Kathmandu, March 29: The newly formed government led by Balendra Shah has given special priority to the tourism sector in its ‘100 Agenda of Governance Reforms,’ aiming to strengthen a key pillar of the national economy.

The government plans to boost tourism by improving the investment environment, promoting private sector participation and accelerating infrastructure development. It will determine clear investment frameworks for national pride projects and major tourism initiatives registered with the Investment Board.

A ‘National Structural Project Pipeline’ will be launched within 90 days, categorizing projects into government-funded, public-private partnership or private investment models to speed up stalled tourism infrastructure projects.

To facilitate investors, a ‘one-stop approval system’ will be established under the Investment Board Nepal within a month, allowing domestic and foreign investors to receive approvals for large tourism projects such as hotels, resorts and adventure tourism within a fixed timeframe.

The reform agenda also includes a ‘one-stop business platform’ to integrate services like business registration, tax registration and bank account opening within 45 days through a fully digital and transparent system, eliminating the need for physical visits and intermediaries.

To rebuild confidence among tourism entrepreneurs, the government will implement a ‘Private Sector Protection and Promotion Strategy,’ focusing on physical security and protection of property. The Home Ministry is also set to develop a rapid response mechanism for tourist and industrial security within 30 days.

Additionally, a ‘Startup Fast Track’ system will be introduced for young entrepreneurs, allowing small tourism-related businesses to be registered within two days and operate with ease. The government will also review lending conditions to make financing more accessible.

The Finance Ministry and Nepal Rastra Bank are preparing a ‘Concession and Rehabilitation Package’ to support tourism and private businesses affected by recent disruptions, aiming to provide financial relief to struggling hotels and travel operators.

Through these measures, the government aims to make Nepal’s tourism sector more investment-friendly and send a strong message globally that the country is a safe and attractive destination for tourists and investors.