Kathmandu. Nepal is firmly committed to advancing responsible and sustainable tourism development, said Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Speaking at a panel discussion titled “Sustainable Shift: Transforming Tourism Through a Circular Economy” during the World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 held at ExCeL London, CEO Joshi highlighted Nepal’s efforts and vision towards sustainable tourism.
CEO Joshi shared insights on how Nepal is integrating community involvement, environmental responsibility, and economic inclusiveness, especially within mountain and rural tourism landscapes. “Nepal is now moving beyond superficial ‘green’ initiatives and focusing on systemic transformation,” he said, emphasizing the need to create a balance between environmental conservation, local empowerment, and long-term business sustainability. “Nepal is committed to this journey,” he added.
The discussion shed light on how the global tourism industry can adopt circular economy practices to promote resource reuse, reduce waste, encourage low-carbon travel, and ensure equitable participation of local communities. Experts explored ways tourism can transition from a linear to a circular model to support long-term sustainability.
The session, organized by Trove Tourism Development, featured tourism specialists from various countries. It highlighted innovative global practices, emerging market trends, and the evolving challenges the tourism sector faces due to rapid market shifts.
Key issues discussed included circular economy approaches beyond traditional sustainability, low-carbon mobility in destinations with limited infrastructure, local community participation in policy-making, challenges faced by emerging markets due to limited investment and capacity gaps, and the role of communities in environmental stewardship and economic benefit sharing.
The panel collectively emphasized that the tourism sector must move beyond surface-level “green” programs and work towards real, measurable, and impactful change in the sustainability landscape.
