KATHMANDU, June 5: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has launched an online course titled 'Travel Specialist - Basic Level' to enhance the knowledge, skills, and service quality of tourism professionals.
NTB launched the course in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Nepal.
According to a statement from NTB, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Bedu Prasad Pandey officially inaugurated the training by unveiling a QR code during the opening ceremony of the ongoing Himalayan Travel Mart in Kathmandu.
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NTB, in partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, Nepal Airlines, and other private sector stakeholders, organized the three-day mart, which concludes today. Minister Pandey said the online training program would help make Nepal's tourism industry more sustainable, inclusive, and professional by improving the expertise and service quality of tourism professionals.
The program targets travel agents, guides, tour operators, trekking companies, and students pursuing tourism studies.
NTB's Chief Executive Officer, Deepak Raj Joshi, expressed confidence that the program will mark a milestone in developing the digital capabilities of tourism professionals. "Through our collaboration with UNDP, we are not only sharing knowledge but also laying the foundation for a sustainable, inclusive, and professional tourism industry," he said.
NTB developed the course under the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP) and offers it free of cost through its e-learning platform—Specialist Basic Level.
The course covers topics such as Nepal's geographical, cultural, and biological diversity; key tourism products like trekking, adventure travel, cultural heritage, and wellness tourism; principles of sustainable tourism and destination conservation; responsible travel practices; climate resilience; customer service skills; and effective visitor engagement.
In line with the government's declared 'Tourism Decade' strategy, which aims to attract 3.5 million foreign tourists by 2032, NTB continues to invest in human resource development. Under the Sustainable Tourism Project, scheduled to run from 2025 to 2028 in collaboration with UNDP, NTB aims to create 2,500 jobs and provide tourism-related skills training to 5,000 individuals.
The board plans to implement the project with a special focus on women and marginalized communities by improving local infrastructure, promoting digital innovation, and building the capacity of tourism destinations. NTB believes the project will contribute to economic growth by promoting sustainable, inclusive, and locally driven tourism.
