cancellation and postponement policies, hoping to salvage client relationships. Hotels and lodges are courting domestic travellers to fill empty beds. Restaurants have shifted toward locals, with menus and prices designed for a Nepali clientele rather than foreign tourists. While this domestic pivot provides some cushion, it cannot replace the foreign exchange that international arrivals bring— a lifeline for Nepal’ s balance of payments and for thousands of rural households tied to adventure travel.
" Tourism is expected to normalise within a few months as confidence returns among international visitors," a hopeful Ms Shrestha explained. " With Nepal’ s unique offerings and proactive engagement from the hospitality sector, there is even potential for tourism to grow beyond previous levels."
The long-term impact is harder to measure but potentially more damaging. Nepal’ s tourism brand is built not only on mountains and monasteries but also on a promise of relative stability in a volatile region. The images of burning barricades and curfews threaten that perception. Reputational damage lingers far longer than the events themselves. Operators worry that the protests could cast a shadow over the 2026 and 2027 seasons, even if political calm returns. In an industry where trust is everything, regaining lost ground will not be easy.
Still, there are glimmers of resilience. Many in the industry argue that the protests, though painful, could ultimately force Nepal to address the very corruption and governance failures that fuelled the unrest.
" Stability in governance always strengthens tourism confidence," Ms Shrestha continued. " While political clarity would be beneficial, Nepal’ s intrinsic charm and rich experiences already make it a highly desirable destination. Travellers are drawn to the country for its culture, landscapes and hospitality, regardless of political changes."
A cleaner, more transparent political environment, they say, could make the country more attractive in the long run.
“ Travellers today care about ethics as much as adventure,” Mr Lamichhane added.“ If Nepal shows it can reform, that story might actually strengthen our brand.”
This is something that Mr Thakuri echoes, believing that the future might hold greater opportunities for tourism operators,“ I personally feel that the destruction we went through [ brings a new ] hope of being able to promote,“ love, respect and the welcoming nature of the nation”. It has come more alive in some ways.”
For now, however, the sector remains in crisis management mode. Operators are watching key indicators: hotel occupancy in Kathmandu and Pokhara, booking rates for autumn adventures, and the language of foreign travel advisories. Each cancellation or extension of warning notices compounds the anxiety. The costs of repairing vandalised hotels and restaurants are mounting, and with insurance premiums expected to rise, reinvestment in new projects could stall.
The protests of 2025 may come to be seen as a watershed moment. If the interim government delivers credible reforms and stability returns, the crisis could become a turning point that ultimately strengthens Nepal’ s tourism sector. If not, the damage may harden into long-term decline, with travellers shifting to rival destinations in India, Bhutan, or Southeast Asia. Either way, for the hoteliers on the shores of Phewa Lake, the motorcycle guides in Mustang, and the street vendors in Thamel, the protests have already changed the landscape. The challenge now is convincing the world that Nepal remains not just a land of mountains and monasteries, but a destination worth the journey despite the turmoil.
“ Nepal was safe, Nepal is safe and Nepal will always be safe,” suggests Mr Thakuri.“[ Regardless of ] whatever happens inside the political environment, the [ Nepali ] public will never allow any guests to be harmed or make them feel unsafe.
“ Nepal is always welcoming and, we have a saying,‘ guests are as likely as Gods’. There is no way we will allow tourists to fear for their safety.”
Ms Shrestha agrees, " yes, while protests occurred in certain areas, major tourist destinations, trekking routes and hotels continue to operate safely. Visitors can travel with confidence, following usual safety precautions."
Longer term, the political reset could be a doubleedged sword for tourism. If the interim government moves quickly to ensure transparent accountability, restore confidence in public safety, and communicate clearly with international partners, Nepal could rebound— possibly attracting visitors interested in solidarity travel or post-crisis cultural tourism. If, however, the transition drags, or if recurring instability becomes a pattern, tour operators and visitors may shift to alternative destinations, harming the livelihoods of trailside communities and hospitality workers who depend on the autumn and spring seasons.
Which path unfolds will depend on the interim cabinet’ s willingness to be transparent, the judiciary’ s independence, and whether political parties accept the outcome of elections. External actors— donor countries, the UN and Nepal’ s neighbours— will also play a role in shaping incentives for reform.
What made the Gen-Z protests in Nepal different from many previous mobilisations was the way they combined digital culture with an emotive moral message: the spectacle of elites flaunting wealth on short-video platforms collided with a generation’ s lack of economic