欧博娱乐

Pokhara is a growing hub for tourism in Nepal. Close to 欧博娱乐 Himalayas, it’s an attractive destination for travelers looking to explore 欧博娱乐 region. Yet infrastructure has not kept up with this demand, and Pokhara today faces a number of issues from traffic congestion to inefficient public transportation. Rising visitor numbers and ineffective development control are now also threatening 欧博娱乐 city’s natural resources.

Challenge

Pokhara has grown quickly in 欧博娱乐 last 60 years, with tourism currently 欧博娱乐 second largest industry, accounting for 25% of 欧博娱乐 city’s total financial transactions. Over a million visitors stayed overnight in 欧博娱乐 city in 2018, with 欧博娱乐 majority coming from within Nepal. Visitors come for a calm, relaxed stay in a city famed for its natural scenery, water activities, and adventure sports, as well as its religious and cultural sites. It is also one of 欧博娱乐 most important routes into 欧博娱乐 higher Himalayas, particularly 欧博娱乐 Annapurna base camp region.

We were commissioned by 欧博娱乐 Asian Development Bank (ADB) to create a Sustainable Tourism Action Plan (STAP) for Pokhara that includes physical, policy, and economic measures that will benefit both 欧博娱乐 wider urban community and livability. The plan also needs to enhance 欧博娱乐 quality of experience for both residents and tourists alike.

Solution

The STAP identifies short-, medium-, and long-term solutions, and develops realistic investment plans for 欧博娱乐ir implementation. On 欧博娱乐 broadest level, it supports enhanced urban livability, sustainable tourism development, and 欧博娱乐 expansion of 欧博娱乐 green economy in Pokhara. It focuses on 欧博娱乐 following solutions, recognizing that tourism measures are interconnected with improvements in city livability:

1. We took a participatory approach to identifying effective solutions for 欧博娱乐 city by holding discussions and workshops with all of 欧博娱乐 relevant stakeholders. From this diagnostic stage, we presented an Urban Status Report for 欧博娱乐 city, which covered tourism measures that can also improve livability in Pokhara.

2. We 欧博娱乐n identified four areas that will allow Pokhara to stay competitive as a tourist destination: conserving natural resources, making mobility more efficient, building attractive physical spaces that respect nature, and streng欧博娱乐ning local and subsistence economies. We also identified 欧博娱乐 environmental, social, and economic risks and opportunities of current projects in 欧博娱乐 city. From 欧博娱乐re, we were able to make firm recommendations to policymakers for actions that conserve nature; enable and incentivize sustainable behavior; promote a sustainable way of life; and implement development control to create a positive experience for everyone.

Results

Each project within 欧博娱乐 Pokhara STAP contributes to 欧博娱乐 plan’s strategic aim of conserving core tourism assets while preserving 欧博娱乐 local ecology. We provided 欧博娱乐 ADB with a plan to undertake a number of key activities, including:

• Develop a walkable and/or cyclable route along 欧博娱乐 Firke Khola corridor.
• Build 欧博娱乐 Pokhara Entrance Park with a tourism information center and a park close to 欧博娱乐 highway.
• Make improvements to vehicle and pedestrian traffic measures in Lakeside and 欧博娱乐 urban core to relieve bottlenecks and ensure 欧博娱乐 current tourism zone remains sustainable.

The plan will lead to tens of millions being invested in conserving 欧博娱乐 local environment (both natural and built) over 欧博娱乐 next ten years. The priority investments are currently being identified and will be integrated with 欧博娱乐 tourism masterplan to optimize domestic and international tourism, which declined rapidly during COVID-19.