Nepal Picked Up Two PATA Tourism Awards This Month — and Just Named 2027 Its First 'Wellness Year'

Nepal's tourism industry picked up two international honours inside three months this year, then used a trade fair in Malaysia to announce it's adding a new pitch to its oldest one: alongside Everest and the classic treks, the country wants 2027 remembered as its first 'Wellness Year.'

The chapter award was presented at the PATA Chapter and Student Chapter Awards Ceremony at the Old Court House in Kuching, handed over by Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor and PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. PATA Nepal Chapter — founded in 1975 and now in its 51st year — was recognised for activities that 'best exemplify dedication to developing travel and tourism' across the Pacific Asia region. 'It was a proud moment for both PATA Nepal Chapter and Nepal to be recognised once again with the prestigious PATA Award of Excellence,' said chapter CEO Suresh Singh Budal.

The Nepal Tourism Board's award came earlier, at the PATA Annual Summit in Gyeongju and Pohang, South Korea, on 11 May 2026, recognising NTB's continuous PATA membership reaching back roughly six decades — one of the longest-standing in the region.

The pavilion: Everest, temples and yoga mats side by side

Both awards fed directly into Nepal's pitch at PATA Travel Mart 2026, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching and organised jointly by PATA Nepal Chapter, Nepal Airlines and the country's private trekking and travel trade. The fair drew more than 1,100 delegates from 48 countries, including 221 registered buyers from 215 companies across 29 source markets — the scale Nepal's stand was built to be seen at.

Inside the Nepal pavilion, the single biggest draw was the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon — the world's highest-altitude marathon, run from Everest Base Camp down through the Khumbu to Namche Bazaar each May, marking the anniversary of the first Everest ascent. Alongside it sat something Nepal has never formally pitched at a trade show before: wellness packages, positioned as the opening move toward 2027's Wellness Year.

What this means for trekkers

For trekkers planning ahead, our Everest Base Camp trek covers the same ground as the Everest Marathon route, and our yoga trek is exactly the kind of slower-paced itinerary Nepal is now promoting internationally a year ahead of its Wellness Year. Full regional detail on the Everest side is in our Everest guide.

Source: TTR Weekly — PATA Honours Nepal Chapter

Cover photo: Abdul Kayum via Pexels (Pexels License).