Despite the recent growth seen in the number of arrivals of tourists, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that remain for Nepal's tourism industry. The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, and there is always the risk of new outbreaks and restrictions. Additionally, Nepal's poor record of aviation safety has been a concern for potential tourists.
The airport was built with Chinese assistance through a soft loan of USD 215.96 million agreement signed in March 2016 as part of the Nepal-China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation.