KATHMANDU: Senior Director Hikmat Singh Ayer has been appointed acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
According to a decision by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) on Monday, Ayer has been entrusted with the role in his capacity as the office head to carry out executive functions.
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The position fell vacant after CEO Deepak Raj Joshi was relieved of his duties following the introduction of a government ordinance. With the leadership gap, Ayer has been appointed acting CEO on the basis of seniority.
In a circular, the MoCTCA said Ayer will oversee the board’s daily administration, policy implementation, programme coordination, and tourism promotion activities. The move aims to ensure continuity in management and prevent disruption to regular operations.
Ayer, a long-serving official at the board, brings extensive administrative and managerial experience in the tourism sector. He has played key roles in several of the board’s projects and programmes.
Stakeholders in the tourism sector said the leadership change is expected to maintain policy continuity and ensure the smooth execution of ongoing programmes.
Under Ayer’s leadership, the board is expected to prioritise tourism promotion, strengthen Nepal’s presence in international markets, and streamline internal management.
