Every tourist to plant or sponsor a tree

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 - Tourists entering Nepal will have to either plant a tree or sponsor one to reduce the impact of climate change, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) announced Friday. The announcement comes on the eve of World Tourism Day which falls on Saturday. This year the Day is being ...

"It is the price they (tourists) will have to pay for their contribution to carbon emissions generated through the goods they use while in Nepal," said Prachanda Man Shrestha, acting chief executive officer of NTB on Friday.

Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) and NTB also, yesterday, jointly set up a Climate Neutral Planet Fund to mitigate the impact of climate change.

"The fund will be used for tree plantation by community forest users’ groups in all 75 districts and will also help contribute to sustainable development," said Shrestha.

The fund was launched with Rs 100,000 contributed jointly by MoTCA and NTB. The contribution of tourists sponsoring trees will go into this fund.

Planting of more trees across the country will help check carbon emission, the main cause of climate change.

Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami said that the tourism sector in the country should now adopt environment-friendly approaches and encourage both national and international tourists to involve themselves in eco-friendly lifestyles. Yami also contributed Rs 10,000 to the fund on the same day.

Trolleys contributedAlso on the occasion of World Tourism Day, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal has decided to provide 30 trolleys to different airports in the country. Similarly, Hotel Association of Nepal and Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents has decided to donate 25 and 20 trolleys respectively as part of efforts to provide quality service for tourists and to promote sustainable tourism. Likewise, Bandi Nima Sherpa, member of NTB has individually donated 20 trolleys to support tourism in the country.

According to Shrestha, more than 75 percent of tourists enter the country by air. However, there is lack of quality service for tourists when they reach the airport.

"We lack trolleys for the tourists' baggage. Therefore these contributions to the tourism sector are praiseworthy," he said.

With the support of Nepal Police, NTB has launched a special security programme for tourists entering the country. According to NTB, each tourist at any point of entry will be provided with a helpline telephone number. Tourists can contact the number directly in case they have any problem. The helpline will be open 365 days of the year.