Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in Nepal. Especially the tourism industry of the bustling city of Pokhara and the picturesque villages of Sikles and Tangting show great potential as they feature beautiful cultural and natural attractions.
However, the rising number of tourists visiting these two destinations has placed increasing pressure on local resources and ecosystems, leading to the degradation of natural landscapes. Consequently, these municipalities face challenges like weak governance, unsustainable practices and environmental issues such as poor waste management and plastic pollution. Moreover, unplanned development, inadequate investments and weak collaboration among stakeholders have led to reactive measures and a lack of vision and planning which not only affects the population but also the environment. The tourism sector also lacks skilled human resources which impacts the overall quality of the visitor experience.
The project focuses on the tourism destinations and enterprises of Pokhara Metropolitan City and the villages of Tangting and Sikles in Gandaki Province. It targets accommodation enterprises, their employees, local tourism stakeholders, host communities and the wider local population.
The project is built around three key intervention areas:
The primary goal of the project is to create additional jobs and income in Nepal’s tourism sector while generating positive environmental impacts. It aims to enhance the sustainable tourism offer of Sikles, Tangting und Pokhara as well as selected enterprises by guiding their transition towards responsible and sustainable practices.
This will be achieved by strengthening destination governance and planning, improving tourism business models, building the skills of tourism employees and strengthening the capacities of public and private stakeholders. Through this transformation, destinations will offer high-quality, sustainable tourism experiences that boost competitiveness, create inclusive economic opportunities, and support the long-term preservation of natural and cultural assets.
This project is co-financed by Happel Foundation. It is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.