Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Deepak Raj Joshi, has reaffirmed Nepal’s strong commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism.
Speaking at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 held at ExCeL London during a panel discussion titled “Sustainable Shift: Transforming Tourism through a Circular Economy,” Joshi emphasized Nepal’s ongoing efforts to advance sustainable tourism.
Joshi highlighted how Nepal is promoting sustainability in its mountainous and rural tourism landscapes through community participation, environmental stewardship, and economic inclusivity. He stated, “Nepal is moving beyond superficial ‘green’ initiatives and focusing on systemic change, where balancing environmental conservation, local empowerment, and business sustainability is essential. Nepal is fully committed to this effort.”
The session focused on how the tourism sector can adopt circular economy principles to promote resource reuse, waste reduction, low-carbon transportation, and greater involvement of local communities.
Organized by TROVE Tourism Development, the discussion brought together tourism experts from around the world. The panel explored innovative global practices while addressing challenges faced by rapidly developing tourism markets.
Key topics included integrating circular economy principles with traditional sustainability frameworks, ensuring low-carbon mobility in destinations with insufficient infrastructure, enhancing local community participation in policy-making, and tackling issues related to limited investment, infrastructure, and skills development. The panel also discussed global tourism trends and the socio-economic benefits that local communities can gain by contributing to environmental protection.
The session concluded with a call for the tourism sector to move beyond surface-level “green” programs and deliver real, measurable, and impactful change to ensure a sustainable future for both communities and the environment.
