Kathmandu, March 10 -- It was exactly a year ago that Nepal went into lockdown after detecting its second case of Covid-19, devastating the tourism industry and impacting the economy. But despite a falling infection rate and the arrival of vaccines, the government has been slow to reopen tourism and restore the livelihoods of millions of Nepalis.

Instead of resuming visa on arrival, for instance, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Department of Immigration have a cumbersome and confusing process in place that is deterring all but the most determined travellers.

Although Nepal Tourism Board announced last week that recommendation letters for visas can now come from any entity in Nepal (not just trekking and mountaineering...