Nepal Celebrates 46th World Tourism Day

16 Mar 2026 2 min to read

The 46th World Tourism Day was celebrated grandly today in Kathmandu, the Capital city of Nepal, with strong messages from the RT. Honorable Prime Minister Sushila Karki and other stakeholders affirming that Nepal is an open, safe, and attractive tourist destination.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) and supported by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), the celebratory program was held at the NTB Hall in Bhrikuti Mandap. During the event, speakers noted that Nepal has quickly recovered from the disruptions caused by the Gen-Z movement.

In her written message, the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Karki emphasized the importance of developing Nepal’s mountain tourism as a full-fledged industry. “Nepal, incredibly rich in unique natural beauty, biodiversity, multi-ethnic and multilingual culture, and home to the world-renowned Himalayas, is a highly attractive destination for tourists,” she stated, “It is essential to establish tourism as a strong foundation of the national economy. To earn foreign currency, create employment opportunities, and boost income, it is crucial to identify, promote, and develop underexplored tourist destinations.”

MoCTCA Secretary, Mr. Hari Prasad Mainali, remarked that the advancement of Nepal’s mountain tourism is impossible without the active involvement and support of the private sector. “I highly appreciate the private sector for its initiative in reviving Nepal’s tourism industry after the setbacks caused by the Gen-Z movement,” he added, “The revival of Nepal’s tourism sector cannot be achieved without its support.”

One of the event’s key speakers, NMA President Mr. Phur Gelje Sherpa, expressed that Nepali envoys posted abroad should also be entrusted with promoting Nepal’s tourism as part of their official duties. “It would be highly effective to invite all Nepali ambassadors back to Nepal, brief them on tourism priorities, and assign them the responsibility of promoting Nepal in their respective countries. We should also provide them with the necessary information and support,” he suggested.

The event, organized under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” also featured the recognition of individuals and organizations for their contributions to the advancement of Nepal’s tourism sector. Among the honorees were, Mr. Siddhi Bahadur Tamang, the first person in the world to summit Mt. K2 seven times, and Mr. Ang Norbu Sherpa, for his significant contributions to the development of Nepal’s mountain tourism. Both were recommended for recognition by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).