Sustainable tourism in Nepal is a strategic approach that aims to balance economic growth with the conservation of the environment and cultural preservation. It is a concept that has gained attention not only in Nepal but also around the world because people are increasingly aware of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism.
Some of the sustainable tourism examples in Nepal are responsible trekking, eco-friendly accommodations, cultural preservation initiatives, conservation programs, and community-based tourism. In this article, we will discuss sustainable tourism in Nepal 2024 and its practices in Nepal.
We will start with climate change and its impact. Climate change is one of the main reasons behind the emergence of the sustainable tourism concept.
Climate Change
Climate change is a major problem in today’s world. It refers to the long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. The major cause of climate change is human activities, including burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. These activities have a huge impact on the environments, economies, and societies worldwide.
Climate change can be characterized as an increase in temperature and extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, flooding, and so on. These situations hugely affect the livelihood of humans. the change in climatic conditions has also impacted the tourism industry in Nepal.
Impact of Climate Change on Environment
Due to climate change, the environment and ecosystems have been hugely impacted. The polar ice caps and glaciers are melting. Due to the continuous melting of the ice, the sea level is rising, which is likely to affect the livelihood in the coastal region.
In addition, due to the rise in temperature, the oceans are warming and becoming more acidic. Due to this, marine life and ecosystems are hugely affected. Coral bleaching and altered fish populations are some of the impacts.
Climate change has threatened the existence of various species. Due to the climatic conditions, the species had to change their habitat constantly. Because of this loop phenomenon, species on land as well as marine could be critically endangered in the future.
Chitwan National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area, Everest Region, Rara Lake, and other ecotourism hotspots in Nepal are among those that are suffering from climate change. The constant shift in rainfall patterns and the change in temperature have a significant impact on the biodiversity in these areas.
Importance of sustainable tourism
There is huge importance of sustainable tourism in Nepal. Nepal is a small, developing country. The contributions of the tourism industry to the economy of the country are huge. Therefore, we have to take tourism and sustainability side by side for long-term progress because, without a preserved environment, rapid development does not last long.
Sustainability in travel and tourism in Nepal is important for economic development, the preservation of cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and community empowerment. Sustainable tourism development helps in the long-term viability of tourism and improves the overall travel experience.
Sustainable tourism definition by UNWTO
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a United Nations agency that promotes responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. According to the UNWTO, sustainable tourism means tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.
12 main goals of sustainable tourism
The twelve main goals of sustainable and responsible tourism are given below.
- To ensure that tourism contributes to the economic sustainability of the local communities and broader economy
- Promote economic benefits for local businesses and communities
- Create quality job opportunities in the tourism sector that provide fair wages and working conditions.
- Promote inclusivity and equal opportunities in tourism for all community members
- Enhance the visitor experience by providing high-quality services and authentic cultural experiences.
- Empower local communities to have a say in tourism development and decision-making processes that affect their lives.
- Support the overall well-being of local communities by addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.
- Preserve and promote local cultural heritage, traditions, and practices as integral components of the tourism experience.
- Minimize the environmental impact of tourism activities and promote conservation efforts to protect natural resources.
- Encourage the sustainable use of resources, including water and energy, to reduce waste and environmental degradation.
- Implement strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on tourism and local communities.
- Foster collaboration to achieve sustainable tourism goals among stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and local communities.
Sustainable tourism practices
Sustainable tourism practices surrounds a range of strategies whose goal is to minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, society and country’s economy.
Some examples of responsible tourism include effective resource management, waste reduction and management, preservation of cultures, engaging local communities, conservation of wild life and many more.
Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP)
The STLRP is one of the most popular international projects in Nepal. It is a collaborative initiative between the Nepal Tourism Board and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The objective of this project is to aid Nepal's tourism industry, which had previously suffered from the COVID pandemic.
The project has achieved huge success as of now by creating over 6,000 tourism jobs, training over 300 individuals, providing around USD 650,000 as wages to tourism workers and contributing to the construction of the nation's infrastructure. It is one of the best UNDP projects in Nepal.
Carbon Offsetting in a Tourism Context
Carbon offsetting in tourism is an important strategy to address the tourism sector’s environmental impact. Tourism operators can contribute to global climate goals by compensating for emissions through investments in sustainable projects without compromising the promotion of responsible travel practices. The carbon offset will likely play an important role in shaping the future of sustainable tourism.
How does carbon offsetting help combat climate change?
Carbon offsetting helps combat climate change by financing emissions reduction projects and encouraging responsibility for emissions. However, it should be used judiciously and in conjunction with direct emission cuts. To ensure the effectiveness of carbon offsetting, rigorous standards, verifications and prioritizing emissions reductions over offsets are important.
Environmental and social data
The integration of environmental and social data is important for developing a thorough understanding of sustainability challenges and informing policy decisions. It allows the analysis of the impacts of environmental degradation on human health and livelihood.
Decision-makers can develop more effective strategies for sustainable development by using environmental and social data. Issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and social inequalities can be addressed holistically.