Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has appointed Sherpa as the new minister as per the provision of Article 38 (5) of the Interim Constitution, 2007.
Sherpa is being sworn-in at 5 pm today.
Sherpa, who is close to UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, had been elected to the Constituent Assembly from Bhojpur-1.
The portfolio was vacant after Dipak Chandra Amatya resigned as tourism minister yesterday.
Former personal aide to UML leader Jhalanath Khanal, Amatya had been appointed as the second tourism minister in the Sushil Koirala-led government, Bhim Acharya being the first.
According to a UML source, Amatya resigned under party pressure that turned the table in Sherpa's favor.