Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trail

Better Environment for Better Tourism

Panu KönönenSuomen Latu16.9.2010

Today’s Agenda1. Suomen Latu in

Brief2. Project: KTM

Valley Cultural Trail

3. Development4. Lessons learned5. Discussion

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Suomen Latu in Brief

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Suomen Latu, in which Latu (Latu is track in English) stands for promotion of cross country skiing activities and paving the way for all national sports without the aspect of competition.

72-year old NGO

• Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities in Finland

• Suomen Latu is an umbrella organization of outdoor activities, hiking and health beneficial exercise

• Suomen Latu was founded in 1948

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We promote

• Preserving everyman’s right• Promoting outdoor and health-promoting

exercise• Making outdoor activities and exercise more

accessible • Maintaining the quantity and quality of hiking

routes and walkways

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X-country skiing

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Water sports

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Geocaching

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Nordic Walking

We are...

• Over 77 000 members and 224 member associations all over Finland

• Staff of around 50• Office is located in Helsinki• Resort in Lapland, Suomen Latu Kiilopää,

www.kiilopaa.fi• Outdoor Center in Espoo, Suomen Latu Oittaa

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Outdoor Center

• One of the best recreational centers in Southern Finland

• Different outdoor activities, swimming, skiing, Skike etc.

• Trekking equipment rentals• Restaurant• Manor house for meetings, wedding parties

etc

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Resort and Fell Centre

• Fell Centre Kiilopää is located in the southern part of the Municipality of Inari, at the foot of the Kiilopää and Ahopää hills and right by the Urho Kekkonen National Park.

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Lapland Calling

• Kiilopää was founded in 1964

• Over 200 beds• 2 Restaurants• Guide services• www.kiilopaa.fi

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Global activities

• Suomen Latu works locally, nationally, and, since 1997, globally

• Suomen Latu carried out a development co-operation project in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania 1997-2001

• During the project in Kilimanjaro National Park a trekking trail with facilities was constructed to the peak of the Mount Kilimanjaro

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Suomen Latu in Nepal

• Since 2006 Suomen Latu has worked with Nepalese NGO, NETIF, Nepal Environment & Tourism Initiative Foundation (NETIF)• NETIF’s mission statement “Environmental tourism

for better economy”• www.netif-nepal.org

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Project: KTM Valley Cultural Trail

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Facts about Nepal

• Population: 28,5 million• GDP US $ 1200 per capita• Population below poverty line: 24,7 %• Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy

(livelihood for three-fourths of the population)• Unemployment rate: 46 % (2008)

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Tourism in Nepal

• Modern tourism started in 1951• Tourism is one of the most important

branches of business in Nepal:• The highest Forex earning industry, employing

around 500.000 • BUT:

• Contributes only 3 % of GDP, revenue US $ 162,8 million

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Tourism in Nepal, 2

• STILL:• “tourism appears to be one of the few economic

sectors able to guide a number of developing countries to higher levels of prosperity and for some to leave behind their least-developed country status”. TIES

• Nepalese government is placing high priority on the tourism sector in its new economic development policy, e.g. Nepal Tourism Year 2011

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Tourist Arrivals

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 20070

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

Tourist Arrivals

Tourist Arrivals

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Environmental conservation is a crucial part of tourism development. Many tourism products in Nepal depend upon natural and cultural resources.Nepal’s Experience Implementing Sustainable Tourism Development Models (2007)

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Wanna see the Everest?

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Attractive?

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Holy river...

Environmental Issues

• The key environmental issues: air quality, settlement pattern, drinking water, waste management and natural disaster

• Only 75 % of the solid waste generated in municipalities of Kathmandu valley is collected

• Urban waste management is unsatisfactory• Even rural areas face solid waste problem

Kathmandu Valley Environment Outlook (2007)

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Prob

lem

1 Lack of environmental consideration in tourism sector and communities

Lack of community involvment in tourism

Less people benefitting from tourism

Problem Analysis

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Prob

lem

1 Lack of environmental consideration in tourism sector and communities

Prob

lem

2 Lack of community involvement in tourism

Problem Analysis

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Prob

lem

1 Lack of environmental consideration in tourism sector and communities

Prob

lem

2 Lack of community involvement in tourism

Prob

lem

3 Less people benefitting from tourism

Problem Analysis

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Since Nepal started planned development in 1955 tourism has always been its integral part. From just 6179 tourists in 1962… today the industry hosts nearly 400,000.Nepalese Tourism: The Challenges (2007), Raman Grandon

