Key Takeaways:

• Tourism organisations agreed to establish a Nepal Tourism Federation
• Federation aims to strengthen coordination and advocacy across the sector
• Stakeholders called for an investment-friendly and sustainable Tourism Act
• Industry urged stronger disaster support after the Aug. 26 Bhotekoshi flood

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 5 Nepal's leading tourism organisations have agreed to establish a Nepal Tourism Federation, creating a common platform to address sector-wide challenges, improve coordination among agencies and strengthen the industry's collective voice. The decision was taken during a meeting of heads and representatives of tourism-related organisations on Sunday evening under the chairmanship of Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN). According to participants, the proposed federation is intended to promote greater cooperation among tourism stakeholders and provide a unified mechanism to raise common concerns and pursue collective solutions. Representatives of the Nepal Tourism Board, Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal and Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) attended the meeting. The initiative comes as the government prepares to introduce a new Tourism Act aimed at modernising Nepal's tourism sector. Tourism stakeholders stressed that the proposed legislation should reflect Nepal's geographical, natural and cultural realities, as well as the operational needs of tourism businesses and international best practices. Participants said the new law should promote practical, inclusive, investment-friendly, safe and sustainable tourism development. The meeting also discussed the August 26 floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system and paid tribute to Nepali and foreign nationals who lost their lives in the disaster. Representatives urged the government and concerned agencies to intensify search and rescue efforts for people still missing and provide appropriate relief and compensation to families of tourism workers who died or remain unaccounted for. The meeting also decided to call on the government to establish an international-level memorial park in memory of victims of the Aug. 26 disaster. Private sector representatives further discussed the budget and programmes of the Nepal Tourism Board, urging a more tourism-friendly, business-friendly and results-oriented approach. They said tourism promotion should be evaluated through measurable outcomes rather than expenditure alone, with greater emphasis on market research, international marketing and the use of digital and artificial intelligence technologies. Participants also highlighted the need to expand into new international markets, develop new tourism destinations and products, and link promotional spending to measurable performance indicators amid increasing global competition. The proposed federation is expected to serve as a common platform for industry stakeholders as Nepal seeks to strengthen tourism recovery, improve policy coordination and enhance the sector's competitiveness in international markets.