Project Name

Nepal Tourism Outdoor and Environment Development Project (NTOEDP)

Project Goal

To contribute to socially responsible, ecologically friendly and economically viable tourism development projects for the better management of environmentally sustainable tourism and the economical development of village tourism in Nepal.

Objectives

1. To promote community based eco-tourism to enhance the environment for better tourism
2. To support the local communities and tourism entrepreneurs and build networking channels for them
3. To develop and promote locally made products, organic produce and arts
4. To enhance the local capacity to manage tourism
5. Product development and promotion

Strategies adopted to achieve results

1. Community participation, awareness raising and social mobilization through local institutions
2. Bottom up approach
3. Capacity building of local communities
4. Trekking trail infrastructure development
5. Networking, coordination and communication
6. Marketing and promotion of the trail

Project area and Target Groups

The project area starts from Sundarijal via Shivapuri Nagarjun National Par, passing through Chisapani, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel before ending in Panauti. The area covers Municipalities and 16 VDCs of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kavre districts.

Target Groups

1. Local communities of the trail
2. Tourism based entrepreneurs (hoteliers, restaurant owners, teashop owners, handicraft producers etc)
3. Local Tourism Development Committees
4. Eco clubs and waste management Committees
5. Women self-help groups of the trail
6. Leading farmers groups in the trail


Partners

International Partner
SUOMEN LATU: Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor activities, Helsinki, Finland

National Partners
Nepal Tourism Board, The Ministry of Tourism, Kathmandu University, Shivapuri - Nagarjun National Park, Government line agencies related to Tourism and Environment and Local Development, Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Resort and Hotel Association of Nepal (RAHAN). NETIF is working closely with government agencies on a M.O.U to develop plans and projects and to gain authority and permissions to act where and when action is needed most.

Local partners
DDC’s (Kathmandu, Kavre and Bhaktapur) ,Tourism Information Centre Dhulikhel, Nagarkot-Naldum Tourism Development Committee, Tourism Development Committees on the trekking trail, Women Self Help Groups and Leading Farmer’s Group along the trekking trails. Currently working on developing an M.O.U with Dhulikhel Municipality in regards to waste management.

Major Areas of Project Intervention
1. Awareness raising and Local Institutional development
2. Small scale community infrastructure
3. Local capacity development
4. Model destination development in rural tourism
5. Networking and alliance building in tourism and environment management
6. Conservation and alternative energy
7. Promotional activities
8. Research/Survey

Highlights of Achievements made in our first 3 years

Awareness and Local Institutional

• 4 Tourism Development Committees formed and mobilized – SSTEDC (Shivapuri – Sundarijal Tourism Environment Development Committee), CTEDC (Chisapani Tourism & Environment Development Committee), RAHAN (Resorts & Hotels Association of Nepal), GAD (Guide Association of Dhulikhel)
   

Building & Small Scale Infrastructure

• 4 Tourism and Environment Management Fund created

• 60 wooden environment awareness boards carved and placed at trails

• 10 incinerators constructed in the major settlements

• 270 waste collection bins placed throughout the trail

• 2 Community buildings constructed

• 3 public toilets constructed

• A new gate constructed in Sundarijal

• 12 Tourists rest houses constructed in the trekking trail

• 6000 meter trail upgraded

• 250 wooden signage carved and placed at the trail

• Trail markers and map boards placed in all destinations

Training Programs for Local Capacity Building

• Ongoing regular training in Small Hotel and Lodge management in villages along the trekking trail

• Regular training programs in Mushroom and off seasonal vegetable Cultivation

• Regular training of village women in Corn Husk doll making

• Local Guide training courses

• Training of villagers in cultural and traditional dances

• Briquette making trainings in villages along the trekking trail

• Provision of technical Support and motivation for production of mushrooms and briquette for the period of one year

Local Networking and alliance building

• 20 cleanup campaigns completed in various destinations

• 12 workshop organized on Organic farming

• 15 workshop organized in Waste management Issues in Tourist Destination

• Membership of Sustainable Tourism Network

• Participated in PATA adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism conference & Mart 2010

• Blood Donation program in conjunction Dhulikhel Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Dhulikhel Chef’s Association

• Supporter of ‘Wildlife Conservation Week’ organized by Shivapuri - Nagarjun National Park

• "Heritage Conservation for Sustainable Tourism Development in Panauti & Surrounding Areas" organized by NETIF in support of NTB, NEFEJ and PTDC on 19th December 2009 at Dhulikhel for the preparation of Panauti Makar Mela and Harishidhi Mela

• Distribution of Environment Fund donations boxes to hotels and lodges throughout the trekking route

• “Multicounty Observation Study Mission on Community-based Ecotourism Development and Management”, organized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Japan and implementation by the National Productivity and Economic Development Centre(NPEDC) Nepal in Dhulikhel, Nepal from 25 to- 29 May 2009.

• Plantation of ornamental plants in Dhulikhel funded by NETIF and the provision of a local caretaker/Gardner

International Networking and Alliance Building

• Visit to Finland By president of NETIF to attend Sustainable Tourism Presentation and also to meet with Suomen Latu in regards to funding and future project development

• Visit to Fiji by Project Coordinator of NETIF for presentation on Integrated Waste Management in Tourism organized by APO – Asian Productivity Organization and implemented by Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji

• Participated in “Sustainable Community Course, bridging gap between research & Action” in Kenya, organized by Helsinki University of Technology, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Nairobi University, UNEP, UN Habitat and program supported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Conservation and Alternative Energy

• Partial support to Wind Turbine installation in Chisapani

• Partial support to improved cooking stove instillation in 35 households in Mulkharka

