KATHMANDU, March 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the United Nations Development Programme Nepal (UNDP-Nepal) have signed an agreement to launch the "Sustainable Tourism Project (STP)."
Chief Executive Officer of the NTB Deepak Raj Joshi and Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal Kyoko Yokosuka signed the agreement during a program at the Nepal Tourism Board on Friday.
The project will improve tourism services, offer skill-based training to the tourism workforce, and promote tourist destinations to create employment and livelihood opportunities for local communities.
The project is expected to cost a total of USD 5 million. Both the NTB and UNDP will contribute USD 1.5 million each, while an additional USD 2 million will be jointly managed by the two organizations.
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The project has targeted to create 2,500 sustainable jobs and enhance tourism-related skills for 5,000 individuals over three years (2025-2028).
It will focus on constructing and improving small tourism infrastructure and trekking routes at key tourist sites while also promoting the digitalization of Nepal’s tourism sector to improve service efficiency and accessibility.
During the program, Joshi thanked UNDP for its partnership, stating that the project would provide employment and entrepreneurial opportunities to local communities and help establish Nepal as a strong, world-class tourist destination.
Kyoko Yokosuka, Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal, expressed pride in UNDP’s role in transforming Nepal’s tourism sector. She highlighted the project’s commitment to boosting Nepal's economic potential, promoting sustainable tourism, and directly benefiting local communities.
The project aligns with Nepal's 16th Five-Year Plan, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Nepal Tourism Decade (2023-2032). The Board stated that it will support the Nepal Tourism Decade’s priorities, aiming to increase annual tourist arrivals to 3.5 million by 2032 and make Nepal an even more attractive and sustainable destination for travelers worldwide.
The NTB and UNDP Nepal previously implemented the "Sustainable Tourism Livelihood Restoration Project (STLRP), "which played a crucial role in revitalizing the tourism sector impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project created jobs for 1,600 people by developing small tourism infrastructure and restoring cultural heritage in the Sagarmatha and Annapurna regions.
The new STP project aims to increase the length of stay and spending of tourists in Nepal by investing in the country’s natural and cultural heritage, developing infrastructure, enhancing the workforce's capacity, and driving tourism growth through digital innovation.