Greening Nepal’s tourism

On 21 March, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement to launch the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP), a  $5 million endeavour that aims  to improve Nepal’s tourism infrastructure, workforce, and destinations to generate employment and livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The project, with set metrics to achieve its goal by 2028, aligns with Nepal’s Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasises commitments to environmentally sustainable and inclusive tourism efforts.

Sustainability-related buzzwords are pervasive in the STP’s broadly outlined goals, which in its broad terms are agreeable, but until clear regulations, standards, and methodologies are incorporated in the project, applause must be withheld.

Improving the tourist experience, expanding local opportunities, bolstering Nepal’s economy, and being environmentally responsible can be achieved simultaneously through strategic initiatives. The STP promises to deliver upon all of these goals. The question is: how do we balance the growth of the tourism sector while committing to sustainability and cultural preservation?

The skepticism of the efficacy and implementation of the STP comes from longstanding observations of the often environmentally harmful construction and building industry in Nepal.

As it stands, under-regulated and budget-conscious construction projects have mushroomed both in Kathmandu and across rural Nepal— glass and concrete blocks sprawl next to the few remaining traditional homes in the valley, while tin-based enclosures have replaced mud and thatch-roof as well as traditional stone houses in the mountains. And while hotels and guesthouses proliferate, they are incongruent with the number of tourists who visit Nepal, and often remain under-occupied.

The STP recognises that Nepal’s greatest resource is its natural beauty. But it is ironic that the very reason why tourists flock to Nepal has been marred by shoddy infrastructure that aims to make it accessible to tourists.

A significant number of hotels in Kathmandu and the Tarai are built with synthetic materials that perpetuate a vicious cycle of industrial, mass-manufactured goods which contribute to the global climate crisis. The industrial concrete sector has a strong socio-political and economic influence in Nepal, and tradeshows market foreign-made construction materials that are detrimental to the natural environment.

Tourism infrastructure not only plays a large role in defining a tourist’s experience and defining Nepal’s identity to the world, but also contributes to rising emissions. Buildings account for 39% of global carbon emissions, 8% of this is due to cement production.

Nepal is far from the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses responsible for the climate crisis. Yet the reality of the country’s  geographic location puts it at disproportionate risk of suffering the consequences of rising global temperatures and has more immediate impacts on everyday human experiences— the threat of glacial lake outburst floods looms over mountain communities, while unpredictable rainfall lead to intense flooding that ravage villages and urban neighbourhoods every year.

As it stands, the project’s focus on infrastructure presents an opportunity to align the preservation of cultural heritage and the natural environment with its tourism goals. Achieving national infrastructure goals and meeting tourism demands must align with rigorous and ambitious sustainability objectives.

For instance, traditional mud houses in Nepal embody a balance between sustainability and cultural heritage, as their design and construction are rooted in indigenous knowledge and constructed by hand from local resources. This wealth of building expertise is lost to modern construction practices, but there is some growing awareness that new construction must consider a community’s cultural identity and traditional context.

More recently built luxury hotels display an understanding of a tourist’s desire to experience traditional culture, and thus have integrated indigenous aesthetics into their design. Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu integrates Newari woodwork, and Tiger Tops in Chitwan and Bardia eco-tourism commitments are reflected in the resort’s use of local materials such as thatch and bamboo. 

Still, sustainability cannot be positioned as an end product, but rather a continuous process and practice. Reaching our STP goals thus must be process-based, inclusive of local communities, and culturally responsive. If done correctly, the project can rely on the built environment to achieve its carbon-neutral goals by ensuring tourism goes hand-in-hand with longevity of local communities, and the promotion and preservation of indigenous culture. Combined, these efforts create an example for the world of a tourism sector that bolsters not only the Nepali economy, but its people and the environment.

But challenges persist. The wide-spread implementation of sustainable construction in Nepal faces significant hurdles despite efforts by institutions to promote regional materials and traditional methods. Small-scale organisations such as Building Bureau are facing an uphill battle in promoting the use of regional material and integrating traditional building methods into contemporary construction practices.

Individual clients interested in sustainable building may turn to an architect or contractor, like Building Bureau, to enhance the comfort and appeal of their space, but such innovative approaches are a fraction of buildings being churned out at unprecedented rates across Nepal’s cities.

One project currently under construction is Tiger Track in Bardia, an eco-tourism lodge built in partnership with Sustainable Future Nepal. Utilising rammed earth, recycled stone, and reclaimed wood, the lodge combines traditional Tharu architecture and building processes with modern technology to offer tourists an experience on par with global standards and to provide visitors a more culturally connected experience.

The lodge has been designed and constructed in close collaboration with the client and surrounding community. Building materials were carefully selected based on seasonal and local availability and feasibility, and in consultation with residents.

Tiger Track will also employ local experts like Hemanta Acharya— who leads the local community-based anti-poaching unit— to manage the lodge and ensure conservation-based educational programming. Additionally, the project’s construction has provided employment for dozens of members of the community and equipped them with knowledge on building practices that can be applied to other projects in the area. Local entrepreneurs and hoteliers have also been inspired by the lodge’s innovative approach during showcases and presentations.

Tourism is among Nepal’s burgeoning economic sectors, and the STP initiative is a promising step in the growth of this industry. However, as Nepal continues to invest in the infrastructure and systems surrounding tourism, it must look to existing sustainable practices with Nepal’s tourism sectors and do more to incorporate environmentally responsible methods for the plan’s successful implementation.

We must keep careful watch on the STP as it develops process plans, and demand that it adopt a truly innovative approach towards the implementation of its multi-pronged goals. The initiative’s success will depend on the implementation of clear regulations and standards that promote sustainable building practices.

And by involving local communities and embracing culturally responsive methods, the project can create lasting benefits for Nepal's tourism, economy and environment. The road to sustainability is a continuous journey, and with a committed and innovative approach,  the STP is an opportunity for Nepal to lead in eco-tourism and set a precedent for sustainable tourism development worldwide.