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For decades, Nepal's tourism success has largely been measured by a single benchmark: the number of international visitors arriving each year. Government announcements celebrate rising arrivals, tourism campaigns are evaluated against visitor targets, and industry discussions often revolve around one central question: How many tourists can Nepal attract?

While visitor arrivals remain an important indicator of growth, they reveal only part of the story. As Nepal navigates an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving global tourism landscape, it is time to ask a more consequential question: Is the true measure of tourism success the number of visitors who arrive, or the value they create?

The distinction is not merely statistical. It goes to the heart of how Nepal understands tourism's role in economic development, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and international positioning.

For many years, destinations around the world pursued a simple formula: more tourists meant more growth. Yet experience has shown that rising visitor numbers do not automatically translate into greater prosperity. Some destinations that prioritized volume above all else now grapple with overcrowding, strained infrastructure, environmental pressures, and uneven distribution of tourism benefits.

As a result, a growing number of countries are embracing a different approach—one that prioritizes visitor value over visitor volume. The objective is no longer simply to attract more tourists, but to cultivate tourism that generates stronger economic returns, enriches local communities, preserves heritage, and enhances the overall quality of the visitor experience.

Nepal would be wise to embrace a similar shift in thinking.

The country possesses an extraordinary tourism portfolio. Home to the world's highest peak, the birthplace of the Buddha, diverse cultures, living heritage, extraordinary biodiversity, and some of the planet's most iconic trekking routes, Nepal enjoys an enviable concentration of tourism assets. Yet despite these strengths, the national conversation continues to focus overwhelmingly on arrival figures.

A million visitors may appear impressive on paper. But the more important questions are seldom asked. How long did those visitors stay? How much did they spend? Where did they travel beyond the established tourism circuit? Did local communities benefit? Did their visits contribute to conservation efforts? Were they sufficiently inspired to return—or to recommend Nepal to others?

Without answers to these questions, arrival statistics provide only a partial picture of tourism's true contribution.

Tourism remains one of Nepal's most important sources of foreign exchange earnings and employment. It supports guides, porters, hotel owners, transport operators, artisans, entrepreneurs, and countless small businesses across the country. Yet the long-term success of the sector depends not only on attracting more visitors but also on maximizing the value generated by every visitor who comes.

A value-based approach does not imply excluding budget travelers, nor does it advocate tourism solely for the affluent. Rather, it recognizes that the true worth of tourism lies in the quality of engagement between visitors and destinations. A traveler who spends three weeks exploring multiple regions, hires local guides, purchases local products, participates in cultural experiences, and supports community enterprises often contributes far more to the national economy than several short-stay visitors whose spending remains concentrated within a limited area.

This perspective is particularly relevant because global tourism demand is changing. Increasingly, travelers seek meaning rather than mere movement. They seek immersion rather than observation. Authenticity, wellness, spirituality, cultural exchange, sustainability, and personal transformation have become defining themes of contemporary travel.

Fortunately, these are areas where Nepal possesses a natural competitive advantage.

From community-based tourism initiatives in rural villages to pilgrimage routes, wellness retreats, conservation programs, indigenous cultural experiences, and responsible adventure travel, Nepal has the opportunity to offer experiences that resonate with the aspirations of modern travelers. The challenge is not a lack of tourism assets. The challenge is transforming those assets into high-quality, meaningful experiences that encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more, and engage more deeply.

Equally important is the issue of geographical concentration. A significant proportion of tourism activity remains clustered around Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, and the Everest region. While these destinations will undoubtedly remain pillars of Nepal's tourism economy, a value-oriented tourism strategy should also seek to broaden the map.

Regions such as Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Rara, Kanchenjunga, and the Far West possess immense untapped potential. Encouraging visitors to explore a wider range of destinations would not only increase the length of stay and visitor spending but also distribute tourism benefits more equitably across the country while reducing pressure on heavily visited areas.

