TAAN, NiB-GA sign MoU to develop wellness tourism in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal in Business Growth Advisors (NiB-GA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop wellness tourism in Nepal.

The agreement, signed on Sunday, aims to develop, package and promote wellness trekking circuits in high Himalayan destinations identified as strategic health locations under the National Health Tourism Action Plan 2026–2030, prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The MoU was signed by TAAN President Sagar Pandey and NiB-GA Team Lead Ratish Basnyat. NiB-GA, run by Dai Global UK with financial support from the UK Agency for International Development, has been working with the Government of Nepal and private sector partners to formulate and implement a national wellness tourism strategy.

Under the agreement, the Annapurna Trekking Circuit will be branded, packaged and promoted as a wellness trekking circuit. “A list of four principal health‑tourism products and services for the Annapurna circuit — yoga and meditation; spiritual and natural therapies; Ayurveda; and spa and massage — will be prepared and potential health products and activities identified and branded,” TAAN Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ram Chandra Sedai said.

Promotion and marketing programmes targeting national and international markets are planned to begin in early 2027. Based on the Annapurna initiative, wellness trekking circuits, products and activities will be gradually identified, developed and promoted in other hilly and mountainous destinations including Limi Valley, Rara, Dolpa, Manaslu, Langtang, Helambu, Lapchi, Rolwaling, Khumbu, Khempalung (Arun) and Kanchenjunga.

The United Nations has declared April 15 as International Wellness Day following an initiative by the Government of Nepal. The government has also announced a campaign to mark 2027 as Nepal Wellness Year in its annual policy, programme and budget for fiscal year 2026/27.

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