Changing Tourism Lives in Nepal

How Recovery & Renewal Tourism is helping Nepal build back better
A Nepal Recovery Fund update
December 2015

Dawa Tamang is why the Tourism Cares Nepal Recovery Fund exists so that the industry
can make a difference in tourism lives in uniquely meaningful ways.
Dawa was one of 40 lodge and tea house owners and
workers from Langtang, which was particularly hard hit,
who participated in a special hospitality training program
for displaced persons while at a temporary camp in
Kathmandu.
She was in the fields that moment on April 25, 2015. When
Dawa rushed to the collapsed bakery where her husband
worked she knew he hadnt survived. She found her two
boys and is now the sole parent for her household: she took
the hospitality and baking training so that she can advance
her skills, continue her husbands profession and provide
for her family.
Together with Nepals National Academy of Tourism and
Hospitality Management (NATHM) and co-funded with the Kennedy School at Harvard
University, we were thrilled to support this project, one we will be building on. What better
use of participants time, far from home in Kathmandu, than to upgrade their skills. The
intensive 10-day training program also served another purpose, as one of Dawas peers
noted: Here we are all busy with the course and taking care of the camp community.
However, I am scared of going back and not being able to cope with the absence of my wife
and daughter.
The special NATHM session and certificate program exemplifies the potential of the Nepal
Tourism Recovery Fund, which is committed to two aspects of disaster response: (1) Recovery
Tourism, helping buttress visitation in the period following the immediate relief phase
leading up to the quakes first anniversary, and (2) Renewal Tourism, making investments that
specifically help the tourism economy build back better for the disadvantaged, in terms of
individual skills, social businesses and finding ways to highlight new destinations.

This is the Recovery & Renewal Tourism framework that has guided the investments of the
fund: two related approaches, with the first anniversary as a pivot point, that use the tourism
economy to improve lives.

We also believe this is an extraordinary time for travelers to visit Nepal, a time for especially
meaningful travel due to the extra hospitality and gratitude, and the recoverys unique
energy, stories and inspiration.
Unfortunately, tourism remains severely depressed due
to ongoing market perception issues as well as the trade
blockade on the Indian border that is making fuel scarce
and keeping some travel advisories raised. Yet there are
high hopes for a resolution to the situation and for
improvement for the spring season, and some operators
have reported strong bookings for trips timed with the
quakes first anniversary.
The following investments have been identified for the
fund to-date, which received $95,000 in contributions,

from which these will account for just over $30,000. The balance will be invested in the next
6-10 months as recovery needs and opportunities develop.
Recovery Tourism Investments

www.NepalNow.org (Nepal Now team with the Nepal Tourism Board, est. US$5,000)
Nepals recovery information source and social media campaign, Nepal Now is
helping show the world that now is a great time to come to Nepal.
Voluntourism best practices, consulting and recovery projects ($10,000). Post-disaster
is a critical time for inbound volunteers, to harness effective voluntourism for recovery
and to minimize orphanage voluntourism and other areas of risk. We consulted with
tour operators on volunteer programs and engaged a wide range of local partners.
One model program using volunteers to bring dollars and labor back to Nepal is from
Ace the Himalaya, with the Clymb.
Crisis preparedness and management training for tour operators, and advocacy for
Nepal (Adventure Travel Trade Association AdventureEDU, $6,000). The ATTA
relationship fulfills two shared goals: increasing visibility for Nepal through
AdventureWeek Rebound Nepal and the media, and training 40+ local operators so
they can move forward with a strong safety and risk management foundation for their
businesses, both to provide confidence for future travelers and to be prepared for
future crises.
What is to come: exploring anniversary
tourism activities, as well as voluntourism
best practice trainings with UNICEF and
NATHM.

Renewal Tourism Investments

Lodging Management Certificate for 40

Langtang tourism workers (National
Academy of Tourism and Hospitality
Management, $1,800). For just $1.8k we cofunded the 10-day training for 40 displaced
persons, including food and transport, which
should lead to better service and better
incomes when tourism returns. Learn more
from the Nepali Times story and a Tourism
Cares blog post.
Advanced culinary training for Langtang
lodge managers (National Academy of
Tourism and Hospitality Management, est.

$4,000, to be co-funded). Based on the first certificate program a second set of more indepth, 40-day trainings is planned for 44 total participants.
New jobs for 6 visually impaired
Nepalis through massage therapy
(Seeing Hands Nepal, $3,800). These
are some of the very best jobs for the
visually impaired in Nepal, who have extremely few opportunities: with our support
Seeing Hands Nepal, which maintains three top-rated massage clinics (Pokhara, and
Patan and Thamel in Kathmandu, with plans for expansion), will train 6 new massage
therapists, dramatically improving their quality of life.
What is to come. Possibly a new social benefit restaurant in Dhulikhel, on the rim of
the Kathmandu Valley. Additional activities in Langtang and elsewhere along the
Great Himalaya Trails.

These investments followed an August research trip by Mike Rea, Tourism Cares CEO, and
tour, marketing and voluntourism advisor Alexia Nestora. It was a packed trip with
meetings with the Minister of Tourism, the Nepal Tourism Board and the National Tourism
Promotion Council, and many local tour operators and nonprofits.
Thank you to the 220+ companies and individuals for making the Nepal Recovery Fund
possible! You are making an extraordinary difference in Nepali lives.
We want to hear from you and all those in our community who care for Nepal. Please send
your comments, questions and ideas to Mike (mike.rea@tourismcares.org).