Japanese investors eye hospitality sector

Kathmandu, Sept. 5

Japanese businesspeople have expressed interest in making investment in Nepal's hospitality and tourism sector. In a discussion with Nepali entrepreneurs on Friday in Kathmandu, they said the prospects of political and policy stability following the formation of near-two-third majority government, has enhanced their confidence to invest in Nepal.

Business delegation led by Toshiyuki Nakamura had discussed the investment prospects with owner of Taro Treks and Expedition, and Taro Japanese Language Consultancy Bishal Bhattarai, President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal Sagar Pandey, Member of Hotel Association of Nepal Bidhata Shrestha, Director of Royal Express Cargo Pramod Dhakal, and tourism entrepreneurs Amrit Dhakal and Furi-G.Sherpa, among others.

"Initially, we are interested to make an investment in a Japanese cuisine restaurant," said Toshiyuki. He runs seven companies in Japan in hospitality, transport and logistics sectors. He has employed several Nepali workers in his companies and wants to launch a restaurant within a couple of years so that when Nepalis return from Japan they could be employed here. It is about employing the skilled workers in the field, he said.

Talking about the decreasing number of tourists, Japanese entrepreneurs said that the depreciating Japanese currency against the US dollar, increased flight fare and lack of direct connectivity had negatively impacted it. Stating that the media coverage of recent Bhotekoshi floods had scared them and they were about to cancel the trip to Nepal, they said that when they arrived here, the situation was otherwise.

Nepali entrepreneurs have expressed concerns over the decreasing number of Japanese tourists since the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bhattarai, who hosted the discussion, said that attracting tourists and investment is a highly sensitive issue, so the government, private sector and media should exhibit utmost sensitivity while dealing with them.

Nepali entrepreneurs also said that the government should launch initiative to tell the international community that the country is safe for tourism and investment, and only a small part of the country is affected by the devastating floods. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 6 September 2026.