KATHMANDU, Oct 23: The Department of Tourism has announced a ban on the use of plastic bottles in four-star, five-star, and five-star deluxe, deluxe and luxury hotels, as a part of broader push towards environmental sustainability. This new directive, issued on October 21, requires these establishments to use glass bottles or metal vessels for serving drinking water in hotel rooms and restaurants.
The decision follows reports of the environmental impact of plastic bottle usage particularly in the tourism sector, which are classified and licensed by the department. Dr Narayan Prasad Regmi, director general of the department, informed Republica that the circular was issued in line with the government’s policy to reduce the use of plastic products in order to decrease its adverse impact on health and environment.
According to environmental studies, plastic bottles contribute significantly to pollution, with plastic taking hundreds of years to decompose. In Nepal, where tourism plays a key role in the economy, reducing plastic waste in star-rated hotels is seen as a step forward in addressing this problem. “Plastic bottles have a detrimental effect on both human health and environment,” said Dr Regmi.
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The ban is a part of a larger effort by the government to promote sustainability and reduce the ecological footprint of the tourism sector. The ban is expected to prove effective, considering that star-rated hotels cater to high numbers of domestic and international tourists contributing significantly to the demand of single-use plastics.
In a statement to Republica, DG Regmi expressed confidence that the hospitality sector would respond positively to the ban on plastic bottles in star hotels and welcome the change, stating that the ban ‘will not harm anyone but only bring benefits.’ He said that the government took this step after consulting with all relevant stakeholders.
DG Regmi added that the ban has also been introduced to appease foreign tourists since they tend to be concerned with the issue of usage of plastic products. “A significant number of foreign tourists find the usage of plastic products a sensitive issue,” he told Republica, “We hope that the ban will attract more foreign tourists to Nepal.”
To ensure compliance, the Department of Tourism has outlined plans for monitoring and enforcement. However, Regmi emphasized that the focus is on cooperation and gradual transition, rather than immediate punitive measures. He added that the ban was only imposed on star-rated hotels as only such hotels fall under the regulation of the department.
