KATHMANDU: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have jointly launched a new project “Sustainable Tourism Project (STP)” to generate employment and livelihood opportunities for local communities through improving tourism facilities and services, skilling tourism workforce and promotion of tourist destination.  

The US$ 5 million project to be co-funded by NTB and UNDP, with each contributing US $1.5 million, and an additional US$ 2 million to be jointly mobilized. NTB and UNDP signed an agreement  on Friday, March 21, 2025, to collaborate on the project.

Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of NTB, and Kyoko Yokosuka (Japan), Resident Representative, UNDP-Nepal, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Building on the success of the Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP), the STP aims to create 2,500 sustainable jobs and enhance the tourism-related skills for 5,000 people through construction and improvement of small tourism infrastructures in priority destinations,  and trekking trails, and strengthen Nepal’s tourism digitalization efforts to improve efficiency and accessibility.

Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of NTB appreciated the support and partnership with UNDP and reiterated that this new project not only enhances the tourism experience in Nepal but also empowers local communities through employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. “By improving trekking facilities and strengthening local capacities, we are not only increasing visitor satisfaction but also positioning Nepal as a resilient, world-class tourism destination. This initiative aligns with our vision of a more inclusive and resilient tourism industry that benefits both the environment and the people of Nepal,” he added.

Similarly, Kyoko Yokosuka, UNDP Resident Representative in Nepal, expressed optimism about the collaboration: “UNDP is proud to support Nepal in transforming its tourism sector. This project represents a strong commitment to building a resilient and environmentally sustainable tourism sector that benefits local communities, strengthens Nepal’s economic potential, and contributes to Nepal’s long-term development.”

The three-year project (2025-2028) to be implemented through NTB envisions to support Nepal Government’s vision to establish Nepal as a world-class tourism destination by fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. It is aligned with Nepal’s 16th Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the envisioned priority of Nepal Tourism Decade (2023-2032)—which aims to increase the yearly tourist influx to 3.5 million by 2032 and make Nepal a more attractive and sustainable destination for travelers worldwide.

By forging strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, government agencies, and the private sector and leveraging Nepal’s natural and cultural assets, by investing in infrastructure development, workforce capacity-building, and digital innovation, and by improving tourism services and facilities, the project aims to increase visitor satisfaction, encouraging longer stays, and boosting spending, and ultimately contribute to Nepal’s overall economy.

The project comes after the success of the earlier Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP) between NTB and UNDP, which started earlier in December 2020 to revive Nepal’s tourism sector hard-hit by the COVID pandemic. The programme created 1,600 jobs through construction and improvement of small tourism infrastructures and renovation of cultural heritage sites in selected tourist hotspots, including the Everest and Annapurna regions.