Nepal has thrown open the doors to foreign tourists after keeping them out for nine months as the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic.
All tourist visas have been restored, and foreign visitors are now free to fly into the country, the Department of Immigration said, but the land borders are still closed.
“Issuance of tourists entry visa from Nepali diplomatic missions abroad has resumed,” the Department of Immigration said. Only travellers with a pre-approval and recommendation of the government will be allowed entry overland, the department said.
On-arrival visas will be provided at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu only to representatives and families of diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies, international organisations and non-resident Nepalis without any pre-approval letters and recommendations, the department said.
“All foreigners should obtain a tourist visa from Nepali diplomatic missions abroad or they should have a pre-approval or recommendation letter from the concerned ministries for ensuring their ‘on-arrival’ visa at Kathmandu airport,” Ramesh Kumar KC, Director-General of the Department of Immigration, told the Post.
“A cabinet meeting held on December 3 decided to bring back tourists. This will help to increase arrivals to Nepal to some extent.”
