Kathmandu, 24 Sep: Nepal’s tourism sector, hit hard during the peak season by the GenZ movement, is being revived by foreign visitors themselves. Despite some damage to tourist infrastructures during the protests, no tourists were harmed or felt unsafe. Instead, foreign nationals visiting Nepal are actively using various social media platforms to spread the message that Nepal remains a safe travel destination.
According to Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal’s “Now Nepal” campaign, combined with the efforts of international travelers and bloggers, has helped project Nepal as risk-free and unaffected in terms of tourist mobility.
He explained: “Even minor landslides affect tourism. So, it is crucial to inform the international community that Nepal is safe despite the destructive activities carried out under the name of GenZ. At present, several popular foreign vloggers and content creators are sharing that Nepal is a safe destination. The Board is also encouraging visitors to post photos holding play cards and livestream directly from tourist sites to reassure others.”
Although daily life has almost returned to normal, the tourism industry still faces lingering fears. This month, tourist arrivals have dropped by nearly 37 percent. For this reason, the Board has begun tourism promotion campaigns through tourists themselves. Joshi also noted that during the protests, demonstrators treated buses carrying tourists with respect, which helped earn international goodwill. Still, he stressed the need to convince the global community that Nepal remains secure despite concerns over escaped prisoners and stolen weapons that had briefly heightened security risks.
Restoring Confidence Through Global Outreach
To counter negative narratives about looting and chaos, the Nepal Tourism Board has been working through diplomatic missions, international organizations, and digital platforms to circulate positive messages about the country. To provide real-time updates, the Board has started daily morning and evening live broadcasts from major heritage and tourist sites such as Basantapur, Patan, Bhaktapur, Boudha, Pokhara, Manaslu, Lukla, and Chitwan.
Sagar Pandey, President of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), said that inquiries about Nepal’s security have increased since the GenZ protests, but if clear communication reassures safety, tourist numbers will recover soon. Similarly, Kumar Mani Thapaliya, President of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), emphasized that restoring tourist arrivals requires prioritizing visitor safety, promoting destinations, and focusing on the recovery of the tourism sector.
