The Hospitality Sector in Nepal: How Can You Land a Good Job?

The hospitality industry is growing fast in Nepal and needs good employees who are passionate about providing great service. While there are certain niche skills required for this sector, there are a few universally vital qualities one should have to succ

“Atithi Devo Bhava,” which literally translates to guest is god, is a popular expression in Nepal. In a country like Nepal where tourism is the major source of income, the hospitality industry has been booming at large. The total number of tourists coming to Nepal has been increasing every year. In 2018, the international tourists coming to Nepal was recorded at about 1.1 million, which is a 24% increase over 2017 . Their purpose of visit also differs from trekking in the Himalayas to coming for a pilgrimage. As the hospitality industry mostly revolves around hotels, restaurants and some travel companies, Nepal is not lagging behind in the numbers of institutions providing hospitality service. But most top-class industries are distributed in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan only. Other highly potential destinations lack good hotels mainly due to the unavailability of road networks, proper infrastructure and transportation facilities. The government of Nepal is gradually working to provide equal opportunities to all the parts including the rural ones by properly maintaining and the upgrading the infrastructure. 

When it comes to hospitality in Nepal, it is not only limited to hotels and restaurants. People have also started the concept of homestay. Homestays are a popular form of hospitality where visitors stay in a residence with the locals of the place where they are travelling. The homestay option offers several benefits like exposure to the local culture, traditions and opportunity to get to know the destination through the eyes of the locals. It certainly isn’t luxurious and may not be as comfortable as other types of lodging but it is a unique way to familiarize yourself with a new place. There are also other hospitality trends in Nepal like OYO rooms and Airbnb, which use modern amenities to provide hospitality service. If you prefer an affluent setting when coming to Nepal, there are numerous standard deluxe hotels such as Soaltee Crown Plaza, The Dwarika’s Hotel, Hotel Del’Annapurna, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, Hotel Malla, Marriott Kathmandu Hotel, KGH Group of Hotels, Jagatpur Lodge and many others.

Nepal has a lot of different options in hospitality at its disposal. From providing good accommodation, authentic food and travel services, the sector of hospitality in Nepal is diverse. With so much diversity, services in every area should also be fulfilled and to provide the service, highly-trained manpower is required. Jagan Nath Timilsina, CEO of Freedom Adventures, a travel company in Pokhara, when asked how his company has been providing excellent hospitality services and how the staffs have succeeded to win over the customers said, “We as a travel company strive to improve our services by emphasizing on our employees first rather than the tourists because they are the ones who provide the service. The employees are provided with training programs and are constantly motivated so that our customers can feel comfortable working with them.”

Different hospitality schools have been introduced in Nepal to build the necessary workforce required for this sector. Some of the most popular ones are the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM), Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education (GATE), Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management and Academy of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. All these institutions provide the essential degrees and training to the young generation pursuing this sector. NATHM is one of the oldest institutions in Nepal providing hospitality education for students. The increasing number of people pursuing degrees in hospitality every year shows how this sector has possibilities of growing exponentially . At the same time, it also demands trained human resource who can sustain the increasing needs of this sector. 

The hospitality industry is growing fast in Nepal and needs good employees who are passionate about providing great service. While there are certain niche skills required in this sector, there are a few universally vital qualities one should have to succeed in the field of hospitality. As hospitality is all about customer satisfaction, you should make sure that they are content with the service they are receiving. You should be able to create a welcoming environment and radiate positive energy even in stressful situations. Coming up with creative solutions when problems arise really helps to earn the trust of customers. For instance, a chef might have to change the usual process of preparing food for a lactose-intolerant customer. Teamwork is also crucial for the hospitality industry as working in a team allows helping each other in busy hours so that no customer is left behind. In the same way, as you should cooperate with customers, you should do the same with your team to prosper in this sector. When asked what she thinks is the most necessary factor to land a good job in the hospitality sector, Sales Executive at Hotel Del’Annapurna Ms. Aastha Manandhar responded: “I think passion and aspiration are key factors if one wants to thrive in the hospitality industry. Of course, a good education is also required but without desire and passion nothing can be achieved.”