Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Khadkaraj Paudel, has stressed the need for a transformation in working style alongside the recent change in government, calling for urgent reforms in Nepal’s tourism sector.
Speaking at a welcome program organized in his honor at the Nepal Tourism Board, Minister Paudel said that improving quality, fostering innovation, and implementing sustainable plans are essential to make Nepal competitive in the global tourism market.
Highlighting travel as a key pillar of Nepal’s economic development, Paudel remarked, “The government has changed, and now the working style must also change. We need to move beyond traditional approaches to tourism promotion and adopt innovative campaigns.” He added that he is ready to provide necessary policy support and urged the Tourism Board to align itself with this new direction.
Focus on Results and Innovation
Minister Paudel emphasized that Nepal stands at a crucial and possibly final phase of opportunity to leverage its travel potential. He called for a results-oriented approach, stating that while some initiatives may initially seem impossible, achieving tangible outcomes is essential for the country’s overall development.
“The society today seeks change in the form of results,” he said. “We must move forward by understanding public sentiment and social psychology.”
He also reiterated his commitment to policy facilitation, stating that his leadership would not be driven by revenge politics but by encouragement of performance. “I will forgive mistakes and appreciate good work, but I am also prepared to take firm decisions when necessary,” he added.
Paudel further noted that a naturally beautiful country like Nepal should not remain economically underdeveloped and emphasized the government’s focus on long-term planning for sustainable growth.
NTB Highlights Strategic Priorities
Welcoming the minister, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepak Raj Joshi, presented an overview of the sector’s structure, ongoing programs, and policy direction.
Joshi informed that the Board is advancing strategies to promote Nepal more effectively in international markets through a public-private partnership model. “We are working to strengthen coordination between the government and private sector to make travel promotion more effective,” he said.
During the program, the CEO also briefed the minister on key challenges and reform agendas within the tourism sector. Priority areas include the effective implementation of the Trekking Information Management System, expansion of collaboration with the private sector, structural reforms within the Tourism Board, institutional strengthening and expansion, and revisions to staff and financial regulations.
Joshi further noted that discussions are ongoing on how to ensure the tourism sector remains stable and secure amid evolving crises in the Middle East, indicating the need for balanced and adaptive strategies.
Call for Coordinated Reform
The program concluded with a shared commitment to drive meaningful reform in Nepal’s travel sector. Both the minister and tourism officials underscored the importance of innovation, coordination, and policy support in unlocking the country’s vast travel potential and ensuring sustainable growth in the years ahead.
