Stakeholders urge inclusion of insurance, fake rescue controls in Tourism Bill

KATHMANDU: Stakeholders from Nepal’s tourism sector have urged the inclusion of a range of provisions in the proposed Tourism Bill, 2081 BS, including measures on insurance and controls on fraudulent rescue operations.

Speaking at a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, representatives called for comprehensive policies to support the overall development of the tourism industry. Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) President Phur Gelje Sherpa said the association has a network of 2,260 climbers, workers and others engaged in tourism promotion and emphasised the need to tackle the sector’s problems holistically.

Sumnima Udas, chairperson of International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives, speaks at the committee meeting in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, on Monday, August 24, 2026. Photo: RSS

Lawmakers and stakeholders attend the meeting of International Relations and Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, on Monday, August 24, 2026. Photo: RSS

Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) President Sagar Pandey said more than 300,000 tourists undertake trekking in Nepal each year and urged lawmakers to draft laws that support promotion and sustainable development of the trekking sector. Everest (Sagarmatha) climber Maya Sherpa said the state should ensure the protection and welfare of climbers and proposed the establishment of a "Climbers Fund".

Representatives from the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA), Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), Expedition Operators Association Nepal (EOA‑Nepal) and other tourism organisations also presented views and suggestions on the proposed bill. The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Sumnima Udas.

By RSS