Kathmandu. With the encouraging increase in the number of foreign tourists in Nepal, the opening of star-level hotels and resorts has also increased.

Nepal is home to the world’s highest peak Mount Everest and the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. As a result, the number of investors in tourism services like hotels is increasing in Nepal.

The latest example of this growing attraction in the tourism sector is the increasing number of star hotels, resorts and restaurants in Nepal. The number of new hotels and resorts with domestic and foreign investment is found increasing in the federal capital Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Bhadrapur and other major tourist destinations.

Although the tourist-level hotels are registered with the state government, the tourism department has registered and granted permission to operate the tourist hotels. According to the Department of Tourism, 350 star hotels and resorts have been registered and operated throughout the country. Among them, 29 are five-star hotels. Department’s Information Officer Himal Gautam shared that the registration of star-studded hotels and resorts has increased in Nepal of late. Last year, 335 hotels and resorts were registered with the department, which has increased to 350 this year.

According to him, 44 single-star, 492-star, 37 three-star, 40 four-star and 28 five-star hotels have been registered. Likewise, there are three five-star luxury hotels, three luxury boutique hotels, five luxury luxury hotels, five luxury luxury hotels, one general resort, 127 general resorts, 10 luxury resorts and three luxury resorts.

According to the department, there are 16,613 rooms in 350 registered hotels. The room has 26,285 beds. With the operation of these star hotels and resorts, the capacity to provide quality accommodation, modern services and international standard hospitality to the tourists is also expanding.

Information Officer Gautam said the Department has started revising the standard of hotels as per the increasing number of people investing in hotels and resorts in recent period.

The hotel classification criteria were first developed in 2070 BS to systematize and standardize hotels and resorts in Nepal. The government had revised the criteria in 2076 BS as per the need of the hour and international practice. Gautam said that the hotel standard is being revised keeping in mind the international standard, quality and eco-tourism.

A directive committee has been formed under the leadership of the joint secretary of the Tourism Division of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to revise the criteria while the drafting taskforce has been formed under the leadership of the Director of the Tourism Department and the Chief of Hotel Section (Under Secretary). The task force will submit a draft of the revised hotel standards to the Ministry within mid-July.

Binayak Shah, president of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), said that the increase in the number of star hotels and resorts in Nepal shows that the attraction of foreign tourists to Nepal has increased. “A large number of foreign tourists flock to Nepal to enjoy Nepal’s nature, culture and adventurous travel,” he said.

According to Shah, the number of Indian tourists has increased in Nepal lately. He said that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) which secured around two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives elections is the single government and the environment of confidence is gradually being created in the tourism sector of Nepal. “Nepal is a beautiful land sandwiched between India and China, both countries are economically powerful and millions of people visit these countries every year.

The Nigalo Hotel, which is going to be constructed at the cost of around Rs 200 billion, has 65 rooms.

According to tourism entrepreneur Abhisek Bikram Shah, investment in tourism and hydropower sector has increased in recent period. According to him, investment in hotel sector has increased for the future with the new government giving priority to tourism sector.

Entrepreneur Shah said that the number of foreign tourists would increase significantly if the under-construction international airport could be fully operated. Shah, who has been heading the management of Bookie Boutique Hotel in Lazimpat and Nagarjun-based Nagarjun Resort for some time, said that the arrival of Indians as well as domestic tourists in Nepal has encouraged the area.

Nepal’s tourism sector is gradually returning to normal after the Corona epidemic. In 2024, 1,147,567 foreign tourists entered Nepal and in 2025, 1,158,459 foreign tourists entered Nepal. As of June this year, more than half a million tourists have entered Nepal.