Climate change has serious impact on tourism: Minister Shrestha

Kathmandu. Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Shraddha Shrestha, has said that Nepal’s tourism sector is being affected by the impact of climate change. Speaking at the Nepal Tourism Symposium 2026, Shrestha said that Nepal’s tourism is deeply linked with natural landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage.

She said that climate-induced events like snowburst, erratic snowfall, landslide obstructing trekking route during trekking season, lack of water in tourist areas, loss of biodiversity and damage to heritages are increasing impact on tourism sector. “Nepal’s tourism sector is deeply linked to our natural landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage. However, severe climatic events such as snowbursts, erratic snowfall and landslides that block trekking and trekking routes, lack of water in tourist areas, loss of biodiversity and damage to heritage have affected tourism in an increasing way. ’

According to her, the decline in tourism sector has a direct impact on women. “In many tourism-dependent communities, women rely on informal and seasonal incomes,” she said. ’

Minister Shrestha said that women-oriented families will be the most affected by the economic challenges of climate change. She stressed the need of policies and programmes to make the tourism sector sustainable and climate-tolerant.