This shift also requires rethinking how tourism success is measured.

Alongside visitor arrivals, Nepal should pay greater attention to indicators such as average visitor expenditure, length of stay, repeat visitation rates, visitor satisfaction, regional distribution of tourism benefits, employment generation, and environmental sustainability. These metrics provide a far more meaningful understanding of tourism's contribution to national development than arrival numbers alone.

At the policy level, this requires institutional continuity and long-term vision. Tourism development cannot depend solely on annual campaigns, changing priorities, or short-term targets. It requires coordinated efforts among government agencies, local governments, the private sector, and local communities. Infrastructure development, destination management, workforce development, investment promotion, and digital marketing must all be aligned with a clear strategic direction.

This conversation is ultimately about competitiveness. In an era when destinations around the world compete fiercely for visitor attention, natural beauty alone is no longer enough. Successful destinations increasingly differentiate themselves through quality experiences, effective management, compelling storytelling, and coherent national branding.

For Nepal, tourism should be viewed not merely as an industry but as a strategic national asset. It shapes international perceptions, strengthens people-to-people connections, supports economic growth, and contributes to the country's global identity. In this sense, tourism is both an economic sector and a powerful instrument of nation-building.

As Nepal looks toward the next decade of tourism development, the challenge is not simply to attract more visitors. The challenge is to ensure that tourism creates greater value—for local communities, for conservation, for cultural heritage, and for the nation as a whole.

The question policymakers should increasingly ask is not, "How many tourists came?" but rather, "What value did tourism create for Nepal?"

The answer may ultimately determine the future direction, resilience, and sustainability of one of the country's most important industries.

As World Yoga Day approaches, humanity stands at a critical spiritual crossroads. While the world celebrates yoga primarily as a system of physical postures and stress relief, the time has come to recognize its ultimate, supreme evolution: Sahaj Yoga.

Founded by Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, Sahaj Yoga is not an exercise philosophy; it is the definitive Maha Yoga (the Great Yoga) of modern times. It represents a monumental, unprecedented leap in human evolution by achieving what no other spiritual incarnation, prophet, or avatar in human history has ever accomplished: mass, spontaneous Kundalini awakening.

The transformative power of this supreme yoga is deeply tangible, profound, and intensely emotional. In an era where modern medicine often manages superficial symptoms rather than curing root causes, Sahaj Yoga achieves genuine, miraculous inner restoration.

Consider a profound reality intimately known to me: a Sahaj Yogi suffering from a severe, debilitating psychiatric illness alongside painful, epilepsy-like disorders. This individual underwent the harrowing trauma of sixteen Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) sessions within a single month—a devastating toll that pushed the human nervous system to its absolute limits.

Yet, where conventional interventions reached a dead end, the divine mechanism of Sahaj Yoga triggered a complete turnaround. Today, this person is doing fine, practicing Sahaj Yoga, and living in complete stability, vibrant health, and profound peace. By cleansing the subtle energy centers (chakras) and directly stabilizing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, this divine science proves itself not just a theory, but a supreme therapeutic and evolutionary force.

A Global Appeal for World Heritage Recognition

Because it is the ultimate living spiritual heritage of mankind, Sahaj Yoga deserves formal, high-level global recognition. Its unprecedented contribution to human well-being, global peace, and spiritual ascension qualifies it perfectly to be recognized by world heritage bodies. We explicitly call upon international organizations, including UNESCO, to formally register and protect Sahaj Yoga as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Furthermore, we urge world heritage councils to recognize the holy sites, ashrams, and international centers established by Shri Mataji as sacred monuments of global spiritual history. This official global designation is not for status, but for structural preservation—ensuring that this profound, living science is shielded by international protocols and preserved for generations to come.

However, for an international legacy of this magnitude to be preserved for thousands of years, the global Sahaj Yoga collective cannot rely on external recognition alone. We must urgently transition from loose, vulnerable administrative setups to an ironclad framework of unyielding institutional law.

