It was close to midnight on the twenty-seventh day of the month of May in the year 2008 AD when Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic. Nepal is no more a kingdom and it is likely that the country will have a President in the near future as the head of state. This epochal change in the state structure has brought new implications in the form of opportunities and challenges in all economic spheres including tourism.

For over 50 years, Nepal was promoted as the Himalayan Kingdom and the only Hindu state in the world. Since then Nepal has attracted a fair share of world’s most reputed personalities not to mention kings and queens, prince, princess, billionaires, rock stars, tennis icons, and tourists of all shades.

Given the revelry and the occasional glamorous rituals commanded within the cultural and social life of Nepalese the royal family held its own charm and charisma for tourists and travelers coming from far and wide.

The first batch of tourists is believed to have come in the year 1955 in the initiation of the legendary Boris Lissanevitch of the Royal Hotel. Their fascination to buy handicraft and take up sightseeing tours in Nepal made late Crown Prince Mahendra grant ‘tourist visas’ to the foreigners. That is how Nepal’s tourism got a jump start.

The 1956 coronation of King Mahendra is regarded as another milestone in tourism promotion when heads of state from various countries visited Nepal along with their international press entourage. One of the high-profile state visit was made by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in 1961 during which the entire airstrip of Meghauli was carved out.

This has today become a tourist destination along with annual events like Elephant Polo. Some of the other dignitaries who visited Nepal include Emperor of Japan, Queen of Denmark, President of Romania, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Princess Anne and Princess Diana.

The construction of Chaysalin Mandap in Bhaktapur Durbar Square by German Chancellor Kohl and the popularity of ‘Royal Trek’ pioneered by Prince of Wales himself were just a few of the memorable events that had lasting impression on Nepal’s tourism image.