1 Pokhara-Lekhnath Metropolitan City: Lakes Conservation for developing Sustainable Tourism

1.1 City profile (basic facts about your city)

Nepal is a small country with an area of 147,181 sq. km. with population of 30 million approximately. But it
compasses a wide range of sites and sounds within its narrow confine as well as multi-diversity of touristic
resources. These resources that Nepal has to offer include both natural and cultural features, which are distributed
in different parts of the country. These resources are the major attractions for the foundation and acceleration of
tourism industry in Nepal. According to Economy Survey, published by Ministry of Finance in 2017, tourism sector
has directly supported about 510,000 jobs and contributed more than 8% in total GDP. The community based
tourism at local level has supported village based ecotourism which has made social cohesive for cultural
conservation and social and economic development activities to be balanced ecosystem through community
participation. However, the country is far behind in capital investment in the travel and tourism sector compared
to other countries.

Pokhara is a metropolitan city in Nepal. It is the country's second largest city in terms of population after the
capital Kathmandu since Pokhara and Lekhnath were merged to create Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City in May
2017. It is the provincial capital of Gandaki Pradesh and headquarters of Kaski District. Pokhara is located 200
kilometres (120 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu. The altitude varies from 827 metres (2,713 feet) in the
southern part to 1,740 metres (5,710 feet) in the north. The Annapurna Range with three of the ten highest
mountains in the world — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Manaslu — is within 15–35 mi (24–56 km) of the valley.
Due to its proximity to the Annapurna mountain range, the city is a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna
Circuit through the Annapurna Conservation Area region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas. The
metropolis has been divided under 33 wards, and its current population stands at 413,397.

1.2 SWOT analysis

Strength :
a) Pokhara has a strong political will to implement
the policies of sustainable tourism and has
allocated about budget 5% of total budget for
tourism infrastructure development
b) Clear policy and guideline for community
based tourism with Home Stay Operational
Working Procedures
c) Social cohesive for Home Stay Operation
through community based tourism
d) Pokhara has a good natural resource with eco
tourism for sustainable tourism.
e) The community led organization collect huge
revenue from tourist fee (budget estimates of
150Mil) following MoU with Pohara Lekhnath
MC (to be shared) (incremental of tourist
arrival by 45% this year).
f) It is a strong connection to Lumbini ( Birth
Place of Lord Budhha), Muktinath, Annapurna
Conservation Area and the major treking
routes of nepal, including the Mountain ranges.
Weakness
a) Inadequate infrastructure for future tourism
promotion.
b) Lacking awareness of sustainable tourism
Opportunties
a) Strong local leadership due to elected
government
b) Economic empowerment of local people
through tourism.
c) Tourism plolicy has given high priority for new
area and new products of tourism.
d) Creating good environment for local economic
development
e) Peoples living standards have been improving
in the country and culture of visiting inside the
country has been established
f) Social Infrastucture has been improving and
upgrading.
g) strong commitment to create a mechanism to
involve the local government, private sectors
and community for sustainable toursim
development
h) new international airport being constructed
Threats
i) Most of the young generation are migrating to
abroad for better work.
j) Social immorility is incrasing and hindering
 development and eco-innovation. social harmony.
c) Security problems in some cases from k) Pollution is increasing.
nearby Pokhara city. l) high level of encroachment of the natural lakes
d) Lack of package program to increase average (mainly the 7 lakes)
length of stay

1.3 National/local plan in sustainable tourism with eco-innovation

The current priorities of Nepalese tourism are shaped by (i) Tourism Policy 2008 (ii) Tourism Vision 2020 & (iii)
National Tourism Strategy Plan for Nepal (2014-2023). The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) through private sector and
various organizations through community participation in rural area which align their annual program and
activities to match the priorities and new initiatives of the government for sustainable development tourism based
on these policy documents. Eco-Innovaiton is a faily new concept in nepal.

The vision for tourism expressed in the Government’s Vision 2020 and adopted for the National Strategy Plan for
Nepal is:
Tourism is valued as the major contributor to a sustainable Nepal economy, having developed as a safe,
exciting and unique destination through conservation and promotion, leading to equitable distribution
of tourism benefits and greater harmony in society
Strategies:

1) Improving Livelihoods and Spreading Benefits at the grass root levels, 2) Economic Mainstreaming, 3)
Expanded Product Offering , 4) Destination Marketing, 5) Aviation, 6) Attract New Investment

The overall goal of the 10-year National Tourism Strategy Plan for Nepal is to provide Government and
stakeholders with a guiding framework that will support the economic development vision of Nepal through
technical and financial assistance for developing the tourism industry, as a key catalyst for rapid economic growth
and job creation.
Pokhara Metropolitan city has put the Fewa and Begnas Conservation project Lakes in its annual program and
budgeted for this fiscal year. This is also in line with the plan that my organization TDF has decided to go ahead
with - 7 lakes conservation project.

