Kathmandu — A free trekking guide training program exclusively for women has commenced in Garma, Solukhumbu from Tuesday. The initiative has been launched under the coordination of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP) operated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The 15-day residential training aims to promote women’s empowerment and sustainable tourism development. A total of 28 women from various parts of the country have been selected to participate. Conducted in collaboration with the Nepal Mountain Academy, the training provides participants with essential skills including technical knowledge of trekking routes, safety management, first aid, mountain etiquette, and professional service standards.
During the inauguration ceremony, Solukhumbu District Coordination Officer Chandrasinh Shrestha, Solududhkunda Municipality Administration Chief Tukti Sherpa, Ward-7 Chair Sonam Sherpa, Ward Member Balakaji Karki, and Principal of the Vocational Training Center Number, Lakpa Rinji Sherpa, shared their views. They stated that the increasing involvement of women in the tourism sector will contribute to making Nepal’s mountain tourism safer, more reliable, and more inclusive. They also noted that capacity-building programs initiated by the Nepal Tourism Board have been laying a strong foundation for sustainable tourism promotion at both local and national levels.
The Nepal Tourism Board believes that expanding women’s participation in trekking is essential for inclusive growth in the tourism sector. Such training programs help women become confident, skilled, and professionally competent trekking guides. The Board has also committed to continuing and expanding similar capacity-enhancement initiatives in the future to create more opportunities for community-based tourism and the economic empowerment of women.
