Man Bahadur Shahi Elected As SOTTO President: Driving Nepal’s Tourism Growth In 2025
6th July 2025, Kathmandu
The Society of Travel and Tour Operators (SOTTO) Nepal, a common platform for Nepal’s travel and tour operators, has selected its new leadership. Man Bahadur Shahi, the operator of Farwest Travel and Tours Pvt. Ltd. and a tourism entrepreneur from the Far-Western region, has been unanimously elected as the new president.
Man Bahadur Shahi SOTTO President
With the slogan “Collective Voice for Prosperous Tourism”, a 15-member executive committee led by Shahi was elected during the general assembly held on Saturday in Kathmandu.
The newly elected executive committee includes:
First Vice President: Dinesh Basnet
Second Vice President: Madhav Kandel
General Secretary: Kumar Parajuli
Secretary: Kamal Bahadur Magar
Treasurer: Madhusudan Nepal
Deputy Treasurer: Anand Kumar Kshetri
Other executive members are Bindhu Pradhan, Om Joshi, Dasuram Gautam, Anisha Gyawali, Subodh Dhital, Prem Kumar Danuwar, and Sujit Yadav.
During the event, newly elected President Shahi expressed that it was a matter of pride to lead SOTTO Nepal. He stated, “Being elected as the president of SOTTO Nepal is not only an opportunity to represent the Far-Western region but also a major responsibility to serve the overall interests of Nepal’s tourism industry.”
President Shahi emphasized the need for collective effort, a transparent member selection process, collaboration with the government and stakeholders, and responsible leadership for the holistic development of the tourism sector. He also committed to focusing on destination promotion.
The event also honored Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, former presidents of SOTTO Nepal, and other distinguished individuals who have contributed to the tourism industry.
About SOTTO Nepal
Established in 1997, the Society of Travel and Tour Operators Nepal (SOTTO-Nepal) is a non-profit body working to grow Nepal’s tourism industry. It has over 300 members, including travel agencies, hotels, and restaurants. The group actively promotes Nepal as a prime travel destination.
SOTTO-Nepal partners with the Nepal Tourism Board to maintain quality standards and boost visitor numbers. It also runs training programs on customer service, travel planning, marketing, and sustainable tourism.
The organization leads and joins international trade shows, creates brochures, researches trends, and promotes Nepal for conferences and exhibitions (MICE). It pushes for tourism-friendly policies by working closely with the government and representing the industry publicly.
SOTTO-Nepal’s efforts have helped increase tourist arrivals by 10%, created over 10,000 jobs, and attracted $1 billion in tourism investments. It remains focused on tourism-led economic growth and poverty reduction across Nepal.
For more: Man Bahadur Shahi SOTTO President
