Issue: In light of the rising COVID-19 cases in neighbouring countries, how do we minimize the impact of COVID in Nepal?

Medical expert suggestions:

• pre-travel COVID testing requirements
• mandatory vaccination cards
• randomized testing at the airports and other points of entry and
• genome sequencing of a certain percentage of positive cases
• revival of close collaboration of security forces in the border checkpoints to ensure testing
• sensitization of precautions such as mask-wearing, hand washing, testing etc.

Given that any form of travel restrictions imposed will directly impact the nascent recovery of the tourism industry, it was imperative to consult tourism entrepreneurs in the country. They expressed that the tourism industry had never been consulted previously while developing COVID combat strategies.

Recommendations: The CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, in collaboration with tourism entrepreneurs, proposed:

• protocols for land/air arrivals
• protocols for trekking, mountaineering, rafting, sightseeing and domestic airlines,
• land border visitors’ entry protocol.
• countering misinformation about Nepal via diplomatic missions
• standardization of rescue flights
• immunization and dissemination of all COVID-related information through one channel.

Status: The agenda was then handed over to MPs who are also medical doctors.