KATHMANDU, Nov 30: The Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepk Raj Joshi, has emphasised the critical role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in developing Nepal’s tourism industry.
Speaking at the opening session of the “Tech-Friendly Tourism and AI Training” — organised by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) in partnership with the Nepal Tourism Board and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Nepal — Joshi noted that integrating technology has become essential for the sector. He said the adoption of technology has already contributed to a notable rise in foreign tourist arrivals.
“Training on modern technological applications is indispensable for the sustainable growth of Nepal’s tourism industry,” Joshi said.
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TAAN Chair Sagar Pandey expressed confidence that AI training would significantly support the professional advancement of Nepal’s tourism sector. “Tech-friendly training is essential to engage the new generation with tourism,” he added.
Senior Vice-Chair Karma Sherpa echoed this sentiment, calling AI training “an absolute necessity in today’s digital era” and underlining its potential to promote Nepal’s tourism globally.
TAAN CEO Ramchandra Sedhain highlighted that the training will enhance the capabilities of trekking companies and support the development of Nepal’s mountain tourism.
According to the training coordinator and TAAN member Raju Gurung, the four-day programme will cover AI applications in tourism, destination development, capacity building and tourism safety. The first phase, beginning today, has attracted participation from 30 trekking companies.
Co-coordinator Ambir Bahadur Gurung stressed that such initiatives will play a crucial role in showcasing Nepal’s destinations to a global audience.
