Thursday, June 26, 2025
At the bustling Himalayan Travel Mart 2025, Travel and Tour World’s Vijay Kumar had an in-depth conversation with Mr. Narendra Bhatt, General Secretary of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Nepal Chapter, discussing the evolving tourism landscape of Nepal.
“First of all, I welcome you to Kathmandu and the Himalayan Travel Mart,” said Mr. Bhatt. “This is the fifth edition, and the only major international tourism event in Kathmandu.”
The Mart brings together global buyers and Nepalese sellers—hotels, trekking agencies, travel companies—to interact, negotiate, and promote Nepal’s offerings. Due to the high cost of attending international events like WTM London or ITB Berlin, many Nepalese agents can’t participate. “So we bring the buyers here,” he said. “This way, even smaller agents benefit.”
Cross-Border Tourism and NICE Expo
In February, a landmark event was held in Pokhara: the NICE Expo—Nepal India China Expo.
“It was the first time such an event took place in Nepal’s history,” he said. “India and China are our giant neighbors. They send millions abroad. We must benefit too.”
The NICE Expo proved fruitful, with Indian and Chinese tour operators meeting and forming new collaborations. “We plan to repeat such events, maybe next year,” Bhatt added, mentioning possible events in Nepal’s Far Western and Eastern regions.
Tourism Infrastructure: Who’s Responsible?
On the topic of infrastructure, Bhatt clarified:
“Nepal Tourism Board is responsible only for marketing. Infrastructure is the government’s responsibility.”
While some road improvements are underway, air connectivity is also expanding. “Air India is starting flights to Hyderabad, Bangalore, besides Delhi and Mumbai. Indigo and Nepal Airlines are also increasing their flights,” he shared.
Kalash Mansarovar Yatra: Back on Track
Discussing the highly spiritual and adventurous Kalash Mansarovar Yatra, Bhatt proudly said:
“I’ve been organizing it since 1987. People call me the pioneer of Kalash Mansarovar tours.”
After COVID halted pilgrimages due to border closures, he said pressure was applied on both governments. “We expect the Tibet border to reopen for Indian pilgrims between June 20–25,” he revealed.
Two main routes exist:
- Overland: From Kathmandu to Tibet (10–14 days)
- Fly-In: Lucknow → Nepalgunj → Simikot → Hilsa → Tibet (9–11 days)
However, documentation is cumbersome due to Chinese visa requirements. “We’ve requested visa processing in Kathmandu to ease the burden,” he added.
Medical Tourism? Not Yet.
While medical tourism is trending globally, Bhatt noted:
“Nepal is not ready yet. Unlike India, we lack the hospital infrastructure and multilingual support systems.”
He acknowledged that in the future, Nepal might build such capacity, but for now, it’s premature.
Biggest Challenges and Opportunities
Among the biggest challenges, Bhatt pointed to:
- Geo-political disruptions (e.g., India-Pakistan tensions)
- Natural disasters
- Aircraft incidents
- Pandemics like COVID-19
“Small incidents make big global noise and bookings drop instantly.”
Opportunities, however, are abundant.
“Tourism is Nepal’s economic backbone. One tourist supports 9 people,” he emphasized. While tourism currently contributes ~4% of GDP, the potential is enormous.
Luxury Tourism & Hospitality Trends
Kathmandu is seeing a surge in luxury hotels, but Bhatt is cautious:
“High-end tourists need more than five-star hotels—they expect limousines, clean streets, top-notch services. We’re not fully ready.”
He warned that over-investment without studying tourist volume may create unsustainable competition among hotels.
Rise of Homestay Tourism
An exciting trend is the rise of community-based tourism:
“Earlier, only big companies benefited. Now, villagers offer homestays, organic food, and cultural experiences.”
Tourists prefer authentic rural experiences over city hotels, which fosters inclusive economic development.
Vision 2027: Quantity vs Quality
“We shouldn’t just chase numbers. Quality tourism matters.”
Though there’s a target of 3 million tourists by 2027, Bhatt says marketing and infrastructure must scale up. A national airline with long-haul flights could be a game-changer.
Conclusion
Nepal, blessed with Everest, the birthplace of Buddha, and vibrant culture, has all the ingredients to be a global tourism hub. With smarter policies, improved connectivity, and focus on inclusive development, the future looks promising.
