CNI Budget Watch on Tourism Sector
27 May 2026
The Confederation of Nepalese Industries organized a “CNI Budget Watch” program focused on the tourism sector, fostering a constructive public-private dialogue on the effective implementation of the national budget. The program brought together government stakeholders, tourism entrepreneurs, aviation representatives, and industry experts to discuss key priorities and opportunities for strengthening Nepal’s tourism industry.
Addressing the program, CNI President Birendra Raj Pandey emphasized that the Budget Watch initiative serves as an important platform to ensure effective implementation of budget announcements through continuous dialogue between the public and private sectors. He highlighted tourism as one of the key pillars of Nepal’s economy, with significant potential to generate employment, attract foreign exchange, and promote inclusive economic growth. He further stressed the importance of policy stability, improved infrastructure, and investment-friendly measures to unlock the full potential of Nepal’s tourism sector.
President of SEJON Bhagwat Bhattarai delivered a presentation on the status of budget implementation. He highlighted the progress made in implementing tourism-related budgetary commitments while also pointing out key challenges, policy gaps, and areas requiring stronger coordination and timely execution.
The event featured an engaging panel discussion with CNI Tourism Committee Chair Pamfa Dhamala, former CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Raj Joshi, Vice President of the Aviation Operators Association of Nepal Subash Sapkota, and CEO of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Tek Bahadur Mahat. The session was moderated by Senior reporter of Annapurna Post Sunita Karki.
During the discussion, panelists shared their perspectives on tourism recovery, infrastructure development, aviation connectivity, destination marketing, policy implementation, and the need for stronger collaboration between the government and private sector to enhance Nepal’s tourism competitiveness.