prospects. The result was a political rupture with real human cost.
Social media has played a crucial role— giving similar movements across Asia and North Africa speed, reach and fluid, leaderless structures. While it remains to be seen how much concrete reform will emerge, the generational tide looks hard to ignore with protests having taken place with young people demanding better public services, jobs and accountability from ageing political elites.
In Morocco, the loosely organised collective known as GenZ 212 has mobilised thousands since late September through platforms such as Discord and TikTok, accusing the government of neglecting healthcare and education while spending billions on infrastructure linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The movement has turned volatile, with security forces clashing with demonstrators, multiple deaths reported and thousands arrested across cities including Rabat, Casablanca and Agadir. Across Asia, similar activism is unfolding: young people are taking to the streets in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Timor‐Leste in protest of soaring living costs, corruption, weak public services and lack of democratic participation.
For now, Kathmandu is mending burned facades and collecting evidence; families are mourning; new leaders are managing fragile order. If the country’ s institutions can translate young people’ s energy into meaningful reform, Nepal may emerge more resilient. If not, the uprising will be remembered as a powerful but ultimately unfulfilled demand for a more equitable future— and as yet another signal to the world that political instability can ripple into every corner of a country’ s economy, not least the mountain trails that welcome foreign feet.
When the protests erupted few expected the tremors to reach as far as the country’ s mountain trails. Yet as the demonstrations spread from TikTok screens to the streets of Kathmandu and Pokhara, the reverberations were felt across the tourism industry— the lifeblood of the nation’ s economy. Arrivals fell sharply, down as much as forty percent on the same period last year. Hotels and trekking operators watched their peak season dissolve into uncertainty as curfews, cancellations and fear replaced the usual autumn influx of travellers.
The timing could not have been worse. The Northern Hemisphere Autumn is normally when Nepal comes alive with the hum of riders, climbers and cultural wanderers— a rhythm now broken by smoke, slogans and shuttered shops. In Pokhara alone, around 2,500 tourism workers have been left without work, and across the country, countless others have seen their incomes vanish. Several high-profile hotels and tour offices were damaged in the unrest, and the once-vibrant Thamel district grew quiet under police patrols.
Government officials have since tried to steady the narrative. Press statements, livestreams from trekking regions and renewed safety assurances have all aimed to convince travellers that“ Nepal remains safe”. Many of the country’ s core routes— from the Annapurna Circuit to Everest Base Camp— are indeed open, and for those who venture now, the trails are quieter, the lodges more grateful for company. But perception lingers longer than policy, and the image of a country in turmoil has dented confidence among both investors and visitors. The losses are significant, but the crisis has also exposed deeper truths. Tourism in Nepal, long hailed as a pillar of economic hope, is fragile— vulnerable not only to earthquakes and pandemics but to social and political discontent. The Gen Z movement has forced uncomfortable questions about who benefits from tourism and whether young Nepalis can see a future in the very industry their country depends upon.
In the months ahead, recovery will depend as much on stability as on storytelling. The government’ s message must now shift from reassurance to renewal, highlighting a generation eager to rebuild rather than revolt. Domestic tourism may cushion some of the losses, and international operators are already discussing flexible bookings and discounted packages for 2026 and beyond. But confidence is a slow thing to climb, and the view from the top is still smokey.
If calm holds, the coming year could bring a cautious revival. Nepal’ s allure— its peaks, its culture, its enduring warmth— has weathered greater storms. Yet the echoes of these protests remain a warning: that the country’ s future as a travel destination will depend not just on its mountains, but on the hope and stability of the generation now demanding change.
For the immediate future, Ms Shrestha puts it best, " international guests are encouraged to travel with a degree of flexibility, remain informed about local situations and coordinate with trusted hospitality partners. In the coming period, conditions are projected to remain favourable, providing an excellent time to experience Nepal’ s diverse culture, adventure and gracious hospitality." TRAVERSE