Himalayan Trail Walker

General Information on Nepal's Tourism Sector

The following information aims to broaden knowledge about Nepal's tourism sector, its challenges, developments, and strategic plans.

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Nepal, a country renowned for its rich biodiversity, unique cultural heritage, and diverse geographical terrains, has immense potential to become a global tourist hub. However, the expansion of the tourism industry faces several challenges. Inadequate tourism infrastructure, lack of effective promotion, and the inability to identify and develop new tourist destinations have hindered the sector's progress. Currently, tourism contributes around 6% to the GDP and provides direct employment to around 2 lakh individuals. Targeting tourists from neighboring countries could significantly boost the sector's growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism activities, but recent progress has been evident, with tourist arrivals increasing to 614,869 in 2022. A decade-long tourism development plan (2025-2032) is now in place. Additionally, master plans such as the Greater Lumbini and Ramgram Masterplans have been prepared. Nepal's National Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025 aims to attract over 2.5 million annual tourists by 2025.

In 2022, the average tourist stay in Nepal was 13.1 days, with a daily expenditure of 40.5 USD. Most tourists (64.7%) visited for vacations, followed by 12.9% for pilgrimage, 10% for mountaineering and adventure travel, and 12.4% for other purposes. The majority of tourists came from India (34.1%), the USA (12.5%), and Britain (7.3%).

Constitutional Provisions

Nepal’s Constitution of 2015 emphasizes tourism under Article 51(l), which outlines the policy to:

• Develop an environmentally friendly tourism industry as a foundation of the national economy.
• Identify, protect, promote, and publicize historical, cultural, religious, archaeological, and natural heritage sites.
• Ensure local communities benefit from the tourism industry.

Legal Framework

Key legal and policy provisions supporting Nepal's tourism sector include:

• Tourism Policy 2065
• Tourism Act 2035
• Tourism Board Act 2053
• Aviation Policy 2063
• Cultural Policy 2067

Other Initiatives

• Air service agreements with various countries.
• Coordination with international partners.
• Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, along with its departments and offices.
• Nepal Tourism Board.
• Tourist Police for visitor safety.
• Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management.
• The decision to celebrate Visit Nepal Year 2020.
• Museums across Nepal showcasing the country's heritage.

16th Periodic Plan (FY 2081/82–2085/86)

Goals and Programmes:

• Promotion of tourism and health tourism.
• Development and strengthening of tourism infrastructure.
• By FY 2085/86:
  • Achieve 2.5 million annual tourist arrivals.
  • Increase average tourist stay to 15 days.
  • Raise average daily tourist spending to 85 USD.
  • Improve the Visit and Tourism Index to 4.
  • Expand air transport agreements to 48 countries.

Nepal's efforts to address these challenges and implement strategic plans reflect its commitment to unlocking the full potential of its tourism sector.