Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) visited hotels and restaurants in the different parts of the valley on Monday, March 23, to promote hygiene/ safety and self quarantine guidelines released by the Ministry of Health. During the visit the teams also collected information regarding the ongoing safety measures taken, guest status and others. The visits were conducted in an effort to create awareness on the spread of Corona Virus and mitigate the chances of the global pandemic COVID-19 in the country. The visits were carried out to ensure proper implementation of the ‘Hygiene Guidelines for the Restaurants and Hotels in the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 Virus’ and ‘Rules for Self - Quarantine for Guests Staying at Hotel/ Home stay in Nepal’ issued by the Government. Various federations and travel/ hotel associations have extended support in this initiative. NTB formed various groups and mobilized its staff in various tourist destinations/ places of Kathmandu Valley. The teams visited tourist areas including Thamel, Jhamsikhel, Buspark, Sundhara and Budhanilkantha among others inside the valley. NTB has also deployed its officials for the same at office in Pokhara, Province 4, and information centers in Gaddachauki, Kakadbhitta and Bhairahawa. Several travel/ hotel associations and groups […]

Nepal Tourism Board Press Release UNDP Team and NTB CEO Dr. Dhananjay Regmi Discuss COVID-19 Impact Assessment Kathmandu March 17, 2020 A team of UNDP Nepal met with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Dr. Dhananjay Regmi at NTB Office on Tuesday afternoon, March 17, to discuss about the impact of Global pandemic Corona virus in the tourism and travel industry of Nepal. The discussion dwelt on the assessment of situation issues and mobilization of resources to respond to the socio-economic impact in the Tourism industry. Saying UNDP Nepal has prioritized tourism industry this year, Resident Representative Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labe expressed commitment to assist NTB in strengthening the industry at the time of crisis and further joining hands on future projects to enhance the possibilities of the tourism industry in Nepal. UNDP has also been extending its support to NTB on developing Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to strengthen and harmonize tourism statistics to help measure the contribution of tourism in various sectors and also inform evidence-based decision making. CEO Regmi warmly welcomed the team’s approach. Briefing the UNDP team about how badly the COVID-19 outbreak has hit the tourism and other relevant industries, Chief Executive Regmi expressed […]

In the wake of huge impact of WHO-declared pandemic - Coronavirus outbreak, which is spreading on a massive scale across the world and causing a huge loss in the sector of travel and tourism in the country since mid-February 2020, a meeting with the representatives of travel associations was organized at the Ministry of Defense, Singhadurbar on Monday, 16 March. The meeting was graced by Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and High-level Committee Coordinator Ishwar Pokhrel, and coordinated by the ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation MOCTCA and concerned agencies. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai introduced agenda of the meeting, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board Dr. Dhananjay Regmi briefed Honorable DPM Pokharel about the problems encountered by travel and hotel entrepreneurs. The demands and suggestions includes as following: Making provision of Concessional Loan Facilities to all sectors of tourism like hotels, travel agency, tourist vehicle and all the other related tourism businesses, Making provision for re-scheduling of the entire loan extended to the tourism sector and provide Concessional Demand-Loan for all. Also, make provision for the payment if the term loan including the principle after 1 year only. Make provision to […]

COVID-19 Situation Update #5 Urgent Notice Regarding Travel Restriction Related to COVID-19 Kathmandu | 13 March, 2020 Government of Nepal has decided to put into effect the following decisions, directions as precautionary measures following the COVID-19 outbreak. The provisions enlisted in this notice will come into effect from midnight of 14th March 2020 (Saturday midnight) till 30th April 2020. (Source: Department of Immigration) The provision of On-arrival visa to all foreign nationals has been suspended for aforementioned period. All foreigners with a prior visa will need to submit a PCR Swab test certificate issued maximum 7 days before their arrival to Nepal and have to submit at the immigration office at the Tribhuwan International airport. Any foreign nationals including NRNs willing to visit Nepal for compelling reasons may contact Nepali diplomatic missions abroad. A recent PCR Swab test certificate issued maximum 7 days before their arrival to Nepal is mandatory along with visa application and it has to be submitted at the immigration office at the Tribhuwan International airport. On arrival visa (Gratis), facility to Non- Resident Nepalese is also suspended for the aforementioned period. All passengers (Tourists/Expats/Diplomats/students and with official visa) entering Nepal from 14 March, 2020 are subjected […]

