Nepal Environment and Tourism Initiative Foundation (NETIF) is a Non-Government organization founded in 2006 by a group of dedicated environmentalists and tourism entrepreneurs. We registered as an NGO in 2008 and established bases in Kathmandu and Dhulikhel, both economic and tourism centers in Nepal. The NGO works towards an economically winning combination of tourism and pristine environment. Complementing each other for better and sustainable tourism enterprises, particularly aiming to achieve the well being of local communities by training and encouraging them to utilize the opportunities that environmental tourism offers and to sustain the pristine environment that attracts tourists to the region. NETIF facilitates the transition of rural tourism sectors towards dynamic environmental considerations.

What is NETIF’s ultimate Vision?

“Environmental Tourism for a Better Economy”

We want Nepal’s rural villages to be able to share in the economic bounty that tourism has to offer in Nepal and to understand the importance of conservation.

Our core vision is to encourage sustainable tourism development and to provide a better livelihood to rural villagers in Nepal. We combine this with our heartfelt concern for the environment and its ongoing sustainability.
NETIF’s aim is to integrate sustainable environmental conservation and community development into one “model program” for tourism development that can be used as an example of environmentally sustainable rural tourism throughout Nepal. At NETIF, we strive to stand as an example and to achieve success in our projects that can be followed on with by other Government and Non Government Organizations in Nepal.

How does NETIF plan to achieve this?

At NETIF we are working to achieve our core vision by implementing the three major elements of our plan, education, action and networking. For our aims to succeed we have to implement our plan across both the private and public sectors and bring them together to work towards the same goal of establishing environmentally sound tourism practices and bringing income into Nepal’s Rural Villages. Networking and getting community members involved is the key to our projects success. By networking with Government, Non-Government Organizations, National Parks, VDC members and local stakeholders within the project region, we can actively undertake project work with local people at a community and village level, developing the skills and structures needed for local ownership and management of businesses. We also desire to create a “core model” that can be fostered out into other rural regions in Nepal.  Our plans is threefold -

1.Education – Firstly we have to educate all parties involved about the importance of our natural environment and how to sustain it, how a pristine environment will attract tourists (both international and local), how to establish businesses to harvest income from tourists and how to act properly within the business to meet the needs of tourists and create a fair income value for villages.

2.Plan of Action – By bringing together both members of the private and public sector we can develop a plan of action that will meet the needs of the villagers, tourists and people living and working in the project area and gain  understanding, support and financing from the private sector. By bringing these two sectors together to form the plan of action, we can ensure its success by insuring that all parties involved are satisfied by what is to be done.

3.Advocating – This is where our plans get put into action across the project area. Here we have to actively support the project by marketing and promoting the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail, the businesses and hotels in the area, by implementing the educational and clean up programs and getting people involved with the project. And by overseeing the project to make sure that or aims and core objectives are met.

NETIF Objectives:

• To promote sustainable tourism and good environmental practices

• Resource Mobilization and Product Development

• To conduct various types of income generating and self-employment oriented programs in the field of tourism and environment

• To campaign against environmental degradation.

• To investigate alternative majors to minimize negative impact of tourism on environment and society.

• To create environmental awareness among the local community, visitors, tourists and the newly established institutions.

• To work and link with National and International Organization, experts, I/NGOs working in Environment and Tourism.