Organizer: Namkha Rural Municipality, Nepal Tourism Board, Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (Ministry of Forests and Environment, Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology, Integrated Centre for International Mountain Development)

Concept note in English Concept note in Nepali

Background

Namkha Rural Municipality in Humla, Karnali Province, known as the official ‘gateway’ to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, considers sustainable tourism to be one of its highly valued economic sectors. Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred sites in the world, with thousands of pilgrims travelling through the Tibetan Plateau, India, and Nepal to reach the holy site. Namkha Rural Municipality is home to 3,900 people, most of whom belong to the Bhotia ethnic group. The municipality and the region surrounding it, is rich and unique in natural and cultural heritage, with a high potential of transforming into a hub for cultural and eco-tourism.

The Constitution of Nepal and the Local Government Operation Act 2074 give local governments the authority to prepare and implement certain policies and plans. With support from Kailash Sacred Landscape and Conservation Initiative, a five-year sustainable tourism plan was drafted for Namkha Rural Municipality. The tourism plan serves as a strategic document to harness the municipality’s largely unexplored and untapped potential for cultural tourism and ecotourism.

Objectives

The aim of this workshop is to share the drafted five-year sustainable tourism plan of Namkha Rural Municipality with the stakeholders. Interaction with stakeholders will help validate the findings of the plan and generate feedback and relevant support for its implementation. “Treasures of Humla”, the photo-and-art exhibition will also help profile Namkha Rural Municipality’s cultural heritage and ecotourism potential.

The feedback and recommendations received from the stakeholders will also assist in finalizing the plan for the municipality and will inform ways to move forward for its implementation.