The Urgent Need for Stronger Internal Laws

First, there is a dire need for stronger, standardized trust laws worldwide. The basic principles taught by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi must be codified into absolute, non-negotiable legal frameworks. These laws must ensure that no divergent views, personal interpretations, or ego-driven distortions can ever dilute the original teachings. The rules must be structurally rigid enough to guarantee that Sahaj Yoga can never be divided, fragmented, or split into competing regional factions. The administrative machinery must exist solely as an impenetrable shell, protecting the absolute purity of the spiritual mechanics.

Second, we must legally secure the absolute safety of the properties and ashrams where Shri Mataji physically stayed, worked, and resided. These holy sites of Sahaj Yoga are not mere real estate; they are highly vibrant, spiritually charged epicenters of divine energy where the Adi Shakti poured out Her love. If trust rules are weak, these sacred lands risk being compromised by local disputes, financial mismanagement, or secular inheritance claims. Strong, centralized global trust laws must permanently safeguard these properties from any form of encroachment, commercial exploitation, or fragmentation, ensuring they remain protected sanctuaries for seekers for millennia.

Clarifying the Divine Succession

Crucially, it is time for Sahaj Yogis worldwide to deeply understand, feel, and internalize a fundamental truth: Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi never declared any successor, nor can there ever be one. She stands entirely alone in spiritual history.

She came to this earth as the Adi Shakti (the Primordial Cosmic Energy) incarnate, holding all cosmic powers within Her, for the sole, compassionate purpose of granting mass Self-Realization to humanity. Her spiritual authority cannot be inherited, passed down, or claimed by any individual, council, or biological family member. On numerous occasions, Shri Mataji explicitly stated that Her biological family has nothing to do with the spiritual domain of Sahaj Yoga.

While Her family is deeply loved, respected, and honored by the collective for their presence during Her earthly walk, they hold no hereditary claim to governance, properties, or spiritual succession. In the eyes of the Divine, the biological family is completely distinct from the mandate of Sahaj Yoga. Their private claims must never supersede or interfere with the global collective of Sahaj Yogis who carry Her work forward. Sahaj Yoga belongs entirely to the genuine seekers of truth, governed directly by the timeless principles laid down by the Adi Shakti Herself.

As we celebrate World Yoga Day, let the global collectivity rise to its ultimate responsibility with a fierce, protective love for what we have been given. By demanding recognition from world heritage bodies, enforcing airtight internal legal protections, securing our sacred heritage sites from family or external claims, and uniting under the absolute finality of Shri Mataji’s teachings, we will ensure that this magnificent Maha Yoga survives uncorrupted, guiding human ascension for thousands of years to come.

Writer Ashwani Kaushik has been practicing Sahaj Yoga since 2004 and is a former Trustee of The Life Eternal Trust, Delhi.

Nepal’s budget for the fiscal year 2026/27 has sparked discussions across the country. While the government has shown ambitious plans for economic growth, infrastructure development, digital transformation, and public services, the real question remains: How much do ordinary citizens know of these policies and what are their thoughts? To find out, I spoke with people along the route from Imadole to a badminton club in the area, gathering their opinions on the new budget, its positive aspects, and its negative aspects.

Ayush Deep Neupane, 24, Architect

The problem currently is that there is a crisis going on. There are issues of homelessness and joblessness. The bus fare has increased to Rs 25. Going and coming costs Rs 50, and over a month it adds ups. But the average salary is still around Rs 25,000. This is a time to give relief to working people and lower income people. In this budget, the government increased the salaries of government workers, but what about those in the private sector? I am struggling to save money, and the government is taking even more. The government justifies increasing taxes by saying it provides services, but Nepal's taxes are comparable to countries like India, Vietnam, and Armenia, while the quality of services remains poor. Transportation and education are expensive, government insurance is not very effective, and private insurance is costly. It feels like the burden is falling on people who are already struggling to save money. For example, they are even increasing the cost of electricity by adding VAT.

