Yubika Bhandari has formally unveiled her panel for the upcoming election of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), pledging to strengthen the organization through institutional reform, policy advocacy, digital transformation, professional development, and sustainable tourism promotion.
Under the slogan “Tourism Rises, Nepal Rises,” the Bhandari-led panel has presented a 10-point agenda aimed at addressing the practical challenges faced by travel and tour operators while positioning tourism as a national priority industry linked to employment, agriculture, infrastructure, foreign exchange earnings, culture and Nepal’s international image.
The panel has emphasized that NATTA should move beyond being solely a representative organization for travel businesses and take a stronger leadership role in policy advocacy, international market development, member services and institutional strengthening.
1. Establish Tourism as a National Priority Industry
The Bhandari panel has pledged to launch a national campaign to establish tourism as a strategic industry for Nepal’s economic development rather than limiting it to a conventional business sector. The agenda seeks to strengthen the connection between tourism and employment generation, agriculture, culture, transportation, infrastructure, foreign exchange earnings and Nepal’s international identity. The panel has said it will engage with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that tourism receives greater policy recognition and institutional support.
2. Push for Policy and Aviation Reforms
The panel has placed several aviation and tourism policy reforms at the centre of its agenda. It has pledged to continuously advocate for the removal of VAT on airfares and push for the early passage of tourism-related legislation while ensuring the interests and rights of tourism businesses are protected.
It also plans to seek incentives and rebates for tourism businesses that bring foreign currency into Nepal. The panel has proposed policy and institutional initiatives to expand regional and international connectivity from Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport.
The panel has also identified wellness tourism as an emerging opportunity and plans to conduct research and publish studies on Nepal’s potential before promoting the country as an international wellness destination. In addition, it has proposed policy discussions with airlines and other stakeholders for off-season airfare subsidies to encourage travel during periods of lower tourist demand.
3. Establish a Dedicated Tourist Bus Park
The panel has pledged to continue efforts to establish a separate and properly managed tourist bus park for tourism vehicles. It plans to coordinate with the relevant government agencies to identify suitable parking areas and develop an organized system for tourism vehicles. The initiative is aimed at improving the management of tourist transportation, easing parking-related difficulties and creating a more efficient experience for tourism operators and visitors.
4. Expand International Tourism Promotion
The Bhandari group plans to make Nepal’s international tourism promotion more effective through stronger Sales Missions, Road Shows and Business-to-Business (B2B) programmes. The panel has also proposed upgrading NATTA’s participation in international tourism fairs and continuing the Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) initiated by the association. The programme will focus on creating stronger business connections with international buyers and promoting Nepal’s tourism products and destinations in key overseas markets.
5. Establish NATTA Legal and Financial Help Desk
To address the practical difficulties faced by members, the panel has proposed establishing a dedicated “Legal & Financial Help Desk” within NATTA. The help desk would provide members with necessary consultation, facilitation and support on legal and financial matters affecting their businesses. The panel believes the initiative would provide travel agencies with a dedicated institutional mechanism for seeking guidance and addressing business-related challenges.
6. Resolve IATA and Ticketing-Related Problems
The panel has identified IATA and international ticketing issues as another major area requiring institutional intervention. It has pledged to strengthen coordination with relevant agencies to address problems related to IATA bank guarantees, ticketing, void charges, non-refundable tickets and commissions. The group plans to advocate for mandatory capping facilities for travel agencies that maintain IATA bank guarantees.
It also aims to make international air tickets more commissionable and seek solutions to commission-related challenges affecting travel agencies. The panel has further proposed coordination to address unnecessary legal complications faced by travel agencies when passengers are deported, arguing that businesses should not face disproportionate consequences for circumstances beyond their control.
7. Accelerate Digital Transformation and Member Services
Digital transformation is another major component of the Bhandari panel’s agenda. It plans to fully implement digital infrastructure within NATTA and integrate information, services, complaints, suggestions and member communication into a single system.
The panel also plans to establish platforms such as NATTA Podcast and Tourism Dialogue to create a continuous channel of communication between the association, its members and the government. Through a permanent government-industry dialogue mechanism, the panel aims to ensure that problems raised by members reach the relevant authorities promptly and that responses can be monitored more effectively.
