Sustainable tourism development in Nepal

Nepal is an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world and tourism is an important source of income for the Nepalese. The snow-capped mountains including Mount Everest (29,029 ft) and Annapurna (26, 545ft) provide numerous adventure opportunities such as mountain climbing, trekking, white-water rafting, etc. Chitwan National Park which is located in the lowlands (330 ft) in the southern part of Nepal is a popular destination for wildlife tourists as one can observe rhinoceros, tiger, elephants and crocodiles in the park. Other tourists are more interested in the UNESCO enlisted world heritage and other cultural sites to witness or experience the rich living cultural heritage of the country. To ensure that tourism activities are undertaken in a sustainable way with minimal impacts on the social, cultural, and environmental environment of the country, partnerships have been formed between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, & Civil Aviation (MoCTCA, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and tourism communities. The lecture will highlight some of the policy initiatives and practices in Nepal that support sustainable tourism development in general and mountain tourism in particular.