NATHM, Nepal Mountain Academy Merged Into Single Tourism Body
Kathmandu, April 26: The government has merged the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) and the Nepal Mountain Academy to form a unified institution named the Nepal Academy of Tourism, Hotel and Mountaineering.
The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers Nepal to streamline institutions with similar functions and improve service delivery. Following the decision, the government published the Nepal Academy of Tourism, Hotel and Mountaineering Development Committee (Formation Order) 2083 in the national gazette on April 23.
According to the Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation, the merger aims to enhance coordination, functional unity, and administrative efficiency between the two previously separate bodies.
The newly formed academy will be governed by a multi-sectoral committee chaired by the Ministry’s Secretary. The committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Finance Nepal, Ministry of Education Science and Technology Nepal, National Planning Commission Nepal, the Department of Immigration Nepal, and the Nepal Tourism Board.
Private sector stakeholders including the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, and Hotel Association Nepal, will also be represented. The government will nominate a woman expert from the mountain tourism sector to ensure inclusive participation, while the Executive Director will serve as member-secretary.
The academy has been given a broader mandate beyond training. It will develop policies, regulations, and professional standards for tourism education, and conduct research and studies to support the sector’s growth. It will also focus on practical training, offering hands-on experience in hotels, restaurants, lodges, and travel services.
Additionally, the institution is expected to establish partnerships with national and international universities and play an advisory role in identifying new mountains for mountaineering, contributing to the expansion of Nepal’s adventure tourism industry
