PATA Nepal Chapter Elects New Executive Committee, Honors Heroes of the Bhotekoshi Flood Crisis at 51st Anniversary

PATA Nepal Chapter elected a new Executive Committee with Narendra Deo Bhatta as Chairman at its 47th AGM and 51st Anniversary on 25 September 2026 at The Plaza, Lalitpur, and honored individuals for their contributions during the Bhotekoshi flood crisis.

Kathmandu The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter concluded its 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 51st Anniversary celebration, held on September 25, 2026, at The Plaza, Lalitpur, under the theme "Resilient Nepal." The AGM unanimously elected a new Executive Committee, with Mr. Narendra Deo Bhatta, Managing Director of Heritage Tours & Travel, as Chairman. He succeeds Mr. Khem Lakai, who had served as Chairman since June 6, 2024, and who remains on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past Chairman.

New Chairman Takes Office

Upon his election, Mr. Bhatta said, "I am deeply honored and humbled by this opportunity. It is with profound gratitude and a great sense of responsibility that I step into the role of Chairman of PATA Nepal Chapter. I want to thank Mr. Khem Lakai for his dedicated leadership and the strong foundation he has built over the past two years. As we mark 51 years of public-private partnership in Nepal's tourism sector, and as our country continues to recover from the recent Bhotekoshi flood disaster, I look forward to working with the Executive Committee and all our members and partners at the national and international levels, including PATA and the PATA Foundation, to rebuild with resilience, support the affected communities and destinations, and carry Nepal's tourism industry forward with one voice."

Office Bearers

• Chairman: Mr. Narendra Deo Bhatta, Managing Director, Heritage Tours & Travel

• General Secretary: Ms. Romi Aryal, Managing Director, Square Hotel

• Honorary Treasurer: Mr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, Chairman, Alpine Rescue Service

• Immediate Past Chairman: Mr. Khem Lakai

Executive Members

• Mr. Vijay Shrestha, Vice President, Himalaya Airlines

• Mr. Suman Ghimire, Executive Director, Jungle Safari Lodge Pvt. Ltd.

• Mr. Sunil Bahadur Bhattarai, Executive Director, Busy Bee Café

• Ms. Maya Sakya, Director, Sales & Marketing, Park Village Hotel & Resort

• Ms. Sarita Lama, Managing Director, Off the Wall Trekking Pvt. Ltd.

• Mr. Siddhartha Bikram Thapa, Managing Director, Marcopolo Travels

• Mr. Bashudev Dhungana, Managing Director, Banbas Chitwan

Proxy Members

Seven Proxy Members were also elected to the Executive Committee:

• Mr. Dinesh Maharjan, CEO, HighGround Adventure Nepal
• Mr. Jan Bishwokarma, Executive Director, Khumbila Hotel
• Mr. Sanjay Bhakta Mathema, President, Go Travels Nepal
• Mr. Ankit Sharma, General Manager, Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort
• Mr. Basanta Gautam, Chairman, Temple Tree Resort
• Mr. Prakash Lama, Managing Director, Mega Treks & Expedition
• Mr. Suman Maharjan, General Manager, The Plaza

Public-Sector Members

The Executive Committee also includes six public-sector members:

• First Vice Chairman: CEO, Nepal Tourism Board
• Second Vice Chairman: Marketing Director, Nepal Airlines
• Ex Officio Members: Director General, Department of Tourism; Director General, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal; Corporate Director, Nepal Airlines; and a representative of Nepal Tourism Board

Heroes of the Bhotekoshi Flood Crisis Honored 

At the formal ceremony, PATA Nepal Chapter also honored seven individuals for their extraordinary courage, humanity, and contributions to Nepal during the recent Bhotekoshi flood crisis and beyond. The honorees were:

• Professor Arnold Dix, International Tunnelling and Underground-Space Specialist
• Captain Priya Adhikari, Nepal's First Female Helicopter Captain
• Mr. André Lüthi, Author and President, Globetrotter
• Mr. Dylan Dugas, World Central Kitchen
• Mr. Rajendra Dawadi, Head Teacher, Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School
• Mr. Bikram Karki, Search and Rescue Team Leader; Mountain Rescue Coordinator, Nepal Mountaineering Association
• Ms. Choy Teh, Head of PR & Partnerships / Destination Strategist at Horus Development & Consulting

Keynote and Remarks

The outgoing Chairman, Mr. Khem Lakai, thanked all members and stakeholders of Nepal's tourism sector for their continued collaboration and support. He called on everyone present to work together with one voice toward a faster recovery and the sustainable growth of tourism in the country.

PATA Foundation Chair Mr. Andrew Jones delivered the keynote address. He reflected on Nepal's resilience over the years and reaffirmed that Nepal remains a priority for PATA, which will continue to support the country through these challenging times. He also highlighted the PATA Foundation's Nepal Tourism Recovery Fund, including its plans to support the livelihoods of tourism workers and to support PATA Nepal Chapter and its Student Chapter.

The ceremony also featured special remarks from Mr. Sunil Sakya, former Chairman of PATA Nepal Chapter, and Mr. Dipendra Purush Dhakal, former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.

The Chief Guest, Hon. Sumnima Udas, Member of Parliament and Chair of the International Relations and Tourism Committee, congratulated PATA Nepal Chapter on its remarkable 51-year journey and its contribution to the promotion and development of Nepal's tourism industry. She also spoke about the impact of the recent floods and the need for coordinated recovery efforts between the government and the private sector.