KATHMANDU: Senior Director Hikmat Singh Aire has been assigned the role of acting chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board.

According to a decision taken yesterday by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Aire has been given the responsibility to function as the head of the office.

The government removed CEO Deepak Raj Joshi from his position after introducing an ordinance. The post had remained vacant following that decision.

To fill the gap, Aire has been appointed acting CEO on the basis of seniority. He has been working at the board for 26 years and has served as head of various departments for the past 15 years. He has also previously taken charge as acting CEO during leadership gaps.

In a circular, the ministry stated that Aire will oversee daily administration, policy implementation, programme coordination, and tourism promotion activities. The letter noted that he was given the responsibility to ensure continuity in management and prevent disruption to regular operations.

Aire is a senior director with long experience in tourism administration and management within the board. He has led various projects and programmes in the past.

Tourism stakeholders have said the leadership change is expected to ensure policy continuity and smooth implementation of programmes.

Under his leadership, the NTB is expected to prioritise tourism promotion, strengthen Nepal’s presence in international markets, and improve internal management.