A recent study has revealed significant gaps in safety measures across Nepal's hotels, resorts, and homestays, raising concerns about security risks. The National Hotel and Restaurant Survey-2080 , released by the National Statistics Office on Wednesday, highlights the widespread absence of fire safety equipment, CCTV surveillance, and 24-hour security in these establishments. Conducted during Fiscal Year 2022/23 , the survey found that 90.4 percent of hotels and resorts do not have 24-hour security, 83.5 percent lack fire safety equipment, and 73.4 percent do not have CCTV surveillance cameras.

Despite these findings, Dinesh Chuke, President of the Federation of Hotel Entrepreneurs Nepal, has questioned the accuracy of the report. According to him, most hotels with more than 10 rooms have at least a CCTV camera installed at the gate, and fire safety equipment is commonly available among their members. He further argued that implementing such safety measures is not prohibitively expensive, casting doubt on the validity of the survey's data.

The report, however, does not specify which hotels lack these safety features. National Statistics Office Director Rajesh Dhital clarified that the survey focused on the availability of these facilities within hotel premises. He attributed the gaps primarily to rural areas and smaller hotels, where safety features like fire safety equipment and CCTV cameras are often missing. Even some urban hotels lack these facilities, Dhital added, emphasizing the survey’s role in highlighting security risks and providing valuable insights for policymakers and hotel management.

While star-rated hotels generally adhere to safety standards, the findings underline the urgent need for improvement across the broader hospitality sector, according to Dhital.