Regional collaboration for sustainable mountain tourism: policy and knowledge exchange field school and writeshop

About the event

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), through Sustainable Mountain Tourism Component of Action Area on Economies and the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) of Action Area on Regional Network, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality (VMRM) and Nepal Tourism Board  is organizing a 3-day field school in Kagbeni, Mustang, and a 4-day policy writeshop in Pokhara.

Building on a recent scoping study conducted in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan and its key findings, the field-based collaborative learning school and policy writeshop will address the urgent need for transitioning mountain tourism to green, inclusive and climate resilient future, which promotes tourism to regenerative tourism, one which actively restores, rebuilds, and revives destinations, businesses, and services.

During the 3-day field school, the participants, through interactive sessions (technical and excursions), will explore and analyse challenges and opportunities with a focus on learning and co-designing case study for climate proofing tourism in VMRM.  The participants will learn to leverage the power of nature and tourism to address social, economic and environmental challenges. They will learn about standard practices for regenerative and climate resilient tourism development, management of ecosystems, government policies and plans through mainstreaming collaboration and cooperation at the regional, national and subnational levels.

The 4-day regional policy writeshop will enable participants to address the urgent need for bridging the knowledge-action gap important to transition mountain tourism to green, inclusive and climate resilient future. This collaborative policy writeshop activity offers a unique platform for stakeholders from research, academia, industry, and government to engage in coordinated learning, co-generate knowledge, and drive implementation in Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Through interactive and participatory processes, participants will engage not only in exploring and analysing challenges and opportunities with a focus on co-designing policy documents (policy briefs and training manuals) but also encourage their uptake at the subnational, national and regional levels.

Objectives

3-day field school in Mustang

• Raise awareness about climate change, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable tourism. Explore different dimensions of mainstreaming climate change issues in tourism, particularly to identify and foster sustainable solutions for climate-proofing tourism development through inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge exchange and collaboration.

• Promote Dhakarjhong and Kagbeni villages as open climate schools, which provide a case study to learn about tourism and climate impacts in the Gandaki basin and the need for community led climate-resilient planning and actions.

4-day Policy Writeshop

• Facilitate regional knowledge sharing, research findings and data/information generated during scoping study and by member countries as a continuation of policy writeshop facilitation methodology from HUC-SG2 SMTC collaboration in Kohsar University Murree in May 2024.

• Review and finalise provincial tourism policy documents for Pakistan as the result of Policy Writeshop in Murree, May 2024, co-organised by HUC and SG2 SMTC as part of HUC Thematic Working Group on Mountain Tourism and Heritage.
• Draft content for a subnational level policy document on integrating climate-resilience for mountain (tourism) development in VMRM, Mustang, Gandaki basin.

• Review and develop outlines for training manuals in Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan.

• Establish a foundation for continued work on these policy documents in the coming months by respective leads from Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan.

• Explore and set up a loose regional network to advance cooperation among tourism stakeholders for research, policy and practice.

Expected Outputs

3-day Field school in Mustang:

• Enhanced understanding about critical environmental and socio-economic issues impacting VMRM.

• Identified solutions for integrated climate proofing tourism development informed by inter and transdisciplinary knowledge exchange and collaboration.

• Collaborative case design and development through immersive and experiential journey to Dhakarjhong and Kagbeni villages.

4-day Policy Writeshop in Pokhara:

• Finalised policy document tailored to sub national contexts of Pakistan and draft policy document of Nepal.
• Finalised methodology, outline and action plan for training manual development in Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan.

• Established loose regional network to advance cooperation among tourism stakeholders for research, policy and practice, for strengthening coordinated and collaborative actions across the HKH region.

Background

Mountain tourism is a vital sector for economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable development. Its growth plays a significant role in driving broader economic progress. However, the increasing scale of tourism activities is placing pressure on ecosystem services and key natural resources such as water, energy, and biodiversity. These activities also contribute to rising greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating the melting of Himalayan glaciers. Additionally, climate change impacts-such as droughts, forest fires, avalanches, flash floods, and landslides – are increasingly affecting the lives and livelihoods of those dependent on tourism. The long-term impacts of such interactions not only erode tourism competitiveness but also contribute to global warming beyond the 1.5°C threshold, undermining development progress and exacerbating climate injustice.

There’s an urgent need to transform mountain tourism, driven by two interconnected crises: the destructive pressures of overtourism and the escalating impacts of climate change. Addressing these complex challenges requires a comprehensive, regenerative approach that prioritises ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and enhanced stakeholder capacity for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience-building. As one of the world’s most vulnerable yet vital mountain systems, the HKH region serves as both a testing ground and model for developing innovative solutions that balance tourism development with environmental protection and community wellbeing.

However, the sustainable transformation of mountain tourism faces critical barriers due to substantial knowledge gaps in addressing emerging risks and implementing effective sustainability practices. Current challenges stem from insufficient knowledge resources such as data and analysis, fragmented policy frameworks, inadequate strategic planning tools, and underdeveloped training curricula – all of which hinder meaningful action on the ground. The ‘Bridging Knowledge-Action Gaps’ initiative aims to support regional member countries (RMCs) to engage in a coordinated and collaborative action of knowledge co-generation, brokering and dissemination, leading to effective interpretation and implementation of scientific knowledge and research findings into real world applications. Such action is fundamental to achieving better outcomes—enabling informed decisions for tourism planning, development, and management that generate net positive impacts for ecosystems, communities, and local economies across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.

The SG2 SMTC and the HUC have been collaborating, within the framework HUC Mountain Tourism and Heritage Thematic Working Group (Mountain Tourism TWG), and with active contributions from HUC members in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. In May 2024, the Mountain Tourism TWG met in Kohsar University Murree for a Policy Brief Writeshop, when policy makers and faculty members Pakistan, Nepal and China gathered to discuss and produce drafts of province-specific policy briefs. A similar facilitation methodology will be applied to 2025 HUC-SG2 SMTC collaboration, and selected faculty members and policymakers will participate in the Mustang field school and Pokhara Policy write-shop.