KATHMANDU: Khadakraj Paudel, newly appointed Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, assumed office at Singha Durbar on Friday, hours after taking the oath of office and secrecy from President Ramchandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas, vowing to make the ministry the starting point of Nepal's prosperity blueprint.

Welcomed by the ministry's secretary, departmental heads, and staff, Paudel wasted little time in laying out his priorities — and his philosophy.

"The tourism ministry is a ministry close to my heart, but it is also a challenging one," he told ministry staff. "I am myself a writer and a trekker, so I am familiar with the problems of this sector. We must now accelerate the country's journey toward prosperity with the public interest at the centre."

Destination-based tourism and pilgrimage trails

Paudel outlined a vision of developing Nepal as a destination-based tourism economy, built around both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. A particular focus, he said, will be the development of trekking and pilgrimage trails linked to each of Nepal's major religions — an approach that could open new tourism corridors beyond the established Himalayan trekking routes.

Key priorities

The minister identified four immediate priority areas for his tenure:

• Air connectivity emerged as the most urgent concern, with Paudel committing to accelerating the expansion of Nepal's air links and fast-tracking the addition of aircraft to the Nepal Airlines Corporation fleet — a long-stalled process that has hampered the national carrier's ability to compete on international routes.
• On policy reform, Paudel announced plans to restructure the Tourism Board and create a more private sector-friendly environment — signalling a shift toward greater industry partnership in driving tourism growth.
• Infrastructure investment will also be stepped up, with increased capital directed toward tourism infrastructure and a commitment to promoting Nepal's heritage sites through visual media.
• Transparency and accountability within the ministry and its subordinate bodies rounded out his stated priorities, with Paudel promising that all decisions would be collective, merit-based, and free from outside influence. "I will not be swayed by any temptation. All decisions will be collective and unified," he said. "Performance will be evaluated on the basis of meritocracy. We must work not merely as officials but as architects of nation-building."