A 10-day hotel and lodge management training program has been successfully conducted for small hotel and lodge operators along the Annapurna Circuit, aiming to improve service quality for both domestic and international tourists. The program, focused on providing organized, reliable, and trustworthy services, was organized with financial support from USAID, in coordination with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), and facilitated by Nepal Tourism and Hotel Management Association (NATHM).
The training targeted 39 small hotels and lodges operating along the Annapurna Circuit. It was held at the Dhaulagiri Technical Institute in Thasang, Mustang, where participants were trained on various aspects of hotel management. Trainers from NATHM, including Umesh Subedi, Satyanarayan Shah, Ashok Upadhyaya, and Shriram Timilsina, provided in-depth training on topics like front office management, housekeeping, first aid, waste management, food and beverage handling, and food production.

The program also included practical sessions on preparing 85 different types of food items, providing hands-on training to the participants. The training is seen as a vital step in improving the management standards and enhancing the capabilities of hotel and lodge operators in Mustang. Prominent figures such as the Executive Director of NATHM, Sangita Ojha, and Department Head, Ajay Kumar Dhakal, were present at the closing ceremony.
Former Commerce Minister, Romi Gauchhan Thakali, distributed certificates to the participants, emphasizing the growing importance of tourism in Mustang due to improved road access and increasing tourist arrivals. Currently, there are 325 hotels and lodges operating across five local municipalities in Mustang, with over 100,000 foreign tourists and more than 500,000 domestic tourists visiting the region annually. The training is expected to play a crucial role in the development of the local tourism industry, enhancing the overall visitor experience.