Kathmandu / Tourism Recovery Task Force (TRTF) Nepal, in collaboration with GATE Foundation and with Technical contribution from GIZ Nepal, has launched the manual of Health and Hygiene Safety Protocol for Tourism operators on 13th January 2021 in a virtual program organized today. TRTF-Nepal Coordinator-Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi and Head of the Development Cooperation at German Embassy- Dr. Stephan Russek jointly unveiled the Project Manual in the program.
This project aims to build on the Health and Hygiene Safety (HHS) Protocols for tourism and hospitality operators endorsed by the Government of Nepal in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19 to ensure the continuity of businesses during and post-pandemic scenario. However, stakeholders have realized that these protocols explained need to be further elaborated and simplified by making them more user-friendly, especially in case of targeting the needs of the smaller enterprises located at remote and emerging tourism destinations.
Hence, this project has developed a simplified and easy to understand training manual on HHS Protocols aiming to develop trainers (Local Champions) at 11 selected municipalities of the Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Lumbini province to intensify the awareness and compliance with the HHS protocols at the service.
After the first stage of the ToT Program, the trained professional shall provide further training to 250 service providers at each municipality; as such total of 2,750 service providers in Western Nepal will be the trained human resources in effectively implementing the HHS protocols in the region. This project shall support local governments and the private sector of the tourism industry ranging from owners, managers, to the operation level staffs of bigger establishments as well as operators of smaller teashops, homestays, and street food stalls on a mass level to ensure health and hygiene safety in place.
Addressing the launching program, Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi emphasized the need and importance for massive awareness and training programs to have a responsible and safer restart of tourism in the country. He informed that the project is being put forward as the need shown by a survey conducted by TRTF-Nepal on “Preparedness of the Industry to restart tourism” wherein 85% of the respondents have pointed the need for training. He extended thanks to GIZ Nepal and the GATE Foundation for making it possible to conduct the project.
Dr. Stephan Russek appreciated the project as a very instrumental and timely initiative to ensure better preparedness and to enhance the service quality and standards in the tourism and hospitality sector of the western part of Nepal. He added that this project will also be supportive for Lumbini as a promising tourism destination as well as for the upcoming International Airport and other ongoing projects in the Lumbini province.
Mr. Khem Lakai, Treasurer-PATA Nepal Chapter, mentioned that creating local champions at local levels creates the opportunity to boost the support and advocacy for the desired changes required at the local level.
Ms. Anjana Khadka, Editor of the Manual, made a detailed presentation with anticipated outcomes of the project. Mr. Bibek Poudel, Coordinator of the project, extended thanks to all the invitees and professionals present in the program inviting their feedbacks and engagement to expand the program throughout the country in the near future.
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