BANGKOK, 9 September 2026: Pacific Asia Travel Association chairman Henry Oh presents an impassioned plea for the travel industry to stand alongside families and communities in Nepal, while also helping ensure that Nepal’s tourism economy can continue to support livelihoods and contribute to recovery.
In a message to the association’s global membership, Oh said:
“Our thoughts are with Nepal following the devastating flash floods of 26 August, which have caused significant loss of life and widespread damage along specific river corridors in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli areas, particularly in Rasuwa district and downstream communities.
“Our deepest condolences go to the families who have lost loved ones, and our solidarity goes to our colleagues, their families, local communities, guides, drivers, porters, and tourism businesses directly affected by the disaster. We also extend our respect to the first responders, search and rescue teams, and all those working in extremely difficult conditions.”
“At the same time, as the situation continues to develop, it is important that we provide travellers and tourism stakeholders with an accurate picture of what has been affected — and what has not.
“The impact of the floods is significant, but it is geographically concentrated. The vast majority of Nepal remains unaffected and continues to welcome visitors. Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and the Annapurna region, the Everest and Khumbu region, Chitwan, Bardiya, Lumbini and the Terai, as well as Nepal’s airports and major tourism infrastructure, continue to operate. The affected areas are concentrated along specific corridors, including parts of Rasuwa, Langtang and the Bhote Koshi, where search and rescue and recovery operations are ongoing.
“For international travellers and the tourism industry, this distinction matters. Nepal is a country of extraordinary geographic and cultural diversity, and conditions in one river corridor should not be taken to represent the situation across the entire country. We therefore encourage travel businesses, media, travellers and other tourism stakeholders to rely on verified information and to assess travel plans based on the specific destination or route concerned.
“For Nepal’s tourism community, continued responsible travel to unaffected destinations is also an important way of standing with the country at this difficult time. Tourism provides livelihoods for millions of people, and continued visitor activity in destinations that remain operational can help sustain businesses, workers and communities. At the same time, recovery efforts focus on the areas most directly affected.
“Nepal has been part of the PATA family since our earliest years. The PATA Nepal Chapter and Student Chapter are among the most active in our network, and our connections across the country extend far beyond our membership. At a time like this, our responsibility is to stand alongside our colleagues, their families and communities, while also helping ensure that Nepal’s tourism economy can continue to support livelihoods and contribute to recovery.”
OH’s message identifies two support paths
Give to the Nepal Tourism Recovery Fund
The PATA Foundation’s Nepal Tourism Recovery Fund will be live shortly, focused on recovering tourism livelihoods — the guides, drivers and porters, and the families running the homestays, lodges, teahouses and small hotels along the affected corridor. Many of these families have lost their premises and their equipment as well as their homes, and with them the income they would have earned this season. Helping them rebuild is how income returns to the affected communities, and it is work our industry is well placed to support.
“This is where we are asking members, their customers and their networks to direct support.”
Oh confirmed the association will share the donation route through PATA’s channels and on patafoundation.org, which he asked members to be ready to pass it on to their own customers and networks.
“If your organisation would like to contribute directly, or discuss a larger commitment, write to [email protected] now, and we will come back to you.”
Check what you are telling travellers about Nepal
“As set out above, the effects of the floods are concentrated along one river corridor. International coverage has not consistently made that distinction, and trips are being cancelled to parts of Nepal that were not affected. This is also the main planning and booking season for travel to the country, which makes the accuracy of published information particularly important at this moment,” Oh concluded
Where to get accurate information
NepalNow — the Nepal Tourism Board’s live travel information page, updated daily, with destination-by-destination status, a corridor map, traveller FAQs and emergency contacts: nepalnow.travel
Rely on figures issued by Nepal Police and the NDRRMA, and do not repeat unverified numbers.
PATA Nepal Chapter — www.pata.org.np
The Chapter will confirm operating conditions in the affected region as the situation stabilises. Chairman
Contact PATA Foundation
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)Foundation enquiries: [email protected]
(Source: PATA)
