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To help
celebrate the 29th World Tourism Day 2008, on the
25th of September, Nepal Environment & Tourism
Initiative Foundation (NETIF) in conjunction with
Suomen Latu (Finnish INGO) organized a cleanup
campaign in the Shivapuri National Park which acted
to clean up the area from Mulkharka Village down to
the Sundarijal Bus Park.
People from all walks of life enthusiastically
joined in the campaign including officials from
Shivapuri National Park, Members of various local
clubs, Members of the local Women’s Groups, Tour
Operators from Kathmandu, Hotel Association of Nepal
Members, Students from Kathmandu University,
Executive Board Members of NETIF, Discover Nepal
NGO/STN Members, Dream Nepal Travels & Tours staff,
Kantipur Television, Kantipur Saprahik, AV News T.V,
Sagarmatha T.V and KEEPS FM 98.3.
The aim
of the campaign was cleaning up the area and making
the villagers who live in the area aware of the
impact that they have on the environment and how
important it is for us to maintain a pristine
environment that will not only attract tourists and
tourism related income for them, but it will also
benefit all residence of Kathmandu by maintaining a
clean and safe water supply and a beautiful place
for them to go to.
Another motive of the cleanup was to promote the
newly established “Kathmandu Valley Cultural
Trekking Trail” which takes trekkers from Sundarijal
to Chisapani, Nagarkot, Dhulikhel and beyond. It is
hoped that the establishment and conservation of the
areas around the trekking route will attract
tourists to the area thus generating valuable income
for villagers along the route who will be assisted
in establishing tourism related business. NETIF has
ongoing plans to further develop this trekking route
by integrating the local people into tourism related
businesses and at the same time educating them about
the importance of maintaining a pristine
environment. The participation of villagers living
in and around Shivapuri National Park and the
trekking trail is essential to the success of
NETIF’s projects.
NETIF, the organization behind the cleanup campaign
was established in 2006 by a group of tourism
businessmen and environmentalists from Kathmandu and
Dhulikhel. The organization was registered as an NGO
(non-profit, non-political, non-government
organization) in 2008 and since its establishment,
NETIF, has been working in different social,
environmental and tourism fields in Dhulikhel and
the surrounding areas. NETIF works in cooperation
with local and international agencies and
specialists by combining tourism and environment as
its main objectives.
Objectives of the organization NETIF are as
follows:
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To
Promote Sustainable Tourism and Environmental
Practices.
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Resources Mobilization and Product Development.
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To
Act for better Environment and Tourism
upliftments.
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To
conduct various types of income generating and
self-employment oriented programme in the field
of tourism and environment.
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To
campaign against environment degradation.
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To
investigate alternative majors to minimize
negative impact of tourism on the environment
and the society.
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To
create environmental awareness among the local
community, visitors, tourists and the newly
established organizations.
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To
conserve and manage natural resources.
NETIF’S Activities since its establishment are as
follows:
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Environment Conservation.
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Tourism Management.
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Community Development.
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Culture and Heritage protection and preservation
related.
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Visitor’s Information Centre development in
Dhulikhel, Kavre District.
Email:
netifnepal@gmail.com
Phone No: 977-1-4420776, Fax No- 977-1-14420778
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