Tourism stakeholders have strongly urged that the permission, registration, and licensing processes for tourism businesses should be decentralized and made accessible at the local government level rather than remaining centralized in Kathmandu.
The call was made during a discussion on the Tourism Bill, 2081 (2024/25), held today at the Legislative Management Committee under the National Assembly. The interaction brought together representatives from the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Nepal Mountaineering Operators Association, Mini Casino Association, and various tourism entrepreneurs.
Participants emphasized that hotel and resort licensing should be handled by local governments, while mountaineering permits and the appointment of liaison officers should remain a direct responsibility of the state to ensure consistency, safety, and accountability.
Need for a Stable, Clear, and Long-Term Tourism Law
Stakeholders stressed that the upcoming tourism law must be long-term, stable, and clearly defined. They called for precise legal definitions of key travel sectors, including mountain travel, domestic travel, foreign and day tourists, casinos, hotels, and liaison officers, to avoid confusion and inconsistencies in implementation.
Tourism researcher Dr. Ganesh Gurung highlighted the historic role of the Nepal Mountaineering Association in promoting mountain travel, strengthening international relations, managing environmental protection, and producing skilled human resources. He emphasized the need to retain the definitions of mountain tourism that were originally incorporated in the Tourism Act of 2035 (1978) in the new bill.
Mountaineering Bodies Seek Continued Recognition
Nepal Mountaineering Association President Phur Gelje Sherpa urged lawmakers to clearly and strongly incorporate the responsibilities granted to the Association under the 2035 Act into the new bill. He also shared the Association’s contributions in mountain cleaning campaigns, waste management, border security data collection, and international cooperation, which have helped promote Nepal’s travel image globally.
Similarly, Rishiram Bhandari, General Secretary of the Mountaineering Operators Association, emphasized the need to clearly define domestic travel, include one-day foreign visitors in tourism statistics, and decentralize travel administration in line with the federal governance system, extending authority to provincial and local levels.
Hotel and Casino Sectors Raise Practical Concerns
Representing the hotel sector, Sajan Shakya, General Secretary of Hotel Association Nepal, requested that all tourist-accommodating hotels be made mandatory for registration under the Department of Tourism. He also objected to the reduction of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) threshold from 50 beds to 25 beds for small and medium hotels, arguing that retaining the 50-bed limit would encourage formal registration, improve regulation, and increase government revenue.
From the casino sector, Gokarna Lamichhane, representing mini casino operators, highlighted that 32 mini casinos operating in border areas have been generating significant employment and millions of rupees in tax and royalty revenue for the government. He expressed concern that frequent regulatory changes have made the business environment unstable and called for clear, long-term legal provisions on casino infrastructure, licensing, and operational zones.
Lawmakers Pledge Serious Review of Stakeholder Feedback
Committee Chairperson Tulasa Kumari Dahal stated that the tourism law is being amended after a long period and assured that all stakeholder recommendations will be taken seriously and thoroughly reviewed before finalizing the bill.
The discussion reflected a collective call for a decentralized, transparent, and sustainable legal framework that strengthens Nepal’s tourism sector while ensuring balanced development, environmental protection, and economic stability across the country.