Kathmandu March 11, 2020 Nepal Tourism Board is continuously monitoring the information updates regarding COVID-19 for Nepal to maintain the official information dissemination. The latest updates are: Department of Immigration, Nepal has included 3 more countries Spain, Germany and France to the list of countries for which there will be temporary suspension of On-Arrival Visa. The total number of listed countries is now 8 including China including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France, Germany and Spain. They are as per the global recommendation and measures of World Health Organization. (Source: http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np) The suspension of On-Arrival Visa facility shall be effective from 10th March for China including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Italy, & Iran. Whereas, for Germany, Spain and France, the rule will be applicable from 13th March 2020. (Source: http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np) However, nationals from these countries and all travellers coming from these countries, willing to visit Nepal can obtain visa beforehand from the respective Nepali Missions abroad. Those applicants including the nationals transiting from these countries bound to arrive Nepal are required to submit a recently issued health certificate stating that they are not infected by COVID-19 along with their visa applications. This document will be scrutinized both […]

Government of Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs Department of Immigration Kathmandu, March 9, 2020 (21:30 hrs)

COVID-19 Situation Update #3 Kathmandu, March 6, 2020 Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has brought into operation a Crisis Hotline: +977 9851254666, and Email: crisiscell@ntb.org.np to address all the relevant queries regarding COVID-19 Health desks for Corona virus test have been established at 37 entry points around Nepal-India Border and various domestic airports across the nation as a precautionary measure Five hospitals in Pokhara have been identified for isolation centres. The hospitals include Gandaki Medical College, Charak Memorial Hospital, Green Pastures Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Science and Manipal Teaching Hospital International airlines have reduced flights operating to and from China as below:  

An interaction and awareness program on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) status in Nepal was organized for the private sector tourism industry of Nepal by the Department of Tourism in coordination with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The program was focused on giving information including facts and figures related to COVID-19. According to the Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Nepal has adopted all precautionary and safety measures to contain the virus and stay updated on the matter. He said so far only one person tested positive for Corona Virus, and the person was quarantined and released only after he tested negative. There have been no further cases to date, as per the official information. Similarly, safety measures and screening process are ongoing and intact at entry points and the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), while the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku is well-equipped to handle if such cases should be registered. Hon’ble CEO of NTB Dr. Dhananjay Regmi also made a short presentation on the communication updates given by NTB in the present Corona crisis to facilitate Nepal’s private tourism sector. Similarly, health professionals gave details of personal precautions to be taken and the risks and challenges while the private […]

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) held a meeting with the Presidents and representatives of Travel Trade Association of Nepal along with other line institutions of MoCTCA at the Ministry Amid to address the ongoing crisis created with the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and to understand the plight faced by the respective stakeholders in order to tackle the crisis together. The meeting also dwelt on the effect of the miscommunication and colossal spread of rumors regarding the disease and emphasized the need for authentic information dissemination from the concerned body only. To address all suggestions and issues, Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Yogesh Bhattarai informed that a high-level committee has been formed comprising the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Minister of Finance, Minister of Health and Population, Minister for Home Affairs, and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development under the coordination of Deputy Prime Minister which will be taking major and fast decisions pertaining to the crisis and preparation.

COVID-19 Situation Update #2 Kathmandu, March 3, 2020 Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) would like to apprise all concerned about the series of measures implemented by the Government of Nepal to reduce imported cases and the community transmission of the COVID19 (Wuhan Coronavirus) in Nepal. The Government of Nepal is monitoring the spread of Corona Virus (COVID-19). Taking into account the global recommendations and measure of the WHO, Government of Nepal has decided to temporarily suspend visa-on-arrival for the nationals of the following countries, effective from March 10, 2020 to till the date of further notice: People’s Republic of China, including Special Administrative Regions Islamic Republic of Iran Italy Republic of Korea Japan However, those wanting to travel to Nepal can obtain visa beforehand from the Nepal Mission abroad. Applicants in these countries are required to submit a recently issued health certificate with the visa application. (Source: www.nepalimmigration.gov.np) The Tribhuvan International Airport, which is the only international point of entry by air, has stepped up screening measures using additional thermal scanners, thermal guns, sanitizing spray and an increase in the number of health assistants. (source: Ministry of Health and Population) A new provision of announcement has started at the arrival section […]