The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), the apex umbrella organization representing Nepal’s travel trade sector, has expressed grave concern over persistent visa-related difficulties faced by Nepalese travelers and travel agencies applying for tourist visas to Thailand.
In a statement, NATTA said the existing visa procedures of the Royal Thai Embassy have created significant operational uncertainty and exposed Nepalese travelers and travel agencies to severe financial risks. The association said applicants are currently required to submit fully paid and confirmed air tickets and hotel reservations before their visa applications are approved. According to NATTA, this requirement becomes particularly burdensome when visa applications are rejected unexpectedly, or decisions are delayed beyond the applicant’s scheduled departure date.
Non-Refundable Air Tickets Creating Major Financial Risks
NATTA said major airlines operating on the Nepal-Thailand sector, including Thai Airways and Thai Lion Air, have restrictive fare conditions, including non-refundable tickets and substantial cancellation charges. As a result, travelers and travel agencies can face substantial financial losses when visas are rejected or processing takes longer than expected. NATTA said such losses have reached hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively. The association argued that requiring travelers to make substantial non-refundable financial commitments before receiving a visa decision places an unfair burden entirely on Nepalese applicants and travel businesses.
NATTA Objects to Additional Hotel Confirmation Requirements
NATTA has also raised concerns over what it described as the growing rejection of standard reservation confirmations issued through internationally recognized online booking platforms. According to the association, applicants are reportedly being asked to obtain separate direct confirmation letters from individual hotels, even when reservations have already been made through established global online booking platforms. NATTA said such requirements create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and are inconsistent with the increasingly digital nature of international travel and commerce.
Calls for Transparent Review of Visa-Related Practices
While acknowledging Thailand’s sovereign right to determine its own visa policies, NATTA said the current system has created an imbalance in which Nepalese citizens and travel agencies bear almost all of the financial risk. The association said the combination of advance payments, additional administrative requirements, delayed decisions and visa rejections warrants a transparent and impartial review. NATTA also raised concerns about whether the current practices could have broader economic implications for Nepalese travelers and businesses, and called for greater clarity and accountability in the visa process.
NATTA Warns of Possible Thailand Travel Restrictions
NATTA said it has been seeking urgent high-level diplomatic dialogue with the Royal Thai Embassy to resolve the issue. However, it warned that failure to reach a timely solution, particularly ahead of upcoming national festival holidays, could further increase financial losses for Nepalese travelers and travel agencies. The association said that unless a transparent, time-bound and practical visa mechanism is established promptly, it may be compelled to designate Thailand as a Restricted/Blacklisted Outbound Destination. Under the proposed measures, NATTA said its member agencies could be directed to:
- Suspend the sale, distribution and promotion of new tour packages to Thailand.
- Halt dedicated advertising, digital marketing and promotional campaigns for Thailand.
- Cancel new group bookings, incentive travel programs and series departures.
- Guide prospective Nepalese travelers toward alternative international destinations offering more predictable and hassle-free travel arrangements.
Appeals for Government and Diplomatic Intervention
NATTA has urged the Government of Nepal to intervene immediately to protect the interests of Nepalese travelers and the domestic travel industry. The association has called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and other relevant authorities to initiate urgent diplomatic discussions with the Thai Government and the Royal Thai Embassy in Kathmandu. NATTA has specifically called for a reliable visa-processing timeline, an end to mandatory advance financial commitments before visa clearance, and measures to protect travelers and travel agencies from unnecessary financial exposure.
‘No Visa Guarantees’ Should Not Mean Financial Losses
NATTA emphasized that Nepalese travel agencies have contributed to Thailand’s tourism industry for decades by promoting the country as a major international destination for Nepalese travelers. The association said Nepalese citizens deserve a dignified, predictable and fair visa application process while respecting Thailand’s sovereign authority over immigration and visa decisions. NATTA concluded its appeal with the message: “No Visa Guarantees Doesn’t Mean Mandatory Financial Losses.” The association said protecting the dignity, time and financial security of Nepalese travelers remains its paramount commitment.
