NTB, UNDP launch wellness therapy training for sexual minorities

Kathmandu, July 15

A 28-day Wellness Therapy Training for members of the LGBTIQ+ community has begun in Kathmandu, on Wednesday.

The training has brought together nine participants with the shared aspiration of building professional skills, enhancing their livelihoods, and contributing to Nepal's emerging wellness tourism sector, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

The training is organised with the support of the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP), a joint initiative of the NTB and UNDP Nepal in coordination with the Blue Diamond Society (BDS).

“The initiative reflects the project's commitment to creating equitable employment opportunities and ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities, and sexual and gender minorities are able to participate meaningfully in Nepal's growing tourism economy,” read a statement from the organisers.

The 28-day intensive programme combines both theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on training. Participants will develop a foundational understanding of human anatomy and physiology, professional ethics, client care, hygiene and safety standards, and wellness service delivery.

The practical component equips trainees with market-oriented skills in full-body massage, foot massage, head and shoulder massage, and other therapeutic techniques designed to meet the evolving needs of the wellness and hospitality industry.

The initiative comes at a significant time as the government has declared 2027 as ‘Nepal Wellness Year’, reaffirming its commitment to positioning the country as a premier global wellness destination.

The initiative also seeks to diversify Nepal's tourism offerings beyond trekking and mountaineering while generating dignified employment and sustainable income opportunities for local communities.

The government has recently developed a National Wellness Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. The strategy aims to establish quality standards, strengthen professional competencies, promote ethical and safe wellness practices, and elevate wellness therapy into a recognised, respected, and decent profession capable of creating sustainable employment across the country.

By equipping LGBTIQ+ individuals with professional wellness skills, the training contributes directly to the broader objectives of Nepal Wellness Year 2027 by expanding the country's skilled wellness workforce while promoting social inclusion and economic empowerment.

Speaking on the occasion, Hikmat Singh Ayer,  CEO of the NTB, said that through the training initiative, they are ensuring that the members of the LGBTIQ+ community are not only beneficiaries but active contributors to Nepal's evolving wellness tourism industry.

"Nepal's vision for Wellness Year 2027 is founded on the principle that the benefits of tourism must reach every community. Wellness tourism presents new opportunities for dignified employment, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth,” he said.

According to him, the NTB is committed to promoting tourism that is inclusive, respectful, and accessible to all. Empowering marginalised communities through professional skills development strengthens both social equity and the competitiveness of Nepal's tourism sector.

The National Project Manager of STP, Dharmaraj Dawadi, said that inclusive skills development remains central to the project's approach.

"Creating pathways to decent employment for marginalised communities is fundamental to sustainable tourism development. By investing in professional wellness skills, we are supporting individuals to build confidence, access dignified livelihoods, and contribute to Nepal's growing wellness tourism market,” he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 July 2026.