TAAN Organized Second Cleaning and Awareness Campaign

Kathmandu, June 5. On the occasion of 44th World Environment, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) has organized 2nd Cleaning and Awareness Campaign at Swayamnbhunath area on June 5. TAAN has started this campaign on March from Thamel area. The Cleaning and Awareness Campaign started from Swayambhunath, Buddha Park at 7 A.M. and ended at Aanandakuti, Swayambhunath at 10 A.M.

World Environment Day 2018 is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The global theme for the day is “Beat Plastic Pollution”, if you can’t reuse it, refuse it. A total of 200 participants including different tourism associations, representative of Nepal Academy of Tourism & Hotel Management.

The campaign was chaired by TAAN President Mr. Nava Raj Dahal and Chief Guest Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi, C.E.O of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) inaugurated the program.

On the occasion, TAAN President Dahal stated that Swayambhunath, enlisted in world heritage site by UNESCO has covered a high portion in tourism destination. Stating that the environment is getting polluted every day, TAAN has taken initiation to promote eco-tourism from the last campaign organized at Thamal area. He ensured that TAAN will be continuing the campaign in near future to make tourism destinations free of trash.

Chief Guest Joshi appreciated the initiation taken by TAAN and explained the connection between Nepal’s tourism with its nature and culture highlighting upon its conservation and preservation. “More than 90 % of tourism destinations includes nature, so we must take the initiation to clean and also aware local community” He said. Stressing upon the global them, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, he apprised on refusing the plastic use if not can reuse it.

TAAN General Secretary Ang Pemba Sherpa urged upon keeping the heritage sites clean and free of trash and assured that TAAN along with other tourism associations will organized such events in upcoming days.

Mr. Kishor Man Dangol, Ward-15 President ensured that the Swayambhunath area will be free of plastic with the support of different organizations and local community.

Concluding the campaign, Mr. P.K Sherpa, coordinator of Mountaineering & Environment Department stated that tourism and environment being closely interrelated, all the tourism stakeholders and local people must be concerned upon the challenges faced by tourism industry due to environment imbalance and should continue the campaign in the near future.

Swayambhunath Area DSP Mr. Sudin Shahi, Tourist Police Inspector Rupa Thapa, representative from Manag Society and representative from Live to Love were present at the program.