Tourism Recovery Task Force launches manual of health and hygiene safety protocol for tourism operators

Tourism Recovery Task Force (TRTF) Nepal in collaboration with GATE Foundation and Technical contribution from GIZ Nepal has launched the Manual of Health and Hygiene Safety Protocol for Tourism Operators in a virtual program organised on January 13. TRTF-Nepal Coordinator Deepak Raj Joshi and Head of the Development Cooperation at German Embassy Dr. Stephan Russek jointly unveiled the Project Manual. This project aims to build on the Health and Hygiene Safety (HHS) protocols for tourism and hospitality operators endorsed by the Government of Nepal in response to the global outbreak of Covid 19 to ensure the continuity of businesses during and post-pandemic scenario. However stakeholders have realised that these protocols need to be further elaborated and simplified by making them more user-friendly, especially in the case of targeting the needs of the smaller enterprises located in remote and emerging tourism destinations. The project has then developed a simplified and easy to understand training manual on HHS Protocols aiming to develop trainers (local champions) in 11 selected municipalities of Sudur Paschim, Karnali and Lumbini province to intensify awareness and compliance of the HHS protocols. After the first stage, the trained professionals shall provide further training to 250 service providers in each municipality; as such a total of 2,750 service providers in western Nepal will be the trained human resources in effectively implementing the HHS protocols in the region. The project shall support local governments and the private sector of the tourism industry ranging from owners, managers to the operation level staffs of bigger establishments as well as operators of smaller teashops, homestays, and street food stalls. Dr. Stephan Russek added that the project would also support Lumbini the upcoming International Airport and other ongoing projects in the Lumbini province.