Today marks World Tourism Day, with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) setting the theme as “Tourism and Peace.” This year, the global celebration aims to promote peace through tourism, organizing discussions and reviews worldwide. Events are designed to make tourism more peace-friendly and youth-centered, aligning with this year’s overarching message. A grand celebration is taking place in Tbilisi, Georgia, where tourism ministers and professionals from various countries have gathered to commemorate the day.
Tourism and Peace: A Symbiotic Relationship
The global experience has shown that tourism can bring people together, foster economic growth, and facilitate the exchange of culture, languages, and experiences between nations. These exchanges contribute to conflict resolution and directly promote peace by enhancing mutual understanding.
Local Job Creation and Peacebuilding
Tourism connects various sectors like hotels, restaurants, tour guides, trekking, agriculture, transportation, and adventure sports, creating job opportunities for locals. By reducing unemployment—a known cause of conflict—tourism contributes to peace by providing sustainable livelihoods.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The United Nations SDG 16 focuses on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions, with tourism playing a vital role in achieving this goal. A prime example is Costa Rica, where the tourism sector has flourished, attracting 3.4 million visitors annually, and contributing to peace and stability in the country.
Tourism and Social Justice
As tourism provides employment, it improves the economic and social conditions of local communities. This economic empowerment facilitates access to education, justice, and social equity, helping to reduce economic disparities and strengthening the foundations of democracy.
Peace-Sensitive Tourism and Social Responsibility
To ensure that tourism contributes to peace, the industry must adopt codes of conduct that promote peace-friendly and socially responsible practices. Responsible tourism, guided by ethical principles, should be implemented to create jobs and enhance social justice without fueling conflicts.
Pokhara’s Commitment to Responsible Tourism
In 2013, Pokhara’s Western Regional Hotel Association, Trekking Agencies of Nepal, and 15 other organizations signed a commitment to follow responsible tourism practices. They aimed to ensure that tourism contributes to peace and social responsibility, avoiding any involvement in conflict-promoting activities. However, despite this initiative, the Nepalese government has yet to formally include these principles in its policies.
What the Nepalese Government Must Do
- Integrate Peace-Friendly Tourism Concepts: Nepal’s government should incorporate peace-friendly tourism policies in their national strategies and legal frameworks. So far, there is no clear definition or roadmap for promoting peace through tourism in official documents.
- Policy Reformation: The current tourism policies are outdated and not in line with federal principles. The government needs to streamline administrative services to facilitate the tourism industry and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
- Tourism Law and Structural Reforms: Nepal can host 2.5 million tourists annually but fails to meet even half of this target due to ineffective policies and a lack of investment-friendly environments. Structural reforms in the Ministry of Tourism and the Nepal Tourism Board are essential for realizing the country’s tourism potential.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): To maximize its tourism potential, Nepal needs to adopt a public-private partnership model, ensuring collaboration between the government and private sectors. Transparent, efficient, and accountable tourism practices are necessary for the sector’s growth.
- Diversifying Peace-Friendly Tourism: Nepal should promote a variety of tourism options, such as eco-tourism, educational tourism, health and wellness tourism, and cultural tourism. This diversification could attract up to 5 million tourists annually.
Infrastructure Development for Peace-Friendly Tourism
Key infrastructures, such as peace tourism training centers, expanded access to major tourist sites, and international flights from Pokhara and Lumbini, are crucial for promoting peace tourism. Long-term strategies, like Nepal’s National Tourism Strategic Plan (2016–2025), need revisions to focus more on integrating peace into tourism development.
With its unparalleled natural beauty, including eight of the world’s highest peaks, hundreds of lakes, and culturally significant sites like Lumbini and Pashupatinath, Nepal is uniquely positioned to become a global hub for peace tourism. If the country promotes its diverse offerings effectively, there is potential to attract 5–6 million tourists annually. By fostering an environment that promotes peace, employment, and social justice, Nepal can significantly enhance its tourism industry while contributing to global peace efforts.
