Programme Approach
Poverty stricken childrenThe programme has a very strong social agenda, and is aimed at getting multiple stakeholders (such as community interests, local government and the national tourism organisation) to work together towards agreed common goals.
The programme has taken partnership approach at all levels for programme planning and implementation as well as for programme sustainability. At the local level, the programme forms Community Organizations (COs) and Functional Groups (FGs) for the establishment of backward linkages through tourism development, with special emphasis on Special Target groups (STG) and women through capacity enhancement and mobilisation funds from Venture Capital Fund (VCF). Till 2004, altogether 702 COs have been formed with 14,148 members and 157 FGs formed with 1,978 members.
At the VDC level the programme has established Sustainable Tourism Development Committee (STDC) to co-ordinate with the COs formed within the VDC, and establishes a vertical linkage with the STDS formed at the district level. Altogether there have been 23 STDC/BZUC formed among the 48 VDCs of TRPAP. Similarly, the programme has supported formation of 5 Sustainable Tourism Development Sections (STDS) within the umbrella of District Development Committees (DDC) to co-ordinate with district level tourism stakeholders and district level tourism planning; while having close linkage with the STDU established at the central level. At the central level, the programme has facilitated establishment of Sustainable Tourism Development Unit (STDU) within Nepal Tourism Board to take leadership in rural product development and marketing by having direct links with the district level STDSs.