Hira Neupane, 45, Housewife

I haven't looked at the budget in detail. But I find that there have not been many services or policies aimed at common working people. The increase in government employees' income is good, but this increase in income could also cause the prices of goods to rise. So, what will the labour and working class do? I looked at previous years' budgets as well, and there was no significant impact that made our lives easier. At least this year, I am hopeful that they will do something to improve our lives, whether through better services or other measures.

Gopini Sanjel Ghimire, 50, Shopkeeper

Everyone is having a hard time right now due to the recent increase in prices, from bus fares to the shortage of gas. The price of gas has gone up by Rs 200–300 before we even realized it. The prices of other goods have also increased. Hoping for something new, we voted for this government as well. So, let's wait and see how these policies will impact people. The main thing is that they should not negatively affect our businesses and daily lives, but instead make life easier. Compared to last year, it does seem better, and I expect there to be some positive changes. The budget appears to be focused on investment, which could be a good thing.

Kabita Oli, 37, Shopkeeper

I don't generally have much interest in budgets and other political matters. I am busy focusing on managing our business, work, and children. It's just that the VAT on electricity seems a bit unnecessary. People with low financial stability will have to suffer because of this. Services like education, health, and electricity should be provided either for free or at minimal cost. So, I disagree with this increase in VAT. Other than that, I haven't looked much into this year's budget.

Krishna Hari Timalsina, 80, Farmer

We expected electricity bills to decrease, but instead they increased. We should be encouraging greater consumption of Nepal's electricity within Nepal by making it more affordable. I believe taxes are necessary, and the government has every right to collect them. However, the government also needs to show results. Where are the improvements in education and healthcare services? There needs to be a clear reason for increasing taxes. If the government provides quality services to the population, then increasing taxes is understandable. But right now, many people feel that taxes are increasing while services remain inadequate, which is why there is public frustration. I have an interest in politics, and compared to previous years, I think this government is doing a good job overall. This is simply one concern that I have. Now, we will have to wait and see how the government implements and executes this budget.

Hira Devi Bhandari, 47, Shopkeeper

I don’t pay much attention to the budget. People like us who live as tenants will have a hard time adjusting to the increase in electricity costs, and it puts us at a disadvantage. Another concern is that when the cost of basic utilities rises, landlords may also pass those costs on to tenants. This means that it can gradually increase the overall cost of living. For families who already have difficulty managing rent, food, education, and other daily expenses, even small increases can make a huge difference. Other than that, I have not looked into the budget in much detail.

Krishna Prasad Pantha, 60, Retired bureaucrat

The size of the budget is considerably large. Overall, my analysis of the current budget is positive. It seems to consider almost every sector and focuses on industrial development, the market, and the country's economic and financial capacity. Its emphasis on infrastructure development and good governance is also a strong aspect. The plan to close down institutions and organizations that have been operating at a loss for years without significant productivity is a good decision. Redirecting those resources and budgets to more productive sectors could be great for the country. The government has also set a target of 7 percent economic growth. However, reaching that target may be difficult. There could also be challenges in managing and financing such a large budget, especially considering our current debt levels and overall financial situation, which is not very strong. One concern I have is the VAT on electricity consumption above 50 units. This could have a significant impact on common working-class people. If there is an opportunity to review any part of the budget, it should be reconsidered. The focus on digital platforms and the expansion of digital services is another very positive aspect of this budget. Overall, the budget appears ambitious, but its success will depend on the government's financial commitments.

