The Nepali kitchen has been in charge of women for years. It is heard that Nepalese scattered in every corner of the world remember and appreciate the 'taste of food cooked by mother' during the festival. In an agriculture-based society, it is an old tradition to eat grains, vegetables, milk and ghee grown in one's own fields.

The culinary art of Nepalese women who make delicious dishes with turmeric, ginger, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon, bay leaves, coriander, black pepper, marmalade, and mustard oil, which are rich in medicinal properties, is beneficial for health. Nepal's aromatic fresh food is more commendable than khanki which is made with a mixture of chemicals in western countries. 

Whether it is the balanced Nepali Thakali thali developed by the Thakali community or the original cooking of the Newari community, women have mixed emotions with traditional skills. These dishes are now spreading everywhere in the Nepali diaspora, they have reached there. However, it is like a taboo for women to make delicious food in the kitchens of normal hotels to five-star hotels that earn income in Nepal.

They are either filled with foreign safes, or filled with Nepali male safes or cooks. Why are women deprived of opportunities in hotel kitchens where the food prepared by women at home is delicious but the money comes in? Food cooked by mother/grandmother or wife at home is sweet, but why is it prohibited in hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, banquets, party palaces, resorts that are associated with hospitality?   

Foreign tourists are believed to have entered Nepal since 1792. On June 3, 1950, French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal climbed Annapurna I (8091 m), the highest mountain in the Annapurna Ice Range. Three years later, on May 29, 1953, explorers Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa from Nepal set foot on the world's highest peak, Mount Everest. After that, the tourist arrival in Nepal increased. In 1950, a Russian citizen, Boris Lisanevich, established the 'Royal Hotel' in Bahadur Bhawan, which is now the Election Commission, in Kantipath.

After this, hotels that cater to tourists were opened. Today there are 212 hotels in Nepal ranging from luxury deluxe to heritage, boutique and five star. Only 132 simple, deluxe and luxury resorts that have received permission from the tourism department have reached. 

Nepal has accumulated 75 years of experience in hospitality. However, we could not make it easy for women in the hotel. It shows the weakness of central government, state and local government. Recently the Government of Nepal conducted a national survey of hotels and restaurants. According to which, 5 trillion 43 billion private sector has invested in establishments related to accommodation and food for tourists including hotels, restaurants. In this, 44 percent of women investors are seen, while the share of men is 56 percent. Are 44 percent women in hospitality really ? It's not.

Property ownership by women cannot be said to be nearly equal to that of male entrepreneurs. We wanted to have a female CEO in Nepal's tourism sector from tourist level to five-star hotels. What is the presence of women in manager, safe, head? What policy did the Ministry of Tourism, Department of Tourism, Tourism Board, Hotel Association Nepal etc. bring to increase the presence of women in various positions? What tax exemptions were given to hotel operators? Neither the House of Representatives, nor the National Assembly, nor any committee of both these houses could address this issue? 

My ancestral profession is hotel business. My father Karna Shakya has decades of experience in Nepal's tourism and hotel sector. He was the coordinator of the first visit to Nepal in 1998. I have been the Managing Director of Maya Manor Boutique Hotel for 8 years. The Rana-era Habeli and Bungalow was established by my father as a boutique hotel 9 years ago. It cannot be assumed that women's participation in Nepal's hospitality sector has increased if a woman with a long family heritage and history like me is leading. 

Today there are dozens of hotel management colleges in and outside the capital. Hundreds of students are coming to the market after graduating from them every year. We are not able to create employment opportunities for them in Nepal. For four years, Maya Manor has been running a women-centric hot bazaar. The aim of this small initiative is to build confidence, encourage and inspire women entrepreneurs.

But the state has not paid attention to software-infrastructure. IT (Information Technology) field is easier for women. The hotel sector is relatively heavy. IT can be worked from home, but the hotel sector is a 24/7 industry. Physical work should be done. Even today, there are many challenges for women to work at night in major cities including Kathmandu. This disruption has started at home. 

In 2008, after completing A Level from Rato Bangla School, Patan, I came to America for higher education. I lived there for 10 years. Completed MA. Worked in the infrastructure and energy sectors, including the World Bank. There are loans based on 'credit score'. No mortgage required. The law has made it easy. However, collateral is mandatory to take a loan in Nepal. If a fresh graduate has to do any venture related to tourism, his idea will be wasted here. 

Now it seems that the number of five-star hotels established under foreign brands should be limited in Nepal. Because five-star hotels operated under the management of foreign brands are selling rooms at the price of tourist-level small and medium hotels. If they are star level, why 'fair-war' on the price? Either they are compromising on the quality of some service in the eco system related to dining, restaurant, service etc. or there is some other problem. Why is it not regulated by the Department of Tourism? Why didn't the government set the bottom line of service sales price when it was allowed? 

Talented manpower is migrating abroad. We are not in a position to stop. Because not many hotels are able to provide the services they demand due to 'fair-war'. So Five Star did not adopt much flexibility in 'room-rate'.

This is putting small and medium investors at risk. Bakeries, restaurants, tours, travel, hotels, homestays, lodge trekking companies, mountain climbing expedition companies, tour guides all started under the leadership of women will be affected. A large population is dependent on it. There was a foreign woman in the chief general manager of Yak and Yeti Hotel in Nepal. She returned home from Nepal after her tenure.

Now Nepal's biggest stars and chain hotels are all men. If women participate, the government will not invest in infrastructure, airports, and trails. Now the way should be widened for women entrepreneurs in software and policy reforms. Looking at tourism fairs in Vietnam, Japan, and China, the participation of mid-career women is high.