8. Promote Nepal Through Diplomatic Networks and Soft Power
The panel plans to strengthen cooperation with foreign missions and Nepali embassies abroad to promote Nepal as a tourism destination. It aims to use Nepal’s culture, arts, cuisine and hospitality as soft-power tools to increase the country’s international tourism visibility.
The panel has also proposed organizing Familiarization (FAM) Trips for influential personalities, travel bloggers, journalists and diplomats. Such programmes would allow international influencers and tourism stakeholders to experience Nepal’s destinations firsthand and potentially expand the country’s reach in international markets.
9. Facilitate Luxury Tourist Vehicle Imports
The Bhandari panel has proposed policy reforms to encourage the use of high-quality vehicles in Nepal’s tourism industry. It plans to advocate for a system under which the approximately 300% customs duty and other charges applicable to luxury tourist vehicle imports could be paid in instalments over five years, rather than requiring the entire amount to be paid at once. The panel argues that such an arrangement could make it easier for tourism businesses to invest in modern and high-quality vehicles, improving transportation standards and the overall tourist experience.
10. Address Outbound Tourism and Cross-Border Travel Challenges
The final agenda focuses on resolving policy, foreign exchange, payment and other practical difficulties affecting Nepal’s outbound tour operators. The panel has pledged to coordinate with relevant government agencies to find long-term solutions to challenges faced by businesses operating outbound tours.
Special attention has been given to outbound tourism to Bhutan, Tibet and the Kailash Mansarovar region, where Nepali travel businesses face various policy, payment and operational difficulties. The panel plans to advocate for their facilitation and seek sustainable solutions through coordination with the concerned authorities.
Dhakal Highlights 5P Vision for NATTA
Krishna Prasad Dhakal, a tourism entrepreneur with nearly two decades of industry experience and Chairman of Desire Nepal Treks, Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd., is contesting for NATTA General Secretary from Yubika Bhandari’s panel for the 2026–2028 election.
His vision is centered on five pillars: People, Promotion, Policy, Partnership and Prosperity. Under People, he aims to build a member-centric NATTA that prioritizes members’ interests and participation. Promotion focuses on expanding Nepal’s tourism presence in existing and emerging international markets, while Policy emphasizes strong, evidence-based advocacy for tourism-friendly laws and policies.
Through Partnership, Dhakal plans to strengthen collaboration among the government, private sector and national and international tourism organizations. Prosperity focuses on improving members’ professional capacity, competitiveness and business growth. Dhakal said he aims to strengthen NATTA as a transparent, accountable and result-oriented institution that can provide stronger leadership in tourism policy, business development and international tourism relations.
Focus on Youth, Women and Professional Capacity
Beyond the 10-point agenda, Bhandari has emphasized strengthening the professional capacity of the tourism industry and creating greater opportunities for young and women tourism entrepreneurs. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience in the tourism sector and leadership roles within NATTA, she has said the organization needs to embrace innovation, technology and new tourism products to remain competitive. Her broader vision includes expanding heritage, wellness, Buddhist and community-based tourism while strengthening international partnerships and encouraging technology-driven travel businesses.
Bhandari Panel for the 25th Executive Committee
The NATTA election is scheduled to coincide with the association’s 59th Annual General Meeting and election of its 25th Executive Committee on Shrawan 29. The panel is led by Yubika Bhandari as president. The proposed office-bearers are Varun Mehta as Senior Vice President, Dhak Nath Kafle as Vice President, Krishna Prasad Dhakal as General Secretary, Shraddha Joshi as Secretary, Rama Kumari Pyakurel as Treasurer and Bidur Khatiwada as Joint Treasurer. For executive committee member positions, the panel has fielded Pradeep Prasad Udaya, Bibash Poudel, Shree Ram Thapa, Smarika Thapa, Sanket Dahal, Dr. Umesh Gupta, Hom Bahadur Pariyar and Rajendra Prasad Tripathi.
Towards a More Modern and Competitive NATTA
The Bhandari-led panel has said its overall objective is to transform NATTA into a more modern, transparent, digitally enabled and effective representative organization. By combining policy advocacy, improved member services, international market expansion, digital transformation, professional capacity building and stronger government-private sector collaboration, the panel aims to make NATTA a more influential institution in shaping Nepal’s tourism policies and business environment.
