KATHMANDU: Nepal has lifted the nationwide curfew and prohibitory orders imposed earlier this week, signaling a return to normal life after days of uncertainty and travel disruption.

The move follows the appointment of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the country’s interim prime minister on Friday night. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered her oath of office at a special ceremony in Sheetal Niwas. Karki, Nepal’s first woman to hold the post, will oversee a non-partisan government tasked with conducting new parliamentary elections within six months.

Curfew lifted, transport resumes

The Nepali Army, which had enforced the curfew since the violent Gen Z–led protests of September 8 and 9, announced that restrictions ended at 6 a.m. Saturday. Public transport services quickly resumed, with long-route buses departing from Kathmandu and a heavy flow of vehicles and pedestrians filling the Valley’s streets.

Tourism and aviation recover

The protests, which had called for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and an interim administration, triggered a two-day shutdown of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), stranding both domestic and international travelers during the start of Nepal’s busy autumn trekking and expedition season.

International flights restarted on the evening of September 10 following a security review, while domestic carriers resumed operations on September 11, offering much-needed relief to the tourism and aviation sectors.

To assist travelers during the curfew period, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)—with support from the private sector, the Nepal Army, TIA authorities, and the Department of Immigration—operated a free shuttle bus service connecting the airport with major hotel hubs in Kathmandu.

Support for foreign visitors

The Department of Immigration (DoI) also introduced special measures to help international visitors affected by the unrest. Foreign nationals whose visas were valid through September 8 received visa regularization and exit permission without additional fees. For travelers who lost passports and obtained emergency documents from their embassies, Nepal arranged visa transfers to ensure smooth departures.

Hope for tourism revival

With the curfew lifted and the interim government in place, optimism is rising in Nepal’s travel, hospitality, and trekking industries. As autumn—a key season for expeditions and cultural tourism—gains momentum, stakeholders hope that political stability and restored air services will draw back both domestic and international travelers.

“Normal operations at TIA and the lifting of movement restrictions are a relief for everyone,” said an travel operator. “It sets the stage for tourism to recover as the autumn season begins.”