Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Cities in Nepal ("we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in an open and transparent manner. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website https://www.citiesinnepal.com (the "Site") and use our travel information services (the "Services").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Site or use our Services. By using our Site and Services, you signify your acceptance of this Privacy Policy.

We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about any changes by updating the "Last Updated" date of this Privacy Policy. You are encouraged to periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay informed of updates.

Information We Collect

We may collect information about you in a variety of ways. The information we may collect on the Site includes:

A. Personal Data You Provide to Us

We collect personally identifiable information that you voluntarily give to us when you:

• Use our Contact Us form (name, email address)
• Create a user account (name, email, preferences)
• Submit business listings (business name, contact information, location details)
• Subscribe to our newsletter (email address)
• Post blog content or comments (username, content you submit)

You are under no obligation to provide us with personal information of any kind; however, your refusal to do so may prevent you from using certain features of the Site, such as receiving a response to your inquiries or accessing user account features.

B. Derivative Data (Usage Data & Analytics)

Our servers (or servers of our hosting providers like Vercel, and analytics services like Google Analytics) may automatically collect standard log information when you access the Site. This can include:

• IP address (which may be anonymized by analytics services)
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Access times and dates
• Pages viewed and time spent on pages
• Referring URLs (the website you came from)
• Device information (device type, screen resolution)
• Interaction with site features (clicks, scrolls, searches)

This data is generally aggregated and anonymized where possible and is used for:

• Analytics to understand how users interact with our Site and improve our Services
• Monitoring site performance, identifying technical issues, and ensuring security
• Understanding trends to enhance user experience and develop new features

C. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We and our third-party partners, including advertising partners like Google AdSense and analytics providers like Google Analytics, may use cookies, web beacons, tracking pixels, and other tracking technologies on the Site. These technologies help customize the Site, improve your experience, measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, and display relevant advertisements.

For detailed information about our use of cookies and how to manage them, please see the "Cookies and Tracking" section below.

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for:

• Providing and maintaining our travel information services
• Processing business listings and user accounts
• Improving our website content and user experience
• Communicating with you about our services
• Analyzing website usage and performance
• Complying with legal obligations

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect and process your information:

• Google Analytics: For website analytics and traffic analysis. Google Privacy Policy
• Google AdSense: For displaying advertisements on our website. Google AdSense uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites. You can opt-out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings or www.aboutads.info/choices. For more information, see Google's Privacy & Terms.
• Supabase: For database storage, user authentication, and file storage (blog images). Supabase Privacy Policy
• Ahrefs: For website analytics and SEO monitoring. Ahrefs Privacy Policy
• Vercel: For website hosting and content delivery. Vercel Privacy Policy

These services have their own privacy policies and data practices. We encourage you to review their policies for more information.

Information Sharing

We may share your information with:

• Service providers who assist in website operations (as listed above)
• Business partners for travel-related services (with your consent)
• Legal authorities when required by law
• Third parties in case of business transfer or merger

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes without your consent.

Note on Advertising: Third-party advertising partners like Google AdSense may collect information about your interaction with our Site and other websites to display relevant advertisements. This information is collected directly by these third parties through cookies and similar technologies, and their use of it is governed by their own privacy policies. We do not share your personally identifiable information (like name or email) directly with advertisers. You can opt-out of personalized advertising as described in the "Cookies and Tracking" section.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you provide explicit consent for specific processing activities
• Legitimate Interest: For website analytics, security, and improving our services
• Contract Performance: To fulfill our obligations when you use our services
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and regulations

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Specifically:

• User account data: Retained while your account is active and for 2 years after account deletion
• Contact form submissions: Retained for 1 year unless you request earlier deletion
• Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained indefinitely
• Blog content: Retained indefinitely as part of our published content (unless you request removal)

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes encryption, secure authentication, and regular security assessments. However, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

In the event of a data breach that may affect your personal information, we will notify you and relevant authorities as required by applicable law, typically within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.

Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal information we hold
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your personal information
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of certain communications and marketing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@citiesinnepal.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe we have not addressed your concerns adequately.

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA): If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). We do not "sell" your personal information in the traditional sense. However, the use of advertising cookies by third parties like Google AdSense for personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" under CCPA/CPRA. You can opt-out of such personalized advertising as described in the "Cookies and Tracking" section above.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and understand user preferences.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the basic functionality of the Site, such as remembering your preferences and maintaining your session.
• Analytics Cookies: We use services like Google Analytics to collect information about your use of the Site (e.g., pages visited, time spent). This information is aggregated and helps us understand user behavior and improve our Services.
• Advertising Cookies: Third-party vendors, including Google (via AdSense), use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our Site and/or other sites on the Internet.

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can remove or reject cookies, but this may affect the availability and functionality of the Site.

To opt-out of personalized advertising:

• Visit Google Ad Settings to opt-out of personalized ads
• Visit www.aboutads.info/choices or www.youronlinechoices.eu (for European users) to opt-out of many third-party vendors' use of cookies

For detailed information about our cookie practices, please see our Cookie Policy.

International Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Nepal. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your personal information in accordance with this privacy policy.

Third-Party Websites

The Site may contain links to third-party websites and applications of interest, including advertisements and external services (e.g., social media platforms, booking services, travel partners), that are not affiliated with us or operated by us. Once you have used these links to leave the Site, any information you provide to these third parties is not covered by this Privacy Policy, and we cannot guarantee the safety and privacy of your information.

Before visiting and providing any information to any third-party websites, you should inform yourself of the privacy policies and practices (if any) of the third party responsible for that website, and should take those steps necessary to, in your discretion, protect the privacy of your information. We are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of any third parties, including other sites, services, or applications that may be linked to or from the Site.

Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices, new features, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date at the top. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page. Your continued use of our Site or Services after such modifications will constitute your: (a) acknowledgment of the modified Privacy Policy; and (b) agreement to abide and be bound by that Policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Policy, our data handling practices, or your choices, please contact us using the Contact Us form available on our Site or via the information below: