Directives Issued Amid Decline in Indian Tourist Arrivals to Nepal

Kathmandu (Nepal) :  Nepal’s Tourism Minister Badriprasad Pandey has announced that necessary directives have been issued to ensure convenience for Indian tourists visiting Nepal. To prevent any inconvenience at the border entry points, instructions have been given to carry out security checks, vehicle fee collection, and other required formalities under an integrated system.

The Tourism Minister stated that instead of the existing three-tier security checks, a single-window system will now handle security inspections, vehicle passes, and tax collection. These instructions have been circulated to all security and customs offices stationed at Nepal’s border areas.

The Nepalese government has clearly directed that no Indian tourist should face any difficulty upon entering Nepal. Provincial governments and local bodies have also been instructed to stop collecting miscellaneous local taxes from Indian tourists at various points.

On the occasion of the Nepali New Year, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Tourism jointly issued these guidelines on Monday, directing all border regions to ensure smooth entry for Indian tourists arriving via road.

It is noteworthy that over 60% of Nepal’s tourists are from India, and nearly 80% of them travel by road.

Currently, Indian tourists face three levels of security checks and are required to pay taxes at three different levels, which not only causes inconvenience but has also led to a decline in tourist numbers. In view of these challenges, the Government of Nepal has now taken steps to make the process easier and more tourist-friendly for Indian visitors.