11/10/2026
Strengthening Tourism Crisis Management in Gandaki Province
Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) and PATA Nepal Chapter convened the Gandaki Provincial Inception Meeting for the project “Developing Tourism Crisis Management Handbook for Nepalese Tourism Stakeholders” in Pokhara on 9 October 2026. We were honored by the presence and valuable insights of Hon. Phanindra Devkota, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply, Gandaki Province; Mr. Roshan Jnawali, Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Gandaki Province; and Mr. Hari Bhujel, President, Pokhara Tourism Council.
The meeting brought together representatives from various organizations who have been directly and indirectly involved in tourism crisis management in the region including provincial government representatives, tourism associations, security agencies, tourism businesses, and development partners to share experiences, identify priorities, and explore ways to strengthen tourism crisis preparedness, response, and recovery in Gandaki Province. During the moderated discussion, participants highlighted the importance of a nationally coordinated tourism crisis management framework and effective crisis communication to strengthen collaboration among the three tiers of government and tourism industry actors.
Supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), this initiative aims to translate stakeholder experiences and institutional knowledge into a practical handbook that strengthens crisis management capacities across Nepal’s tourism ecosystem.