40 results for "Tourism"
Nepali mountaineer and outdoor educator Jagan Nath Timilsina has received the 2026 NOLS Alaska Merit Award for his work as an instructor and role model in outdoor education.
Nepal’s first podway project to advance through the formal development process is moving forward in Biratnagar, beginning with an approximately 7-km pilot corridor between Rani and Biratnagar Bus Park estimated to cost around Rs 600 Crore. Kathmandu Podway has submitted the required performance guarantee and is moving into the Detailed Project Report stage, while the longer-term vision is to extend the system toward Bhedetar.
Nepal is quickly changing the way people pay, with QR codes becoming a familiar part of everyday life, from tea shops to larger businesses. Digital payments are growing rapidly, while cash remains important for many people. As Nepal moves toward a more connected financial system, the bigger challenge will be making digital payments safe, simple, and accessible to everyone.
Nepal recorded 88,248 international tourist arrivals in September 2026, a 12.1% increase from the same month last year, with India remaining the largest source market and Chinese arrivals surging by 114.1%. However, arrivals from Europe, the Americas and Oceania declined, highlighting uneven growth across Nepal’s major tourism markets.
Himalaya Airlines launched direct flights between Kathmandu and Hangzhou, China, on September 30, 2026, with two weekly services aimed at strengthening tourism, trade, and travel between the two countries. The inaugural return flight brought 154 Chinese tourists to Nepal, while the airline plans to expand its services based on passenger demand.
Aloft by Marriott Kathmandu Thamel has been named Nepal’s Leading Hotel 2026 at the World Travel Awards, securing the title for the third consecutive year. The award was announced at the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony in the Maldives on September 27, adding another international recognition to Nepal’s hospitality industry.
Nepal has posted several strong results in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, ranking 4th globally for Price Competitiveness, 6th for Travel & Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions, and 9th among the world’s fastest-improving economies.
Nepalis spent a combined Rs 209 billion on overseas education and foreign travel in fiscal year 2025/26, according to Ministry of Finance data, as more students pursue education abroad and international travel grows.
Nepali pilot Captain Sarbjeet Yadav was at the controls of flydubai’s inaugural scheduled Dubai–Pokhara service on September 23, flying a Boeing 737 MAX 8 into Pokhara International Airport. According to reports, Yadav began his professional aviation career in 2008, joined flydubai in 2022 and became a captain in 2025.
Butwal has successfully completed its first paragliding test flight, flying from Nuwakot Danda in Palpa and safely landing at Belbas Badelpokhari in Butwal. The project has now passed the test-flight stage, with commercial operations planned after the remaining technical, safety and administrative requirements are completed.
Kathmandu's Polluted air is costing lives, health and money. Air pollution costs Nepal over 6% of GDP annually, while Kathmandu Valley alone faces an estimated $1.25 billion yearly health burden.
The Dwarika’s Kathmandu and Dwarika’s Sanctuary in Dhulikhel have retained their One MICHELIN Key recognition in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide after first receiving it in 2025. With Shinta Mani Mustang joining the selection this year, Nepal now has three One MICHELIN Key hotels.
Luxury resort Shinta Mani Mustang has received One MICHELIN Key in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection, placing Nepal’s high-end tourism sector on an international platform. The recognition highlights the property’s unique design, service, location, and guest experience while bringing global attention to Mustang as a luxury travel destination.
Hidden in the high Himalayas of eastern Nepal, Kenzo (Padamchal) is a rare and extraordinary flowering plant that grows only in cold, high-altitude environments. With its unusual pyramid-like shape, traditional importance, and limited habitat, the flower has become both a natural treasure and a growing symbol of Himalayan conservation and eco-tourism.
The Nepal government has officially declared the Ram-Janaki Temple area in Janakpurdham a Protected Monument Zone, setting defined boundaries around the historic religious area and bringing development inside the zone under stricter heritage-protection rules. The decision is also an important step in Nepal’s long-running effort to strengthen the case for Janaki Temple’s future inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The Nimsdai Foundation’s Lobuche Porter House in Nepal has been shortlisted for the Community Impact Award at the National Charity Today Awards 2026, recognizing its efforts to improve conditions for Himalayan porters. Built at an altitude of over 5,000 metres in the Everest region, the facility provides a safer resting place and support system for the mountain workers who play a vital role in Nepal’s climbing and trekking industry.
Seven earthquakes in 24 hours damaged homes across Lo Manthang, leaving some uninhabitable. No human or livestock loss was reported, while Upper Mustang tourism, roads, trails, hotels and lodges remain open.
British travel creator Harry Jackson came to Nepal while riding a small motorcycle from Thailand toward the United Kingdom, but his unexpected arrival during the 2025 Gen Z uprising turned his travel camera into one of the international windows on a defining moment in Nepal’s recent history. A year later, as Nepal struggles with the devastation of the Rasuwa flood, Jackson has again used his international platform to acknowledge the disaster and help keep global attention on a country he once planned to simply pass through.
Manisha Koirala has appealed for continued international support for Nepal following the devastating floods, while calling for Nepal, India and China to work together against growing climate risks. She also urged international travellers not to turn away from Nepal, stressing that tourism remains an important source of income and recovery for the country.
