Minister Paudel reaffirms commitment to full operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport – The Himalayan Times – Nepal’s No.1 English Daily Newspaper

BHAIRAHAWA, JUNE 26

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bringing Gautam Buddha International Airport into full-fledged regular operation, saying the airport is crucial to achieving Nepal’s ambitious tourism growth targets.

Addressing a wellness awareness and tourism promotion programme organised by Tranquility Spa in collaboration with the Spa Association Nepal and supported by the Nepal Tourism Board in Bhairahawa, Minister Poudel said the government is actively working to ensure the airport begins regular operations as soon as possible.

He said Nepal has set a target of attracting 10 million international tourists and stressed that the country cannot achieve this goal without fully operational international airports in both Bhairahawa and Pokhara. According to him, the two cities must be connected with major international destinations if Nepal is serious about expanding its tourism industry.

Rejecting speculation that delays in operating the airport stem from political or diplomatic issues, the minister said the obstacles were primarily policy-related and that the government is working to address them. He described happiness as the central pursuit of human life and said travel and wellness are intrinsically linked to that objective. He added that wellness tourism forms an integral component of Nepal’s tourism industry and that the country’s tourism sector would remain incomplete without its development.

The programme, held at Siddhartha Vilasa in Bhairahawa on June 19, was organised as part of Nepal’s Wellness Tourism Year campaign to raise awareness about the immense potential of wellness tourism in Lumbini Province.

The event was inaugurated by Minister Paudel in the presence of Spa Association Nepal President Suresh Puri, organising committee chair Bhuwan Faiju, former Nepal Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi, Hotel Association Nepal central member and Siddhartha Hotel Association (SAN) President Chandra Prakash Shrestha, Lumbini Province Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport Secretary Narad Gautam, Siddhartha Hospitality Group Founder Chairman Laxman Neupane and organising committee co-chair Nisha Shrestha.

Speaking at the programme, Spa Association Nepal President Suresh Puri highlighted Nepal’s vast potential for wellness tourism, saying preventive healthcare is more effective than treatment. He emphasised exercise, yoga and meditation as effective tools for stress management in today’s fast-paced world. Puri also expressed concern that spa and wellness training institutes in Nepal have yet to receive formal government affiliation. He said granting official accreditation would standardise training, ensure adherence to professional protocols and enable graduates to receive government-recognised certificates, significantly enhancing their employability in the global hospitality industry.

The programme brought together government officials, tourism entrepreneurs, wellness experts and members of the business community to discuss strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles and positioning Lumbini as a leading wellness tourism destination.

During the event, Tranquility Spa also announced the full-scale operation of its new branch at Siddhartha Vilasa, from where it will provide wellness services to domestic and international visitors travelling to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Established 18 years ago in Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Tranquility Spa has expanded its operations through partnerships with leading hotels in Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara and Malaysia. The company currently employs more than 300 people, while its training wing, Tranquility International Beauty and Spa Academy, has provided wellness skills training to more than 3,500 individuals.