KATHMANDU, MARCH 22
The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have jointly launched the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP) to generate employment and livelihood opportunities for local communities by improving tourism facilities and services, skilling the workforce, and promoting tourist destinations.
The $5 million project will be co-funded by NTB and UNDP, with each contributing $1.5 million, while an additional $2 million will be jointly mobilized. The agreement was signed on March 21, 2025, by Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of NTB, and Kyoko Yokosuka, UNDP Resident Representative in Nepal.
Building on the success of the Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP), the STP aims to create 2,500 sustainable jobs and enhance tourism-related skills for 5,000 people. It will focus on construction and improvement of small tourism infrastructures in priority destinations, and trekking trails, and strengthen Nepal's tourism digitalization efforts to improve efficiency and accessibility, according to the press release issued by the UNDP.
Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of NTB appreciated the support and partnership with UNDP and reiterated that this new project not only enhances the tourism experience in Nepal but also empowers local communities through employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. "By improving trekking facilities and strengthening local capacities, we are not only increasing visitor satisfaction but also positioning Nepal as a resilient, world-class tourism destination. This initiative aligns with our vision of a more inclusive and resilient tourism industry that benefits both the environment and the people of Nepal," he added.
Similarly, Kyoko Yokosuka, UNDP Resident Representative in Nepal, expressed optimism about the collaboration: "UNDP is proud to support Nepal in transforming its tourism sector. This project represents a strong commitment to building a resilient and environmentally sustainable tourism sector that benefits local communities, strengthens Nepal's economic potential, and contributes to Nepal's long-term development."
The three-year project (2025-2028), implemented through NTB, aims to establish Nepal as a world-class tourism destination by promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. It aligns with Nepal's 16th Plan, SDGs, and the Nepal Tourism Decade (2023-2032), which targets 3.5 million annual tourists by 2032, the release further stated.
By forging strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, government agencies, and the private sector and leveraging Nepal's natural and cultural assets, by investing in infrastructure development, workforce capacity-building, and digital innovation, and by improving tourism services and facilities, the project aims to increase visitor satisfaction, encouraging longer stays, and boosting spending, and ultimately contribute to Nepal's overall economy, the release noted.
This initiative follows the STLRP project launched in December 2020, which helped revive Nepal's tourism sector post-COVID by creating 1,600 jobs and improving tourism infrastructure, including in the Everest and Annapurna regions, it added.
