INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
Namo Buddha
Resort
Tourism: Making it sustainable
by Marianne Heredge
By the day, tourism
is spreading across
the globe. Once just
the preserve of the
relatively rich from
developed countries,
increasing prosperity
in countries like India
and China having
meant that now far
more people are on the
move, finding ways to
enjoy their leisure time.
Namo Buddha Resort is located 45km east of Kathmandu, surrounded by its own organic farm and forest. Thirteen small houses,
built in an authentic Nepali style, can house up to 30 guests. All houses have an electric heater and wireless internet access. Our
spacious “Lasho Hall” provided 50m2 for yoga, seminars, workshops or retreats. We invite our guests to enjoy our sauna and flotation
tank. In our wook burning stove we bake fresh German sourdough bread and pastries. We serve all organic food on our fixed
vegetarian menu. The resort has its own cows and water buffalos for milk and dairy products, honey from its own bees and
homemade jam from different types of local fruits.
Namo Buddha Resort
Phulbari, Kavre, Nepal
+977-1-6912212
+977-9851106802
[email protected]
www.namobuddharesort.com
44
www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel | 2016
Tourism is an important part of the
economy for many countries. It
contributes more than a tenth of the
global GDP and employs over 200
million people worldwide. In countries
like Nepal, tourism is a vital source of
hard currency.
However tourism can have its negative
impacts. Too much pressure on
tourist destinations can lead to their
deterioration, both in environmental
and cultural terms. Short-term profit can
destroy local ecosystems and make a
place unsustainable in the longer term.
There is Increasingly the understanding
that while it is fine to enjoy tourism
and its financial benefits, more care
is needed to ensure that this should
be done in a way that is sustainable.
Obviously, if we damage cultures
and natural environments in tourist
destinations, no one is going to want to
go there in the future. This is simply not
good business.
It makes a lot of business sense. By
saving on resources like energy and
water, businesses will save money. Many
guests are attracted by companies with
a good sustainable image. Costs are
reduced by sustainable management
of resources. There can be more job
satisfaction working for a company
that takes its social and environmental
responsibilities seriously. Sustainability
has almost become a brand-name
in its own right and more and more
guests
demand
it.
Sustainable
policies can not only preserve but
enhance local situations, whether by
encouraging traditions and customs or
by conservation of old buildings and
fragile environments.
There
are
many
organisations
promoting sustainable tourism. AITO
(the Association of Independent Tour
Operators) is a British organisation
that represents over a hundred of the
country’s leading tour operators working
in countries worldwide. Members aim
to protect the environment (flora, fauna
and landscapes), respect local cultures
(traditions, religions and heritage),
benefit local communities (socially
and economically), conserve natural
resources, and minimise pollution
(noise, waste disposal and congestion).
They fulfil these responsibilities by
establishing policies and involving staff,
informing clients about sustainable
tourism and where appropriate,
encouraging them to participate.
Tour operators should work with their
suppliers and partners to achieve
sustainable goals and practices and
spread the word by publicising good
practice to encourage and spread
awareness about sustainability. In the
USA, The Global Sustainable Tourism
Council (GSTC) follow the same
principles, representing a diverse and
global membership that includes UN
agencies, leading travel companies,
hotels, country tourism boards, tour
operators, individuals and communities
working all around the world.
Measurement and recognition for
meeting sustainable tourism criteria
however can be more challenging.
However, a number of organisations
have come up with different systems
whereby companies can be assessed
and monitored.
The industry needs a common platform,
that is recognised everywhere. One
such organisation is Travelife, which is
a subsidiary of ABTA, (formerly called
the Association of British Travel Agents,
now known as ABTA, The Travel
Association). Travelife is supported by
major European trade associations
and tour operators like Thomas Cook,
TUI and Kuoni and provides a webbased certification system that can
be used by tour companies and
accommodation providers to monitor
and self-assess their sustainability
performance. Launched in 2007, it is
widely recognised within the travel and
tourism industry as a comprehensive
and credible tool.
Walking the talk, leading by example,
spreading the word and behaving in
a responsible way, sustainability is
something that can be seen to benefit
everyone.
www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel | 2016
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