Over 107,000 ASEAN tourists visited Nepal ahead of 2026 Tourism Year.
Mukunda Niraula, the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, presided over the program. Anil Kumar Sinha, the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, was the ceremony’s principal guest. Shraddha Shrestha, the Minister of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, was the distinguished guest.
The commemoration of the “Nepal–ASEAN Tourism Year 2026” has been formally declared by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on its 27th anniversary. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Deepak Raj Joshi of NTB greeted the visitors at the inaugural ceremony and gave a particular plan aimed for 2026, emphasising ASEAN nations as a high-potential market for Nepal.
Over 107,000 tourists from ASEAN nations have already travelled to Nepal, according to CEO Joshi, making it a sizable and sustainable industry. “Brahmin and spiritual tourism, nature and adventure tourism, wellness and Ayurveda, as well as culture and community based tourism, will help Nepal establish a strong presence in the ASEAN market,” he said.
CEO Joshi also revealed that 1.16 million visitors are expected to go to Nepal in 2025, a about 3% rise from the year before. He went on to say that by 2025, there will be over 20 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events, 31 tourism marts, and 12 branding and corporate activities. Furthermore, since the Gen Z movement, 41 programs and development activities have already been implemented from the east to the far west of Nepal, along with 69 tourism infrastructure developments, live broadcasts from eight key tourist spots, and travel information in nine languages. “Tourism is a cross sector industry as well as a core sector,” Joshi stated.
In 2025, he added, 2,600 specialists from different industries would be trained. He added that in order to find potential, enhance quality, create jobs, and open up new markets, market based studies, policy level research, and sustainable tourism initiatives are being carried out on popular hiking routes including Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, and Api-Saipal. The program’s main guest, Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, commended the Nepal Tourism Board for its efforts to boost travel to Nepal and improve the nation’s reputation abroad. “Despite having limited funds and resources, the Tourism Board has accomplished a lot,” he said. The board plays a vital role in promoting sustainable development via tourism.
Nepal is a location to gather experiences, appreciate nature, and take in cultural diversity, according to Minister Shraddha Shrestha of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens. She also remembers working for the Nepal Tourism Board for twenty-one years. The chairman of the Nepal Tourism Board and secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mukunda Prasad Niraula, promised that he is prepared to address any legal or policy concerns impeding the nation’s efforts to promote tourism. Using the best technology and effective human resource management, he stressed that the board is ready to tackle the problems of marketing Nepal abroad. According to NTB Vice Chairman Ram Prasad Sapkota, the board is operating efficiently, concentrating on collaborating with the government and private sector to carry out beneficial initiatives. The Board’s Employee Union President, Santosh Bikram Thapa, emphasised the value of staffing needs, enhancing economic rules, and fostering career growth for staff members.
Additionally, the program saw the production of “In Focus,” the board’s yearly publication. The event featured performances and traditional dances from each of the seven provinces.
