Sri Lanka offers free 30-day tourist visas to Nepali nationals starting May 25, 2026

President Ram Chandra Paudel has emphasized the critical need for sustainable mountain tourism, responsible mountaineering, and the conservation of the Himalayan environment. Addressing the Sagarmatha Summiters Summit–2026, he highlighted that Mount Everest is a vital natural heritage and a source of national pride, whose preservation is essential for economic benefit through tourism. The President also pointed out challenges like global warming and waste accumulation, calling for increased efforts and international cooperation to protect the Everest region's biodiversity and ensure safer, sustainable mountaineering practices.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has emphasized the need to preserve the natural form of Sagarmatha and protect the Himalayan environment during the 'Everest Summiters Summit-2026'. He highlighted that Sagarmatha is a global natural asset and stressed that addressing challenges like global temperature rise, climate change effects, and waste accumulation in mountaineering is crucial for conservation and sustainable tourism.

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are collaborating on a five-year strategic plan, set for implementation from 2026 to 2030, to enhance sustainable tourism in Nepal. The strategy, developed by consulting firm Beed, aims to shift the country's tourism model from volume-based to value-based, emphasizing quality experiences and broader appeal beyond adventure tourism.

Neelam Paudel has returned to Kathmandu after becoming the first transgender woman to successfully summit Mount Everest. Paudel stated that she is happy to have established her identity and hopes her achievement will inspire others in the transgender community. The climb is described as a victory over social discrimination and a struggle for identity.