'Sustainable tourism key to receive certification'

 Melamchi, Sindhupalchok, May 25

Stakeholders have suggested obtaining sustainability certification in tourism business including community-run homestays and organic resorts.

They emphasised on developing tourism and products in a sustainable way with the certification so that it would support the community in multiple ways and serve to the future requirements as well.

Certification provides strength of the Global Sustainability Tourism Council (GSTC) along with the UNEP, World Tourism Organisation which is internationally recognized and third-party accredited certification of the tourism system.

Federica Riccadonna, International Coordinator of New Vision Nepal, said that 81 per cent of the tourists said that they wanted sustainable travel and tourism, and chose such destinations.

"Training on skills, preservation of heritage, culture and environment, and improvement of services are the foundations of sustainable destination management dimensions," she said in a Sustainable Tourism Workshop organised in Haibung of Melamchi Municipality-3 in Sindhupalchok district.

There is a need to support the COVID-affected tourism businesses and projects to bounce back to the pre-pandemic situation as it was the worst scenario in the last three decades. Local community initiatives and businesses also experienced the worst, and yet, their voice might not reach the policy makers and government, stakeholders said.

According to Riccadonna, if Nepal implements sustainable tourism measures and receives certification, it would be much effective in attracting international tourists.

"It is a new and innovative tool which Nepal doesn't have. It can be a unique selling point for the country," she said.

To acquire the certification about 60 KM trekking routes are developed in Melamchi and Panch Pokhari area, data collection is undertaken and bio-conservation has been given the priority.

Matina and Serena, students from Italy, have conducted a survey of the tourism business and homestays in the area and found that entrepreneurs lack the understanding of sustainability.

According to them, there are problems in homestay management, water supply, waste and waste water management, building materials and construction, lack of financing, and less compliance to legal requirements, as well as lack of proper understanding of the concept of sustainability.

Homestays need to be sensitised about the style of welcoming, and management of timing, resolve communication problems, run promotion campaign of the homestay, hygiene standards, create online presence and municipalities should be roped in to provide training and funding.

Newly elected Mayor of Melamchi Municipality, Aitaman Tamang, maintained that the municipality will forge collaborations with the national and local stakeholders to develop and promote tourism destinations in the area. We also want to streamline the guidelines to maintain standards in homestays, he said.  

He expressed commitment to put additional efforts to develop the area in a sustainable way. Identify and promote tourism, religious and cultural attractions in every ward of the municipality.

Arun Shrestha, Chairman of Prakriti Resort and Organic Farm in Haibung, said that the resort could be a model of sustainable tourism. Established in 2012 at the height of 6,000 feet and expanded in120 ropanis land, Prakriti has environment-friendly structure, houses are built incorporating local culture, and organic farming is practiced.

Kumar Banjara, Chair of Ward 3 of Melamchi Municipality, pointed to the need to create good models for homestays and organic resorts.

"We have to preserve and promote culture of local people like Gurungs and Tamangs. Support from the federal and provincial government should extend additional support to the local bodies and communities to support sustainable tourism development," he said.

Likewise, Deputy Mayor of Melamchi Municipality, Uma Pradhan, said that the area had original products, culture and attractions. "We are planning to accord priority to agriculture and tourism in our local body," the newly elected Deputy said.

Yuba Raj Dulal, former minister of Bagmati Province, said that joint efforts from the governments at the three level is expected to develop and promote local tourism however greater efforts should be put by the local bodies.

Pashupati Nyaupane, an expert of culture from the Tribhuvan University, said that there was a need to conduct joint promotion of homestays and organic resorts and farms across the country

According to him, health and hygiene are fundamental for the sustainable tourism in Nepal and there is a need of standards as well as awareness programme for the same. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 May 2022.