The National Statistics Office of Nepal recently unveiled the National Hotel and Restaurant Survey 2080, revealing that there are approximately 142,223 establishments offering accommodation and dining services across the country. These establishments include star hotels, resorts, non-star hotels, lodges, and homestays.
Among the provinces, Bagmati Province leads with the highest number of hotels and restaurants at 52,123, while Karnali Province records the lowest, with 7,110. Other provinces report varying numbers: Koshi Province has 25,887 establishments, Madhesh Province 11,740, Gandaki Province 16,976, Lumbini Province 20,158, and Sudurpaschim Province 8,228.
The survey indicates that the sector engages 387,747 individuals, including owners, business partners, unpaid family members, and salaried employees. Of these, 106,459 individuals are employed directly, with the industry spending approximately NPR 20.61 billion annually on salaries, wages, and employee benefits.
In terms of economic contribution, the accommodation and dining services sector represents an investment of NPR 216.73 billion and generates services worth NPR 326.01 billion annually. This accounts for an added economic value (value addition) of approximately NPR 109.27 billion to Nepal’s GDP. Furthermore, the sector holds fixed assets valued at approximately NPR 543.25 billion.
The survey also highlights that 28.4% of establishments have availed loans from financial institutions, while the remaining 71.6% operate without borrowing.
Dr. Hemraj Regmi, Deputy Chief Statistician of the National Statistics Office, stated that the survey covered various categories of businesses, including star hotels, resorts, non-star hotels, and homestays. The study revealed that Nepal’s hotels collectively house 116,101 rooms, with 8,496 in star hotels, 104,675 in non-star hotels and lodges, 3,829 in resorts, and 3,700 in homestays.
The survey also emphasized Nepal’s growing capacity to accommodate tourists, with hotels and lodges across the country capable of serving 2,234,852 individuals simultaneously. These findings underscore the pivotal role of the hospitality sector in Nepal’s economy and its potential for further growth and development.