Nepal Tourism Board Clarifies No New Restrictions on Indian Tourists

Kathmandu. The Nepal Tourism Board has expressed serious concern over misleading and baseless news that the Government of Nepal has imposed new restrictions on Indian tourists.

Issuing a press release on Wednesday, the Tourism Board stated that details such as the mandatory implementation of identity cards for Indian tourists entering Nepal, a limitation of stay to 30 days, and confiscation of vehicles for exceeding the duration, circulated by some media and online 'platforms', are completely false, baseless, and misleading.

The press release mentioned that the Government of Nepal has not imposed any new restrictions on the duration of stay for Indian tourists, and there has been no change in the long-standing open border system and bilateral understanding between Nepal and India. The historical people-to-people relations, cultural proximity, and tourism cooperation between Nepal and India remain as they are.

According to the Board, the Government of Nepal has recently launched an 'online' facilitation system for Indian and other foreign tourists entering Nepal by private vehicles via land route. Through this 'digital system' developed by the Customs Department, arrangements have been made to obtain temporary entry permits and pay revenue online. The Board expressed confidence that this system will reduce hassle at the border crossings and provide convenient services to tourists.

The Tourism Board has urged media, digital platforms, tourism entrepreneurs, and the general public not to broadcast unverified information and to rely solely on official government sources for information regarding tourism policies and travel arrangements.

Stating that Nepal is a safe, friendly, and welcoming destination for tourists from India and around the world, the Board reiterated the government's commitment to promoting friendship, cooperation, and easy travel between Nepal and India.