KATHMANDU: The government has introduced a new ‘Tourism Policy 2025’, aiming to modernize Nepal’s tourism sector and expand infrastructure through private sector engagement.

Unveiled by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, the policy allows private sector operation of both international and domestic airports.

The policy explicitly states that private investment will be promoted in the construction and operation of national and international airports. This includes potential private sector management of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), as well as newer airports like Pokhara and Bhairahawa, under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Earlier, a government-commissioned study had recommended handing over airports to the private sector under a lease-operate-transfer (LOT) model. It suggested leasing out profit-making TIA and using the proceeds to fund the proposed Nijgadh International Airport in Bara.

The policy also proposes turning regional airports into hub airports for cross-border services, and promoting sports tourism infrastructure through PPP at the provincial and local levels.