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Obj

ectiv

e 1 More

environmental consideration in tourism sector and communities

Obj

ectiv

e 2 More

community involvement in tourism

Obj

ectiv

e 3 More people

benefitting from tourism

Ove

rall

Obj

ectiv

e Better environment for better tourism

Objectives

Tourism & Environment Development Project

• More people in rural and semi-rural communities of KTM Valley can benefit from tourism by...• developing community-based tourism through

trekking trail development• trainings in product development• promotional activities • establishing linkages between private sector and

communities

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Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.The International Ecotourism Society, 1990

Sustanaible Tourism

• Low impact on the environment and local culture

• Generates future employment for local people• Protection of environment, local culture,

waste minimization • Responsible tourists support sustainable

tourism (businesses)

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Community-based Tourism

• Full participation of a local community in the planning and management of tourism enterprise

• Full local ownership of tourism enterprise• Tourism product is based on local cultural,

social or environmental assets• E.g. Home-stay program

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The Project Area1. Sundarijal2. Chisapani3. Nagarkot4. Dhulikhel5. Panauti

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SundarijalKTM Valley Cultural Trail

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From Water Shed to National Park

• The starting point in Sundarijal is in 1460 meters

• The highest spot on the trail, Borlang Bhangjang (2420 m)

• Water shed for KTM

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Shivapuri National Park

• One of the nine national parks in Nepal

• Founded in 2002 to protect valley’s water resources

• Home for 177 species of birds, orchids, and even leopards and bears

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Home of Tamang Tribe

• National Park accommodates several villages

• Mulkharkha is a traditional Tamang village

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ChisapaniKTM Valley Cultural Trail

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Himalayan Views

• The first trekking day ends in Chisapani after 16-kilometer walk

• On the left hand side you’ll see the Annapurna massive, on the right hand side dozens of other Himalayan peaks

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NagarkotKTM Valley Cultural Trail

Famous Hill Stations

• Nagarkot is a touristy hill station in 2175 m

• The most popular place for mountain watching

• The best season: from October to March

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DhulikhelKTM Valley Cultural Trail

A Real Newari Town

• Dhulikhel, an authentic Newari town and the next best place for mountain watching

• Suomen Latu’s partner Organization NETIF is Dhulikhel based

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Pilgrimage

• Namobuddha and Panauti offer opportunities for pilgrimage for both Hindus and Buddhists

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NamobuddhaKTM Valley Cultural Trail

Eaten by a Tiger

• Namobuddha, a popular destination for Tibetan pilgrims

• According to the legend, Buddha saw a starving tiger family there and in his compassion offered himself for them to be consumed

• A stupa, a Buddhist sanctuary, was built to mark the legend

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PanautiKTM Valley Cultural Trail

Temples of Panauti

• One of the oldest temples in Nepal: Indreshwar Mahadev from the end of the 13th century

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So, what have you done?

Development

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Some Figures First

• 3-year project (2008-2010)• Total budget around 250 000 €• 9 full-time workers, ~100 part-time workers• Partly supported by official development aid

from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

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8 Shelters for Trekkers

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150 Signs and Signboards

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10 Incinerators, 210 Waste Rings

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Trail Upgrading

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2 Community Centers Constructed

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Other Small Scale Infrastucture

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Capacity Building

• 25 women trained in Corn Husk Doll production

• 27 women trained in Doll Making from waste clothes

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Capacity Building 2

• 28 villagers trained in mushroom production

• 36 villagers trained in Basic vegetable production and marketing

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Capacity Building 3

• 38 people trained in Small Hotel and Lodge management

• 28 people from Dalit communities trained in Cultural Program Performance

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Guide training

• Local guide training in Dhulikhel

• 31 guides were trained• Dhulikhel Guide

Association was formed• Associaton offers

services for hotels and independent travellers

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Networking, Promoting

• Workshops• FAM-trips• Website:

• www.netif-nepal.org

• Booklets• Maps

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Increased Environmental Awareness and Waste Minimization

Infrastructure Development = Job Opportunities

New Skills = Micro Enterprise Development

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www.kaukoretket.fi

Lessons Learned

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Do you know her?

Know Your ”Clients”

• Identify their real needs• Listen to them, they are the experts • Plan the project activities together• Try to lower the hierarchy • Interaction is needed at every stage• Human to human, be yourself, be real

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Community Participation

• Remember the project cycle!• Sustainability: Who has the ownership of the

project?• Does the project mobilize locals or local

institutions?• Capacity building of local communities

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Thank You for Your Attention!

www.suomenlatu.fi/nepalwww.netif-nepal.org