TRTF Nepal launches health safety protocol for tourism operators

Kathmandu, Jan. 13

Tourism Recovery Task Force (TRTF) Nepal has launched the manual of Health and Hygiene Safety Protocol for tourism operators.

It published the protocol, developed in collaboration with GATE Foundation and Technical contribution from GIZ Nepal, on Wednesday in a virtual programme.

TRTF-Nepal Coordinator Deepak Raj Joshi and Head of the Development Cooperation at German Embassy Dr. Stephan Russek jointly unveiled the Project Manual in the programme.

"This project aims to build on the Health and Hygiene Safety (HHS) Protocols for tourism and hospitality operators endorsed by the Government of Nepal in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19 to ensure the continuity of businesses during and post-pandemic scenario," said the TRTF-Nepal.

However, stakeholders have realized that these protocols explained need to be further elaborated and simplified by making them more user-friendly, especially in case of targeting the needs of the smaller enterprises located at remote and emerging tourism destinations.

TRTF said that the project had developed a simplified and easy-to-understand training manual on HHS Protocols aiming to develop trainers (Local Champions) at 11 selected municipalities of the Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Lumbini province to intensify the awareness and compliance with the HHS protocols at the service.

After the first stage of the ToT Programme, the trained professional shall provide further training to 250 service providers at each municipality. About 2,750 service providers in western Nepal will be the trained human resource in effectively implementing the HHS protocols in the region.

This project shall support local governments and the private sector of the tourism industry ranging from owners, managers, to the operation level staffs of bigger establishments as well as operators of smaller teashops, homestays, and street food stalls on a mass level to ensure health and hygiene safety in place, said Joshi.

 He emphasised the need and importance for massive awareness and training programmes to have a responsible and safe restart of tourism in the country.

Dr. Russek appreciated the project as a very instrumental and timely initiative to ensure better preparedness and to enhance the service quality and standards in the tourism and hospitality sector of the western part of Nepal.

He added that this project will also be supportive for Lumbini as a promising tourism destination as well as for the upcoming international airport and other ongoing projects in the Lumbini province.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 January 2021.