Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 25:

The 7th TAAN eco-trekking workshop organised by Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN), with a slogan ‘Eco Workshop for Better Mountain’, started in the capital today.

Lava Kumar Devkota, secretary, ministry for culture, tourism and civil aviation inaugurated the three-day long workshop. Deepak Mahat, president of TAAN presided over the programme.

The workshop has been organised with the objective of developing skilled manpower for sustainable mountain tourism by providing training to trekking guides regarding various issues like coordination and leadership in trekking, safety and welfare, high altitude sickness, first aid, eco tourism and many others. “The manner in which tourists are treated will affect the flow of tourists in future. Behaviours with which trekking guides present themselves will be of much concern. Workshops like this is very fruitful for trekking guides in developing their inter-personnel skills needed during their trekking,” said Devkota.

Tek Bahadur Dangi, chief executive officer, Nepal Tourism Board said that 28 per cent of tourists who come to Nepal go for trekking. There is a huge potential for trekking agencies and guides but there is also a need to promote eco-tourism. “Rural poverty alleviation is possible through trekking. Remote parts of the country is affected by people who go for trekking. So this industry plays a vital role in the economic growth of the nation, “ said Dangi.

Deepak Mahat, president of TAAN, said that the workshops organised previously yielded good results. This year’s workshop began with a single day workshop and now it is being organised for three days, which shows the interest and dedication of people associated with trekking industries he added. Depending on the need, these kind of workshops will also be organised in other parts of the country besides the capital, Mahat assured.