As President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), I welcome you to our website, and take this opportunity to introduce you to our Association.

Hotel Association Nepal was established in 1966 as an Association that would support and promote high quality standards and growth of hotel industry promoting lawful interests and ensuring unity and co-operation among its members. Through the years, HAN has evolved, anticipating and meeting the growing needs of its member hoteliers.

HAN is the hotel industry's voice and has represented its members in virtually every type of situation, ranging from government advocacy for policy formulation to creating political commitment in creating conducive environment for its growth to settling labor issues. Whenever necessary all our members come together to recommend action and take positions on issues of concern.

Tourism sector is a major contributor in the national economy. It is a major employment generator. At present the tourism sector contributes 3.6 percent of the total GDP. This sector has a huge potential to grow. Tourism is not an isolated industry; it works hand in hand with many other sectors. The last decade has seen a major setback in the growth of the industry. It is time that we gear up for the growth of hotel industry contributing to the country's economic and social development.

Nepal has been recognized as one of the best destinations of the world, a must visit destination in a lifetime. But still we are unable to tap our potential. The Government has not been able to give tourism the priority it deserves. We have been demanding the government to support this industry by adopting more liberal and practical policies. The government needs to understand that setting up the required infrastructure is the basic foundation of tourism. We have been urging the government to recognize the contributions and potential of this industry and provide conducive environment for its growth.

I would like to welcome you to a network of more than 300 professionals of hotel business. We invite all of our members to participate in our programs. If you have any issues or want to voice your opinion we are here to serve you. Please feel free to contact us.

Thank you.

Prasidha B. Panday
President
Hotel Association Nepal