• 5000 tree planted in Dhulikhel and Panauti area

• 3 Landslide protection walls constructed in landslide prone areas

• Numerous Researches and surveys

• Two surveys completed on quality, quantity and managerial aspects of Solid Waste Management (Nagarkot and Dhulikhel) One Feasibility study on Livelihood Improvement through Agro tourism along the trekking Trail (Mulkharka to Chisapani)

• Publication of 2 Thesis reports on eco tourism in the Shivapuri area by Tribhuvan University Students

Promotional Activities

• 1000 brochures published on Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail now published

• 1 Website developed and regularly updated www.netif-nepal.org

• 6 hoarding boards including tourism resource map developed and placed on the trekking trail

• Media coverage of trekking trails in 10 major Medias of Nepal

• A Guidebook on the Trekking Trail now published

• NETIF promotional brochures printed and distributed in 2008 and 2010

• Hike and Bike Event promoted and hosted in Project Area with extensive media coverage

• Development of NETIF face book and social networking group

• Production of a promotional video and travel log for the KVCTT

• Production of Panorama posters from Chisapani

• Development of the ‘Environment Support’ Green Coupon Program

• TU student Master Degree Thesis Report on - “ Study of Garbage management Practices between Mulkharka and Baghdwar within Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park for Superior Wildlife Ecotourism” by Dikpal Krishna Karmacharya , Tribhuwan University (TU) Master’s Degree of Science in Zoology

• Membership of TAAN

• Development and distribution of monthly NETIF news letter

Effects/Outcome

• Increased Environment Awareness and Waste Minimization in the trekking trails

• Better facilities for trekkers and hikers

• Skill enhanced in micro enterprise development at local level

• Model Destination Development: Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail is a product being developed by NETIF

• Proposal development for new projects and improvements for 2011 to 2013

Lesson Learned

Combine effort of Government Institutions, Private sectors , I/NGOs, Media , Civil society and Local communities is must for the success of any development projects.

Local communities are always the entry point for any activities in a geographical area, their active participation and backup support from various stakeholders is necessary for the sustainability of the project.

The way forward – 2011 NETIF Planned Projects and Developments

Our idea and ultimate aim is the preservation of our environment. During the last year we have come to the conclusion that National Parks should be our national pride. As there are already well established settlements within the parks, we cannot just relocate the people to another location and solve the problem of deforestation, water pollution, over grazing and littering. We must build a solid model program that will turn the villages within Nepal’s national parks into zero waste, organic, self reliant places with an alternate and sustainable source of income through eco tourism.
After working on the ‘Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail’ (KVCTT) and our NEODP (Nepal Environment and Outdoor Development Program) we have found the need to further develop our projects. Through the year we have learnt a lot and put in place the foundations from which we now need to build on.

To set our trail program we have chosen the village of Okheraney which falls within the Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, our current project area and can be integrated in to the KVCTT.

ULTIMATE AIMS FOR 2011 - 2013

• Extend and enhance the KVCTT

• Preservation of the Natural Environment

• To educate villages about the importance of maintaining the environment around them

• To promote environmentally sustainable tourism in the project area

• Providing villagers with the means to build sustainable enterprises in tourism

• To provide alternative sources of energy to villagers to help prevent deforestation

• The development of Okheraney as a model village and home stay program that can be implemented in other areas.

• To provide suitable waste management programs

• To protect the watershed area in Shivapuri - Nagarjun National Park

• Preservation of wildlife and wildlife conservation awareness programs

• To provide alternative sources of income and energy to villages to help decrease deforestation of national parks by villagers

PROMOTION

For the ultimate success of the program, it is essential that there be room in the allocated budget for promotion of the destinations, home stays and trekking trail to ensure that tourists and local people come here and bring income into the area. We must market the extended KVCTT and our home stay villages to the local, national and international market.

Ways we can do this are through Media exposure on a national level, Relationship with the Nepal Tourism Board, Promoting our product to local tour and travel operators to sell, print media, websites and e marketing, promotional events similar to our Bike and Hike program and also through organising sporting events like bike races, running and adventure races.

Main points of actions for 2011/2013 projects

• Design and produce suitable promotional print media

• Regular features on Dhulikhel FM radio promoting NETIF’s projects and Environment awareness

• Build relationships with local tour operators to sell the product

• Build a website for the promotion of places like Chisapani, Okherany and the KVCTT that can provide information, online accommodation booking service and be linked to other websites like NETIF, NTB, NEPAL VISITOR and other promotional sites on the World Wide Web

• Identify suitable routes for bike races and events to promote sports tourism and recreation within the project area

• Get support for our product from NTB, TAAN and other relevant tourism and travel bodies

• Create a Model home stay and sustainable zero waste village that can be implemented in other parts of Nepal in later projects for the promotion of tourism and the environment

• Develop nature trails around Shivapuri - Nagarjun National Park

Aims of the project

1. Establish a home stay/ farm stay program where tourists can stay and experience rural Nepal lifestyle and culture and to provide the villagers with a source of sustainable income from environmentally responsible tourism
2. By giving the villagers a source of income from environmental tourism, making them realise the importance of preserving the environment within the National Park they live in
3. To set up the village as role model environmentally sound tourist destination that sufficiently manages waste, uses environmentally safe alternative energies and practices organic farming
4. To effectively promote the village and home stay as a tourist destination and integrate the village into the KVCTT

In the village the following areas need to be developed

• Waste Management, the ultimate goal being the ‘Zero Waste’ challenge

• Education

• Health/Hygiene

• Alternative Energy

• Training of villagers in food handling, preparation, business establishment and house keeping

• Development of a village committee to support the project

• Integration of Okherany village as part of the KVCTT

What Needs to Be Done

• Feasibility and baseline study

• Promotion of Recreational Activities to the local and international Market

• Arranging events to promote the area – Mountain Bike Races, Recreational weekend trips

• Okherany home and farm stay and community lodge development