Royal Mountain Travel Sustainability Series
In January 2021, Royal Mountain Travel launched its "Sustainability Series", which is a ten-episode video series featuring national and international experts who shed light on pertinent sustainable tourism topics. Topics addressed range from community tourism to solutions to the waste management problem in the Everest region. The hope in launching this series is to generate awareness and as a result encourage a shift towards sustainable tourism practices.
Explore the pertinent sustainability issues through the weekly-updated videos!
Episode 9: The Potential for Wellness Tourism in Nepal
In this episode of the Sustainability Series, we bring wellness experts Lisa Mikosch, and Ramesh Sapkota to discuss Nepal’s potential for wellness tourism.
Episode 8: Balancing Authenticity and Development
In this episode of the Sustainability Series we discuss what development efforts should ideally look like in Nepal’s remote and pristine destinations, and how travellers can help keep a destination authentic.
Speakers:
Ashutosh Tiwari: Mr. Ashutosh Tiwari is the managing director of Safal Partners, an investment and consulting firm based in Nepal. Mr. Tiwari’s areas of expertise include development and public policy, SME development, and non-profit management, among others. In 2011, he was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.
Marianne Heredge: Marianne Heredge is an auditor for Travelife, a Global Sustainable Tourism Council recognised certification platform for sustainability management. She has in-depth expertise on sustainable tourism. She has lived in Nepal for many years, and is a strong advocate for community-based tourism.
Episode 7: Understanding Overtourism in the Nepalese context
As we prepare for a tourism recovery, it is important that we take into consideration the Tourism Carrying Capacity of a destination. In this episode of the Sustainability Series, we discuss what over tourism means, and more importantly two important strategies to address over tourism.
Episode 6: The Case for Promoting Food Tourism in Nepal
In this episode of the Sustainability Series, Jane Connelly, food tourism and culinary heritage expert, helps us understand what food tourism is, how it relates to sustainable tourism, and how it can help local communities while benefitting travellers.
Episode 5: Sustainable Hotels
In this episode of the Sustainability Series, we discuss how hotels can be more sustainable. We ask experts from two hotels (the only two hotels in Nepal to receive GSTC recognised Travelife Gold certification in accommodation sustainability) to share their sustainability journey, their views on sustainability certification, and their advice to hotels looking to become more sustainable. Credit for Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge pictures and videos
Episode 4: Making tourism an empowering sector for women
In this episode of the Sustainability Series, we explore a few places where the gender gap exists, learn about the challenges, and discuss a few ways to close the gender gap. We interview leaders who have excelled in their fields.
Yankila Sherpa: Yankila Sherpa is the former Tourism Minister of Nepal. She has also held various other leadership positions including former President of the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs of Nepal and Trekking Agency Association of Nepal. She is the Managing Director for Snow Leopard Trek.
Priyanka Singh: Priyanka Singh is the regional (South, East and Central Asia) representative for Planeterra Foundation, a leading non-profit that uses community tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment.
Reetal Rana: Reetal Rana is the Managing Director for Mid-Valley International College, a leading college that offers courses in hospitality management, among other degrees. Throughout her career, Ms. Rana has held various leadership positions both inside the education sector and outside.
Episode 3: Communities, Wildlife and Tourism
This episode of the Sustainability Series features the interrelationship between wildlife, communities, and tourism. Experts and champions of sustainability, Mr. Shiv Raj Bhatta (WWF Nepal), Ms. Sonja Rusticus (Bardia Community Homestay), and Mr. Sudip Jogi (Dalla Community Homestay) shed light on community-based conservation, the human and wildlife relationship near protected areas, and the relationship between tourism and conservation.
Episode 2: Waste Management in the Everest Region
For many years, international news outlets have covered the waste problem in the Everest region. What hasn’t been covered as much is the solution to the problem. While the problem remains a challenge, there are several initiatives being taken at the local level. In this episode of the Sustainability Series, we ask experts Alton C. Byers (mountaineer/ conservationist/national geographic explorer) and Tommy Gustafsson (Project Director and Co-Founder of Sagarmatha Next) to shed light on the problem, discuss the current status, and more importantly, walk us through the solution to the problem.
Episode 1: Promoting community tourism in Nepal
In this episode, we discuss community-based tourism (CBT) and the ways in which Community Homestay Network has adopted the concept into its model.
These videos are reposted with permission from Royal Mountain Travel, a Nepalese tour and trek operator offering indigenous and community-oriented experiences, and valued PATA International Member. PATA proudly supports discussions around sustainability through the Sustainability Matters guest post initiative. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the videos may not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or views of PATA or any of its employees.
