KATHMANDU, JANUARY 20

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCT- CA) has amended the provision of the ratings for hotel industry.

According to the amended provision, which was made public today, hotels operated in the national parks and Himalayan districts will be able to be categorised as star-rated hotels even if they have fewer rooms.

According to the ministry, such provision has been introduced by changing the classification and criteria of hotels, resorts, tourist lodges, motels and bed and breakfast. This provision will be applicable for new hotels only. The ministry has stated that the ratings of old hotels will remain the same.

The new provision will be implemented on hotels opened in protected areas, national parks, wildlife reserves and mountainous districts outside the Kathmandu valley.

As per the new criteria, hotels in the aforementioned areas will be rated star hotels even if they only have seven rooms.

Prior to this, 15 rooms were mandatory to be recognised as one-star hotel.

The criteria have been revised to 15 rooms for two-star hotels, 22 for three-star, 30 for four-star, 40 for five-star and 50 rooms for five-star deluxe hotels.

Entrepreneurs had been saying that there was a problem in constructing hotels with a large number of rooms in challenging terrains. Addressing this issue, the ministry has amended the criteria.

Meanwhile, the criteria introduced last year related to the Nepali menu will be applicable for such star-rated hotels.

That is, such star-rated hotels should be able to provide native Nepali food if the guests demand it. Adding to this criteria, the government has said, “In the case of a four-star hotel or higher, it will be necessary to provide a complimentary oneday meal along with lunch and dinner.”