Key Takeaways:
- 58 lawmakers filed 263 amendments under House Rule 114
- Everest proposals range from prior climbs above 7,000m to multiple 8,000m summits
- Foreign climbers may face quotas, mandatory acclimatisation in Nepal and permit auctions
- Adventure tourism expanded to 20+ activities with ISO-aligned safety standards
- Casino reforms include a new Casino Regulatory Unit, audits, ownership rules and AML checks
Fifty-eight lawmakers have jointly registered 263 amendments to the Tourism Bill, 2081, proposing far-reaching reforms across Nepal's tourism sector, including stricter Everest climbing requirements, a new tourism regulator, casino sector restructuring, stronger environmental safeguards and expanded adventure tourism regulations.
The amendments, filed under House Rule 114 and endorsed by Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal for discussion, target almost every chapter of the bill, which was unanimously passed by the National Assembly in February and is now awaiting clause-wise deliberation by the House committee.
Everest rules and mountaineering under scrutiny
One of the most debated issues concerns eligibility criteria for climbers seeking to summit Mt Everest and other 8,000-metre peaks.
Suggestions range from requiring climbers to have previously summited at least one 7,000-metre peak in Nepal and completed mandatory training and health checks, to stricter provisions demanding experience on both 7,000-metre and 8,000-metre mountains. Some proposals call for anyone attempting an 8,000-metre peak to first complete multiple climbs above 6,000m and 7,000m, while the most stringent recommendation would require Everest aspirants to have climbed one 7,000-metre peak and two 8,000-metre peaks. At the other end, a more lenient proposal seeks only prior experience on two smaller or medium-altitude mountains before attempting Everest.
Several amendments also seek tighter regulation of expeditions, including limiting climbing to government-designated peaks, requiring foreign climbers to use Nepal-licensed agencies, mandating acclimatisation within Nepal, and introducing climber quotas based on a mountain's carrying capacity and weather conditions. Another proposal calls for permits within the quota to be allocated through a bidding system.
On workforce welfare, lawmakers have proposed reserving all expedition roles-including guides, sirdars, support staff, cooks and media personnel-for Nepali citizens, ensuring salaries are paid through Nepali banks with tax deductions at source. Other recommendations include limiting loads carried by support workers above base camp, guaranteeing workers the right to refuse unsafe assignments, introducing a national certification system for mountain workers, and setting minimum wages in line with government labour standards.
Trekking and adventure tourism expansion
The amendments also seek to modernise trekking and adventure tourism regulations by clearly defining categories such as trekking agencies, mountain guides, porters and support workers.
Lawmakers have proposed expanding the list of officially recognised adventure activities to include skiing, heli-skiing, bungee jumping, canyoning, ultralight flights, mountain biking, kayaking, parasailing, sky-walking, cave exploration and mountain marathons, among others.
Several amendments call for mandatory safety standards aligned with international norms, compulsory inspections before licensing, and the requirement that tourists on designated high-risk routes be accompanied by licensed Nepali guides or porters.
Porter welfare has also featured prominently, with proposals to cap loads at 20 kilograms and reduce the limit to 15 kilograms above 3,500 metres.
Casino sector faces overhaul proposals
The casino chapter has attracted a wide range of amendments, including calls to remove casino provisions from the Tourism Bill altogether and regulate the sector through separate legislation.
Other proposals seek the creation of an independent Casino Regulatory Unit (CRU) to oversee the industry instead of the Department of Tourism.
Lawmakers have also suggested stricter ownership and licensing requirements, audits of outstanding casino dues, mandatory cybersecurity assessments, anti-money laundering compliance measures and public disclosure of beneficial ownership.
Some amendments propose allowing the government to designate specialised "Casino Zones" or "Casino Villages" following feasibility studies.
Stronger waste management and sustainability measures
Environmental protection is another major theme of the amendments.
Proposals include a "Zero Waste Policy" requiring digital tracking of equipment and waste carried into mountain regions, refundable environmental deposits to ensure waste retrieval and a ban on single-use plastics in mountaineering areas.
Lawmakers have also proposed waste-processing facilities near major base camps, mandatory removal of ropes and ladders after climbing seasons, restrictions on drones and helicopters above 6,000 metres, and stronger accountability for trekking agencies regarding waste disposal and recovery operations.
Additional provisions advocate carbon-neutral Himalayan tourism, protection of natural and heritage rivers, and energy-efficiency standards for tourism establishments.
New tourism authority proposed
Among the most significant institutional reforms is a proposal to establish an autonomous Nepal Tourism Authority by restructuring the Department of Tourism and separating regulatory functions from promotional activities.
Other governance-related amendments include the creation of a Tourism Development Fund, a Tourism Ombudsman, a public licence registry and blockchain-based record-keeping systems for permits and rescue operations.
Infrastructure, hospitality and new tourism products
The proposed changes also call for a unified digital portal integrating tourism-related permits within 18 months, improved standards for tourist infrastructure and updated regulations for tourist transport services.
In the hospitality sector, lawmakers have proposed stricter hotel classification standards, transparent pricing requirements, measures against false star ratings and longer licence validity periods.
New tourism products suggested for inclusion in the law include digital nomad visas, astro-tourism, dark-sky tourism, glamping, birth tourism, heritage tourism, peace tourism and community-based cultural experiences.
House committee to review amendments
The 263 amendments, many of which overlap or contradict one another, will now be reviewed by the parliamentary tourism committee before the bill returns to the House for further deliberation.
Until Parliament completes the amendment process, the version of the Tourism Bill passed by the National Assembly remains unchanged and none of the proposed provisions have legal effect.
