Tourism is one of the most heavily licensed sectors in Nepal, and one where the licence, the insurance and the contract have to line up before the first client arrives.
What this area covers
- Travel agency and trekking agency licensing
- Hotel, resort and homestay registration and grading applications
- Rafting, adventure and specialist activity operator permits
- Renewal and periodic compliance for tourism licences
- Liability, waiver and booking terms for adventure operators
- Insurance obligations for guides, porters and clients
- Agreements with international tour operators and booking platforms
- Foreign investment structuring for hotels and tourism ventures
Questions we are asked in this area
A trekking agency needs its company registration, tax registration and a licence from the tourism authority, and depending on the activities offered there may be further permits. Each has its own document set and its own renewal cycle. We handle the sequence and then hand over a renewal calendar.
Foreign investment in the tourism sector is subject to the general foreign investment framework and to sector specific conditions, and some tourism activities are restricted. This needs to be checked for the specific activity before any structure is decided.
A well drafted waiver is useful evidence of informed consent and of the risk disclosed, but it does not remove every duty an operator owes. It works best as part of a package: proper briefing, competent guides, real insurance and clear booking terms. A waiver alone is thin protection.
Obligations attach to staff, including guides and porters, and further cover is expected for clients in several activities. Requirements change and vary by activity, so we confirm the current position for each operator rather than working from a general rule.