1.4 Description of how stakeholders have participated in the development and/or implementation of the
sustainable eco-tourism policy or plan

The government has formed various institutions to prepare and implement the tourism plan and polity. For the
promotion of tourism in the country, the following institutional has been arranged at central and local level which
are paricipating in the implementation of the tourism policy.
Central Level Profincial & Local Level
a) Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation g) 7 Proviences
b) Ministry of Federalism and Local h) 77 District Coordination Committee
Development (MoFALD) i) 460 Rural Municipalities
c) Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) j) 293 Municipalities
d) Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)
e) Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF)
f) Town Development Fund (TDF)
Nepal Tourism Board a professional agency, an autonomous organization established by separate act, is leading
the tourism promotion activity in Nepal, in close coordination with Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
at central level and municipalities and rural municipalities at local level. The Ministry of Culture supports to
formulte policy and and facilitiates for alignment of national policy to be implemented at Provincial and local level.
Tourism, as concurrent functions for federal, proincial and local level has been clerly delineated in the new
constitution of Nepal where eco tourism has been given more emphasis in the prevailing laws of all level of
government. Civil society, Business communities and other key stakeholders are participating in local governmace
process as Pokhara Lekhnath MC has formed a sectoral committee, comprising them as member for overall local
level policy formulation and its operation effectively.

Besides the public agencies above, the following major private sectors are also playing vital role by participating in
the implementation of the tourism policy and plan and also for the promotion of tourism with economic
development in the country as major stakeholders:
a) Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA), b) PATA, c) Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN)
b) Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN)
Through the community sectors, tourism are being promoted with their own efforts as they form their committee
within jurisdiction and manage overall for tourism services. Further, they are actively participating for preserving
local culture, environment protection with sharing economic benefits.

1.5 Description of what are the indicators and measures of successful implementation of your regional and
national sustainable eco-tourism policy (to achieve project goals and objectives)

The indicators and measures of successful implementation of sustainable tourism polies are as follows:
a) Extent of Nature conservation such as watershed conservation, lake conservation, foot trail construction,
forest zoning, river training, sustainable forest harvesting, promoting alternative energy device from solar,
micro hydro projects and fuel efficient ovens
b) sustainable infrastructure development, school education, community toilets and drinking water
programmes, various trainings related with tourism, vegetable production and leadership training. It also
focuses on capacity building of locals with maximum participation for promoting local cultures and
environmental preservation.
c) Training for local people to enhance their skill in plantation, wildlife management, survey techniques and
biodiversity database arrangement
d) Conducting awareness about importance of ecosystem and cultural heritages and cleanliness
e) Training for various aspects related with responsible tourism for generating income
f) Encourage both tourist and locals to respect local environment and culture.
g) Maximum local involvement of local people and community participation

With the aformentioned indicators, the sectoral committee of Pokhara MC is developing tourism guideline for
overall tourism management in the city for sustainable tourism development.

1.6 Sustainable tourism with eco-innovation in your countries: overall trends, good practices, challenges and
prospects

Overall trends: sustainable tourism has been inpractice in nepal but eco-innovaiton is a fairly new term. varous
projeccts has been under implementation related to sustainable tourism, viz. Annapurna Conservation Area
Project, Ghalegaon Sikles Ecotourism Project (GSEP), Kanchenjunga Community Based Ecotourism Project,
Manaslu Nature Based Ecotourism Project, Upper Mustang Biodiversity Conservation Project, Tourism for Rural
Poverty Alleviation Program (TRPAP), Simikot, Humla Development Package. There are so many other ecotourism
projects accorss the country which are effectively though various way to support ecotourism directly or indirectly.
They are Makalu Barun Development Package, Tansen Development Package, Dolpa Development Package, The
Partnership for Quality Tourism Project etc. are other more ecotourism projects work in various natural and
tourism sites for promoting ecotourism effectively. Through the TPRAP and organization such as Nature Treks,
ecotourism in Nepal has reached a point where it is an industry that, in some cases, is benefitting the local
communities directly.

Good Practices: One of the best practices of these projects is the development of Homestay in the community
itself. The success of the implementation of such projeccts since 1998 are due to the local participation itself and
their local culture for attractiion of tourists. a Local management committee is formed and comprises members
from communities. Local people are trained on organic kitchen gardning, cooking and lodge management. Small
Scale Infrastructure are built and maintained (such as road, trail, view tower etc). To protect the environmnt,
alternative energy are introduced. The tourism center are also established and tourism related guidebook with IEC
materials are published and dissiminated.

Challenges: Effective practice and implementation of tourism policies is not promising due to lack of commitment
of governmental policy and planning strategy with combination of integrated conservation and development. The
main challenge is lack of competent and dedicated human capital and difficulties in networking. Differences in
gender, culture and professional background and difficulties in local networking act as barriers to cooperation
within the local context. Lack of adequate education and English language skills is a major obstacle for tourism
business development and direct employment. The main challenge is to increase the length of stay of visitors.

Prospects: Ecotourism in Nepal is growing and flourishing. While there is always the danger of green washing, in
any destination, Nepal is one of those countries where you can find legitimate ecotourism ventures that are
aligned with sustainable tourism development principles and issues. Tourism is changing rapidly as nature,
heritage, and recreational destinations become more important, and as conventional tourism is forced to meet
tougher environmental requirements. This presents a challenge to government and private enterprise to develop
new approaches to the tourism market. Successful tourism must benefit local populations economically and
culturally to give them incentives to protect the natural resources which create the tourist attraction and
employement generation. Strategies must be economically feasible and socially acceptable if private investors are
to support the projects.