Nepal’s Gen Z Protests: Tourism Under Strain

In early September 2025, Nepal witnessed widespread youth-led protests, often dubbed the Gen Z protests, triggered by a ban on 26 social media platforms, perceivedcorruption among elites, and a generational demand for greater freedom and accountability. The unrest led to significant destruction: public buildings, luxury hotels, transportation links, and tourist hub areas felt the damage

Impacts on Tourism: Not Total Collapse, But Dangerous Disruptions

While the damage has been serious, the effect on tourism has been limited in some respects — yet severe in others.

What’s been hit:

Hotels and property damage: Two dozen or more hotels across Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other tourist regions were vandalized, looted, or worse. The Hilton Kathmandu alone suffered damage estimated at over NPR 8 billion.

Booking cancellations: Many foreign and domestic tourists cancelled plans for September (a time when tourism is usually picking up). In some regions hotel occupancy plunged to ~10-15%, compared to expected ~80% in peak season.

Loss in revenue: The tourism sector is estimated to have lost over NPR25 billion due to the protests. What wasn’t completely destroyed: Trekking, pilgrimage, and adventure travel in remote regions remained less affected— many trekking permits are still being issued, and many trails outside the main conflict-zones are open. The tourism industry isn’t new to crises — earthquakes, blockades, and COVID-19dealt heavy blows in recent years, and Nepal has managed recoveries. So far, there is confidence among many stakeholders that tourism can rebound. Why the Impacts Are Limited

There are several reasons the damage, while serious, hasn’t led to total collapse: Geographical spread of tourist attractions: Many trekking routes, rural lodges, and remote destinations are physically far from the centers of protest, so they continue to operate with less disruption. Short duration of the worst unrest: The most intense damage happened over a few days. Once curfews lifted, transport resumed, tourists were evacuated or moved, and normal activity began returning. Strong existing reputation: Nepal’s natural beauty, trekking culture, and spiritual pilgrimage remain strong draws; many tourists still want to come, especially those less deterred by short-term disturbances. Quick response by industry and government: Hotel Association Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board, and tour operators have already begun damage assessments, safety messaging, and campaigns to rebuild confidence both domestically and internationally. What the Future Holds: Risks &Opportunities Risks:

Reputational damage: Even short-term conflict tends to leave lingering perceptions of instability. Tourists planning far ahead (for trekking, festivals, etc.) may choose alternate destinations if they fear more unrest or poorly handled security. Economic knock-on effects: Hotel closures, lost jobs in service sectors tied to tourism (guides, transport, food vendors) will hurt communities, especially in tourist hubs. Some workers may find it hard to recover. Political uncertainty: If protests, government turnover, and social unrest become recurring, that uncertainty can deter long-term investment in infrastructure, marketing, and hotel development.

Opportunities:

Policy reform & youth engagement: The protests show young Nepalese are demanding more transparency, accountability, and digital freedoms. If the government addresses those demands, it could build better social cohesion and stability — which benefit tourism. Stronger crisis communication: Recovering trust will require strong, transparent communication: showing what’s been done to restore safety, how affected infrastructure is being repaired, and how tourists will be protected.

Diversification: Boosting tourism in off-peak season, in less visited or rural areas, could reduce reliance on a few hot spots. Adventure, cultural, eco-tourism could be expanded.

Domestic tourism: When foreign visitor numbers drop, encouraging domestic travel can soften the blow and help sustain related businesses. The Gen Z protests have dealt Nepal’s tourism sector a heavy blow —both in loss of property and revenue — particularly because they came just as the peak season was starting. But the damage is not irreparable. The fact that many trekking areas and remote destinations remain accessible, and that institutions have begun acting quickly, is a hopeful sign. For the future, much will depend on political stability, government responses to root causes of protest (like corruption and digital freedom), and how well tourism stakeholders can rebuild confidence among travelers. If those align, Nepal has a chance to recover relatively swiftly — though some scars may linger in local communities and in perceptions abroad. Author Ashutosh Karki