Junu Malekhu, Nepal head of Cathay Pacific Airlines, has been elected as the president of the Tourism Sisterhood Nepal Association (TSNA), a non-profit organization established by professional women from the travel, hospitality, and aviation sectors. The announcement came following the association’s sixth annual general meeting and election held on Friday evening, where a nine-member working committee was elected unopposed under Malekhu’s leadership.
The new executive committee comprises Rosina Ranjith as Vice President, Pavna Shrestha as General Secretary, Benju Mukhia as Secretary, and members Kevina Pal Adhikari, Pragya Sharma, Yuvika Bhandari, Hema Sripali, and Suchita Joshi.
Established in 2018 with just nine members, TSNA has grown to include over 50 women, focusing on empowering women in the tourism sector and fostering leadership development. Malekhu, with more than 15 years of experience in the tourism industry, pledged to continue advancing the association’s mission to strengthen women’s roles in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Addressing the program, Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), praised TSNA for its contributions to identifying new tourism destinations. He also emphasized the need for collaboration between NTB and TSNA to promote Nepal’s tourism potential.
Kumar Mani Thapaliya, President of the Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA), highlighted the growing participation of women in tourism and urged for their greater representation in leadership positions. Similarly, Bijay Bahadur Shrestha, Vice President of Himalayan Airlines, underscored the importance of strengthening domestic tourism to build a robust national economy, calling for collective efforts to promote local travel.
Outgoing TSNA President Anupa Budhathoki noted the association’s focus on building sustainable and responsible tourism while enhancing the capacities of women in the industry. She also stressed the need to further increase women’s participation in the sector.
Tourism Sisterhood Nepal Association remains a pivotal platform for empowering women in tourism and advancing sustainable practices in Nepal’s growing hospitality industry.