Nepal's Rasuwa flood disaster has left 165 bodies recovered and 826 people missing as of around 8:15 AM Thursday, including 85 security personnel and 579 tourists, while 104 people have been rescued. Search operations continue across the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli-Narayani corridor as authorities work to locate the missing and scientists investigate a major glacial collapse and debris flow believed to have triggered the disaster.
The United States is preparing to cancel up to nearly 200,000 B-1 and B-2 visas held by foreign nationals who entered the country for business or tourism but later sought asylum, according to the report.
Centuries old Buddhist chortens across Upper Mustang, including structures in and around the ancient walled city of Lo Manthang, are in need of repair and stronger protection as age, natural disasters and changing development put the historic structures at risk. Local communities and conservation groups have been working to protect them, but residents say stronger and more organized support from the government is needed to save this important part of Mustang’s Buddhist heritage.
Nepal Telecom officially launched 4G mobile and internet service in the remote Badimalika area of Bajura on August 24, with the tower installed at Lauri Binayak at around 4,230 metres above sea level. The project required roughly 4,000 kg of equipment and materials to be transported by Nepal Army helicopter, bringing connectivity to pilgrims, tourists, local people and organizations in an area where communication had long been difficult.
Discover the sacred Mani walls of Nepal’s Himalayas, their Buddhist meaning, carved prayer stones, cultural importance, and traditions in Khumbu and Langtang.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah signed performance agreements with ministers at Singha Durbar on August 19, setting key work and expected results for the current fiscal year around good governance, social justice and prosperity. The move puts ministers under clearer performance commitments as the government seeks more measurable results and stronger accountability.
Upper Mustang’s historic Yartung Festival filled Lo Manthang with horse racing, traditional processions, cultural performances and religious ceremonies from August 17–19, with Jigme Sigme Parawal Bista joining the opening celebrations. The centuries-old festival marks the seasonal transition after the rains while communities pray for a good harvest, a peaceful winter and the continuation of Mustang’s distinctive Himalayan traditions.
Nepal government confirms the two-day weekly holiday will continue for now, citing work-life balance, cost savings, administrative efficiency and domestic tourism.
The government’s remote connectivity initiative has reached Bajura’s Badimalika, where Nepal Telecom has delivered equipment for 4G service using a Nepal Army helicopter due to challenging terrain and lack of road access.
Gatlang, Rasuwa has transformed a wildfire-damaged forest into an open-air digital library where visitors can scan QR codes to learn about forest restoration, biodiversity, and local heritage. The innovative project led by Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Forestry aims to preserve knowledge and inspire future generations through technology and nature.
A 22-foot-tall Shaligram sculpture now stands on the bank of the Kali Gandaki River in Jomsom, Mustang, after being unveiled in May as part of an initiative to strengthen the area's religious and cultural tourism. Created from a large Kali Gandaki stone during a sculpture initiative involving dozens of artists, the monument connects Jomsom's growing tourism identity with the centuries-old spiritual importance of Shaligram stones, which Hindus revere as manifestations of Lord Vishnu.
From Barpak, Gorkha, to the streets of Thamel and the trekking trails of Nepal, Tula Ram Ghale’s journey has been shaped by struggle, persistence and a decision to build his future at home. After 15 years in adventure tourism, he has now started Shoe Spa Nepal with a vision to develop a modern, inclusive and eco-friendly footwear care industry in Nepal.
Nepal has canceled the 17th International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) Conference following a government request. The event was expected to bring 720 delegates from 39 countries to Kathmandu.
Parliament Receives Long-Awaited Bill to Strengthen Passenger Rights, Airline Accountability, and Insurance Coverage
Nepali eye specialists have travelled to Bangladesh to provide free eye care services, helping hundreds of patients regain their vision through examinations and cataract surgeries.
Nepal welcomed 71,775 international visitors in July 2026, with tourist arrivals increasing 2.3 percent compared to the same month last year. South Asia contributed the highest share of visitors, while Nepal’s tourism recovery reached 95.8 percent of the pre-pandemic level.
Simrik Air’s subsidiary In Sky Skydiving has received full-time approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to operate regular skydiving services in Pokhara, opening a new chapter for Nepal’s adventure tourism sector. With an internationally licensed team and helicopter-based Himalayan skydiving experiences, the company aims to position Nepal as a global destination for extreme adventure activities.
Domestic airline passengers in Nepal could gain stronger compensation rights under a proposed law requiring airlines to pay when delays or cancellations result from the company’s own negligence.
Nepal's new online driving license system has launched with technical issues as the Department of Transport Management and Bagmati Province issue conflicting notices. New applications, category additions, and online services remain affected.
Shinta Mani Mustang has been ranked the world's number one luxury hotel in Robb Report's 2026 Best of the Best list, marking one of the biggest international achievements for Nepal's high-end tourism sector. The recognition highlights how Mustang has evolved into a world-class luxury destination, attracting global attention for its unique blend of Himalayan landscapes, cultural heritage, personalised hospitality, and wellness experiences.
Police in Pokhara have arrested two men accused of collecting money from people by advertising holiday trips to destinations across Asia and Europe through an allegedly fraudulent tourism business. Investigators say around 30 people paid a combined Rs 965,000, while 15 job seekers were reportedly recruited and used to support the operation.
