It gives me great pleasure and privilege to address the session of High-level Discussion “Measuring Tourism for People, Planet and Prosperity”.

As a representative from the multilateral organization, UNDP Nepal has been contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals; these are blueprints/commitments by all member states, including Nepal on which national policies, strategies and investments needs to be founded. Within this framework and as the theme is about ‘Measuring Tourism: People Planet and Prosperity’ let me share three programmatic visions of UNDP. This includes economy/livelihoods that covers inclusive economic development, emissions that impact the planet, and Environment provides source of life 

Tourism is a driver of economy and provides some 333 million of employment/livelihoods to people. For example, Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP) targeted vulnerable tourism-dependent communities, those particularly, women/people from disadvantaged groups who lost jobs, about 122 schemes reaching 5,645 vulnerable unemployed workers in tourism sector through cash for work and creating 76,948 person-days of total employment. Out of 5,645 tourism workers, 1,304 (23%) women were provided 18,281 person-days of employment. However, tourism accounts for some 5% of all emissions in the world through transport, energy, and waste. Tourism has a huge rapport with the environment and biodiversity that include some 8.7M species of flora and fauna but only some 1.3 M species are known.

Hence, sustainability needs to be at the centre of development. As a result, Nepal has included conservation levy, VAT/tax exemptions for use of renewable energy sources and green technologies, initiate investment on circular economy, minimization of food waste, ban on single plastic, ethical business in its recovery strategy. Today we have a huge opportunity to recalibrate our economies with tourism recovery strategies, better negotiate for debt servicing, reduce fiscal stresses, Tax regimes etc. through targeted interventions that protect (including social protection) men and women, those who lost jobs, and mostly vulnerable women, and those affected by the pandemic.

Similarly, Paris agreement and related NDCs give us the opportunity and are very relevant to adjust and reduce our emissions, in the next 8 to 28 years; Glassgow declaration gives us the premise to engage collectively to measure, decarbonize, collaborate, and mobilize resources for clean tourism, eg. Contextualizing Global Tourism Plastic Initiative of UNWTO to Nepal Tourism Plastic Initiative Kunmin-Montreal Biodiversity Framework is in line with our environment portfolio  that calls for 30% land conservation, restoration and protection of biodiversity, together with indigenous community, particularly providing opportunities for indigenous women In addition, Nepal being part of the LDC group, that represent 1.2 B people with 226 M youth, half of them being women has the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference through local community champions.

Doha programme of action comes with opportunities for Economy, Emissions and Environments; EU 130M euros for Africa, GCF 80M in equity as green guarantees to businesses in LDCs and bring down the cost of capital KSA with 800M loan packages for LDCs. These are the opportunities that can bring additional support to the sectors that can contribute to achieving SDG targets/indicators.

In my opinion the success at the national level will depend on how much we really believe the sustainable principles, and our readiness to change our behaviors, individually and collectively. This, however, requires Policy coherence at all levels of the governments; Investments, mostly in Human resources, specialized trainings, beyond statistics about sustainability, investment in research, digital technology, and opportunities for men and women; provision of incentives to women so that they are attracted and feel protected to venture and engage in business opportunities in the sector; Implementation for success and future investment; Accountability; better Communication. 

Tourism as a driver of development, development of people, men and women, and protecting the planet it is a balancing act, decoupling growth and emissions: For me it is very beautifully captured in the universal principles of the Agenda 2030: Leaving No one behind, is about data, a pathway to search who the people that are left behind, because of where they live, what their gender is, what identity the society ascribed them to; So in all development work, including Tourism we should mainstream this principle so that we have lasting impact for people and planet.

As Nepal aiming to increase the tourism inflow by many folds, the concept of sustainable tourism has to be at the core of its strategy. Nepal already observed lots of challenges in terms of protecting its prestigious mountains and trekking routs. Waste generated by tourists especially plastic bottles have become a big issue in Nepal. Protecting its biodiversity and culture is crucial not only for environment but also for future generation. By adopting sustainable tourism practices, we can ensure that tourism benefits both the visitors and the communities they visit while preserving our natural and cultural resources. There have been some efforts in Nepal in promoting sustainable tourism such as community homestay, training to the local communities, partnership with tourism industry in developing sustainable tourism products etc.