The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has announced a budget of approximately Rs 1.7 billion for fiscal year 2026/27(2083/84) , with international tourism promotion and marketing among its main priorities, even as it reportedly spent over half of its previous year's allocation.
The announcement was made public on October 8,2026 nearly three months after the fiscal year began in mid July. The new budget is about 6.91% higher than the previous allocation of roughly 1.59 billion. The board reportedly spent 894.76 million, or 56% of that amount in 2025/26.
The board reportedly spent Rs 337.09 million of the Rs 436.1 million allocated to tourism market management and promotion, about 77%. None of the Rs 111.2 million earmarked for establishing provincial offices was spent. Another report gives a revised estimate of about Rs 1.2089 billion against a previous budget of about Rs 1.5999 billion.
Programme expenditure in the new budget is reported at Rs 1.32 billion. Special promotional programmes account for Rs 290 million, including Rs 180 million for the Wellness Year 2027 campaign, Rs 50 million for digital promotion and Rs 40 million for an influencers’ summit. Rs 10 million is set aside for the Sagarmatha Cleaning Campaign and another Rs 10 million for preparations for Nepal Visit Year 2085. The budget also includes Rs 203.39 million for the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS), Rs 156.31 million for staff expenses and Rs 102.15 million for office costs.
The board expects most of its income from the Tourism Service Fee, projected at Rs 1.17 billion. TIMS fees are projected at Rs 46.65 million, and miscellaneous sources at Rs 34.36 million. The fee is levied on departing passengers at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Santosh Panta, NTB’s senior director and information officer, attributed the previous underspending partly to delayed approval of procedures governing international procurement and to the vacancy in the chief executive officer’s post. The board has been without a CEO after the government cancelled appointments, and the vacancy has reportedly affected strategic activities.
The budget comes after Nepal received 1,209,357 foreign tourists in 2025/26, according to NTB data. India was the largest source market with 311,531 visitors, followed by the United States with 111,325 and China with 109,892.
A larger allocation is only a plan. Whether it brings more visitors or benefits to hotels, trekking agencies, guides and destinations outside the main tourism centers will depend on execution.