Shyam Prasad Ojha, 52, Development professional  

The current budget seems to be very large. Its objectives and goals appear to match the country's needs. However, the main question is where Nepal will obtain the financial resources to support it. How will Nepal finance such a deficit budget? The country's existing debt obligations could create challenges in securing and managing the required funding. The idea of taxing luxury and expensive vehicles at higher rates while imposing lower taxes on more affordable vehicles seems fair in principle. However, we still have to see how these policies will be implemented in practice. Overall, the budget appears strong in theory, although some of its targets and plans seem somewhat ambitious. The focus on the development of AI and digital platforms is also a very positive aspect. In today's world, investing in technology is extremely important, and it could help Nepal keep pace with global technological advancements. Expanding digital services and technological capacity may create new opportunities for economic growth and modernization in the future.

Swyika KC, 25, Pharmacist

The increase in VAT on electricity is a negative aspect of this budget. On the other hand, the increase in the salaries of nurses who work night shifts is a very positive step. However, other workers who also perform night duties should receive similar wage increases for their night shifts. The reduction in taxes and charges on electric vehicles is also a good decision. It will encourage the use of electric transportation. At the same time, the prices of utilities and everyday goods are increasing. Therefore, wages should also increase to keep pace with inflation, similar to how the salaries of government employees were raised. Private workers are also not getting adequate holidays. During this week's four day public holiday period, many of us only received our usual one day off. If employees work additional hours or on holidays, they should be compensated with extra wages. Overall, it feels like the budget has mainly focused on government workers. While there are some positive measures, I would have liked to see more attention given to the concerns of private-sector employees and ordinary working people.

Bhagirath Bhattrai, 30, Fruit seller

For Nepal to move forward and become a developed country, we need reliable sources of revenue. One way to do that is by increasing exports and reducing our imports. To achieve this, the government is focusing on increasing domestic production and encouraging goods to be produced within Nepal. From that perspective, an additional Rs 5 on every Rs 100 of electricity consumption is not a very large amount for many people. We need to understand that the government requires revenue to invest in the country's development. Of course, some people may be significantly affected by such increases. But, for many of us, we need to think of this in a  positive way. We should also make a greater effort to buy products made in Nepal and support domestic industries. For these reasons, I think this year's budget is a positive one overall. We just need to work together to make these goals a reality.

Samidhya Shrestha, 45, Private sector employee

From a woman’s perspective, Nepal’s budget is more growth-oriented than welfare-oriented. It emphasizes entrepreneurship, employment generation, digitalization, infrastructure development, and private-sector investment, which can create long-term opportunities for women to become more economically independent. Overall, the budget has the potential to improve women's economic participation and income opportunities, but its real success will depend on effective implementation, accessibility of programs, and whether the benefits reach women across urban and rural Nepal. If implemented well, it could contribute to greater financial empowerment for women; if implementation falls short, many of the promised benefits may remain largely on paper.

Suchita Amatya, 44, Businesswoman

The good aspects of this year’s budget are the increase in the salaries of government workers, as well as the investment-focused policies aimed at making Nepal an attractive destination for foreign and private investment. However, the increase in electricity prices might cause some hardship among the working class. Along with electricity, the prices of petrol and cooking gas are also rising, which means that switching to alternatives such as induction cooking is less convenient. I also support the provision that encourages those who are financially well-off not to take social security allowances, while ensuring that those who genuinely need them can continue to receive them. Overall, I think this budget is better than the previous one. I believe that this government needs to set a new precedent for the future.

Having worked and researched on the details of Nepal’s first parliamentary elections of 1959 for a book, I was waiting for 2028 to make my book public as that was the year Nepal was scheduled to hold the calendar parliamentary elections. However, following the GenZ revolt of 8-9 Sept 2025, Nepal’s parliament was dissolved prompting an early parliamentary election. I had to release my book before election day (March 5). Interestingly, the public mandate of the recent elections has many similarities to that of Nepal’s pioneering parliamentary elections of 1959. 

