The Nepal Tourism Board has denied reports suggesting that the country introduced fresh restrictions for Indian tourists crossing the Nepal-India border, per a report by NDTV.
The clarification came after several media reports and online posts claimed Indians would face limits on their stay and stricter travel rules in Nepal.
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Nepal dismisses reports as misleading
In an official statement, the Nepal Tourism Board said no new policy had been introduced to restrict Indian visitors. The Board said reports about mandatory identity cards, stay limits, and vehicle confiscation were incorrect.
“The Board has expressed serious concern about the misleading and factually incorrect information being circulated by different media outlets and online platforms regarding travel regulations for Indian visitors to Nepal,” the statement said, as per NDTV reports.
It further added, “Reports claiming that the Government of Nepal has imposed new restrictions requiring mandatory identity cards for Indians crossing the Nepal-India border, capped Indian tourist stays at 30 days, or authorised confiscation of vehicles for overstays are entirely false, baseless, and misleading.”
No changes to India-Nepal border arrangements
The Nepal Tourism Board clarified that there had been no changes to the long-standing open-border understanding between India and Nepal. According to the statement, travel arrangements and bilateral cooperation between the two countries remain unchanged.
“The Government of Nepal has introduced no new policy restricting the duration of stay for Indian tourists, nor has any change been made to the longstanding open-border arrangements and bilateral understandings between Nepal and India,” the statement said.
The Board also highlighted the close ties shared by the two neighbouring countries through tourism, culture, and people-to-people connections.
Online vehicle permit system introduced
Officials also clarified that a recently launched online facilitation system for foreign vehicles entering Nepal was only meant to simplify travel procedures. The digital platform allows travellers entering Nepal through land borders with private vehicles to complete temporary permits and revenue payments online.
“Under this newly launched digital system developed by the Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance, foreign vehicles entering Nepal can now complete temporary entry permits and revenue payments entirely online,” the Tourism Board said, according to NDTV reports.
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According to the statement, the move was aimed at reducing inconvenience at border checkpoints and improving the visitor experience.
The Nepal Tourism Board stressed that Nepal continues to be a safe and welcoming destination for Indian travellers and international tourists.
