector. The federation has called for the task force to establish a clear action plan, define institutional responsibilities, arrange necessary resources and set specific implementation deadlines for tourism recovery programs.
Federation Highlights Private Sector’s Role During Crises
HPFN said its role extends beyond protecting the professional and business interests of hotel entrepreneurs and includes fulfilling social responsibilities during national emergencies, natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The federation represents small, medium and large hotels and restaurants across Nepal under a common institutional umbrella. It said its members have repeatedly provided support during national crises, demonstrating that the hospitality sector can serve as an important support structure for both communities and the state during emergencies.
Hotel Sector’s Humanitarian Role Since COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hotel businesses provided their properties for quarantine and isolation facilities and supported the government’s crisis-management efforts despite significant health and financial risks. The federation said its affiliated hotel associations have also assisted with various accidents and humanitarian emergencies.
Following a major road accident in Chitwan, hotel businesses affiliated with the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association Chitwan provided free food and accommodation to relatives and concerned individuals who travelled to the district for the recovery and identification of victims. Similarly, hotel businesses affiliated with local associations have provided food, accommodation and other assistance to vulnerable and displaced communities in areas including Balaju in Kathmandu.
Support Continues for Flood-Affected Communities
HPFN said it is continuing to mobilize its institutional network to identify needs, coordinate assistance and support families, businesses and communities affected by floods and landslides in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and other areas. In particular, the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association Chitwan has been providing free food and accommodation, according to need, to affected families and relatives and individuals travelling to Chitwan in connection with the search for and identification of victims. The federation said such initiatives demonstrate that hotels and restaurants are not merely commercial establishments but can also become important partners for communities and the state during times of crisis.
Hotels Ready to Provide Free Support to Stranded Foreign Tourists
HPFN has also expressed its willingness to provide humanitarian assistance to foreign tourists affected by the disaster. If foreign tourists become stranded, lose access to transportation or require immediate food and accommodation because of the natural disaster, the federation said it is prepared to coordinate with relevant government authorities and provide necessary support through its affiliated hotels and business associations in Kathmandu.
The federation said every tourist visiting Nepal should be viewed not only as a customer of the tourism industry but also as a guest of Nepal’s hospitality, culture and society. It emphasized that providing assistance to foreign visitors during emergencies should also be considered part of the private sector’s social responsibility.
“Damage to One Destination Is Damage to Nepal’s Tourism Economy”
HPFN has stressed that the impact of the disaster should not be viewed solely as a problem affecting individual districts. According to the federation, damage in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan or any other tourism destination can have a wider impact on hotel businesses, employees, local producers, employment, tourism infrastructure, tourist movement and ultimately Nepal’s overall tourism economy.
Therefore, the federation believes the rehabilitation of affected destinations should be treated as part of a national tourism economic recovery strategy, rather than simply as a relief package for individual businesses. It has particularly urged the government to view Rasuwa’s current challenges as an opportunity to rethink and strengthen tourism development in the district while protecting its natural, religious, cultural and adventure tourism assets.
HPFN Reaffirms Long-Term Commitment
HPFN said it will continue raising the concerns of affected entrepreneurs with the government, tourism ministry, Department of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board, provincial and local governments, financial institutions, insurance companies and other relevant agencies.
The federation said its institutional role will not be limited to advocating for business interests but will also focus on the safety and welfare of tourism destinations, entrepreneurs, workers, local communities and visitors. It has pledged to remain engaged from the stage of immediate relief through long-term rehabilitation, tourism recovery and destination promotion.
With the principle of “Standing Together in Crisis, Collaborating in Recovery and Leading Tourism Development,” HPFN said it will continue working as a responsible private-sector partner in protecting, promoting and sustainably developing Nepal’s tourism industry.
