KATHMANDU: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has urged foreign missions in Nepal to ease travel advisories issued after the recent Gen G protests, saying the country has now returned to normal and is fully safe for visitors.

The appeal was made during a “Meet and Greet with Diplomatic Corps” program organized by NTB on Thursday evening in Kathmandu, held to extend festival greetings and share updates on Nepal’s tourism sector ahead of World Tourism Day.

Addressing ambassadors and representatives from 15 countries, including the United States, India, Egypt, Norway, Qatar, Malaysia and Pakistan, NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi said Nepal’s political stability, security, transport, and health services are all functioning smoothly. “The situation has normalized swiftly. Security forces and tourist police are back in service, airports and roads are fully operational, and health facilities are accessible,” he assured.

Joshi acknowledged that around 25 hotels had suffered partial damage and more than 2,000 jobs were affected during the protests, but underlined the resilience of Nepal’s tourism sector. “For decades, our industry has shown strong crisis-management capacity. No tourist was ever targeted, and Nepal remains a safe destination,” he added.

Calling Nepal an “extraordinary natural and cultural destination,” Joshi urged the diplomatic community to help convey the message that Nepal is open and secure for travel. NTB Vice Chair Ram Prasad Sapkota also appealed to ambassadors to share this assurance with their governments and citizens.

The program, attended by senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, and Environment, along with tourism entrepreneurs, also highlighted the importance of collaboration with the international community in reviving and growing Nepal’s tourism industry.

Joshi further noted that upcoming festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Nepal Sambat reflect Nepal’s spirit of unity and renewal, adding that tourism not only supports the economy but also strengthens people-to-people and diplomatic ties.