Two-thirds majority

Nepal’s parliamentary history has seen five majority parliaments as of 2026. Still, the elections of 1959 and 2026 have two-thirds majority. In 1959, Nepali Congress bagged 74 of the 109 total seats. This time, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) got 182 of the 275-seat House of Representatives. RSP is just bereft of two seats for two-thirds. The only huge majority after 1959 was the 2017 elections when the Nepal Communist Party, after the merger of two communist parties—CPN-UML and CPN (Moist Center)—secured 174 of the 275 seats. At least in numbers, RSP is the strongest parliament force after 1959 election results. The 1959 result was partly an outcome of the Nepali Congress-led armed struggle in 1950-51 which overthrew the 104-year-old Rana regime. Likewise, RSP won the 2026 elections after the overthrow of the historic coalition government of the UML and Nepali Congress with almost two-thirds majority by GenZs.

Heads roll, six parties in the House 

Echoing the similar trend of 1959, Nepal’s 2026 elections also witnessed the electoral losses by Nepal’s party heads. For instance, Gagan Thapa, the president of Nepal’s then largest party, the Nepali Congress, lost to Amresh Kumar Singh, the newly inducted member of RSP with a vote margin of more than 12,000. Until 2017, Singh had won elections as Nepali Congress leader from the same constituency—Sarlahi-4, adjacent to India’s Bihar state. In a similar fashion, former Prime Minister and chairperson of Nepal’s second largest political party—UML—lost to the PM candidate of RSP, Balendra Shah, by a vote margin of almost 50,000. Except RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane and Nepali Communist Party coordinator Puspa Kamal Dahal, all party heads lost the vote. This was the case even in 1959 where the only party head winning the election was Nepali Congress President BP Koirala. Six parties came to the parliament from this election and the same was the figure even in the first parliamentary elections. 

In 1959, the six parties included Nepali, Congress, Nepali Rastrawadi Gorakha Parisad, Samyukta Prajatantra Party, Nepali Communist Party, Nepal Praja Parisad (Acharya Faction) and Nepal Praja Parisad (Mishra faction). Today’s six parties are RSP, Nepali Congress, UML, Nepali Communist Party, Shram Sanskriti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). 

In 1959, there were four independent parliamentarians in the parliament. This time around, the figure is one. 

Communist position 

In 1959, Nepal Communist Party was ranked a distant fourth position with single digit seats of four out of 109-seat houses. This time also, Nepal’s two major communist parties have just secured single digit seats in first-past-the-post elections for 165 seats with UML’s nine and Nepali Communist Party’s eight. However, after adding seats from the proportional representation system, their seats totaled 25 and 17, respectively. However, first party RSP stands tall with 182 seats followed by second-placed Nepali Congress’ 38 seats. For the first time, Nepal’s communist parties have been evicted both from the government formation and main opposition seat after 1959. 

Women’s victory

Victory of Nepal’s lone woman candidate, Dwarikadevi Thakurani Chanda, in 1959 made it the frontpage news in The New York Times with the headline ‘Woman named in Nepal’. This was at a time when some advanced western nations like Switzerland didn’t provision voting rights for women. This election was also good for women candidates compared to two other elections before. Fourteen women came victorious in the first-past-the-post format. Out of them, 13 are from RSP and one from Nepali Congress. In the parliamentary elections of 2017, six women won the direct election. Even in the 2022 elections, only nine women made their way to Nepal's federal parliament by winning direct election. 

Global gaze 

Nepal’s elections of 1959 and 2026 raised eyebrows from around the world. In 1959, the major issue was that Nepal  held its first parliamentary elections, first after the dawn of democracy in 1951. The recent elections were held after the historic GenZ revolt. Various world media extensively reported on Nepal’s 1959 elections. The Time magazine wrote, “Literacy is so low (six percent) that parties were identified on the ballot boxes by pictures. The whole idea of an election, in fact, is so foreign to Nepalis that they have no word for “vote,” and were obliged to borrow the English. What was surprising was that, despite these handicaps, Nepal ran smoother elections than many more advanced nations.” The elections of 2026 were also widely reported by various global media giants.