Equipping Trekking Guides with Photography Skills to Boost Tourism in Nepal.

Published Mon, Sep 4, 2023

Photography training for trekking guides has successfully concluded, aiming to contribute to the growth of both domestic and international tourism in Nepal. This initiative was a collaborative effort between the Nepal Tourism Board and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) under the Sustainable Tourism Project for Livelihood Restoration (STLRP). Additionally, this project received support and participation from various unions, including the All Nepal Tourism Workers Union, Nepal Tourism Workers Union, Revolutionary Tourism Workers Union Nepal, and Socialist Tourism Trade Union Nepal.

The comprehensive tourism photography training program took place from the 11th to the 14th of 2023, involving the participation of 138 trekking guides. During the certificate distribution ceremony, Maniraj Lamichhane, the Director of the Nepal Tourism Board and National Program Coordinator of the project, emphasized the importance of this training within the broader scope of tourism development. He highlighted that trekking guides and tour guides serve as crucial tourism ambassadors and that photography plays a pivotal role in their ability to showcase the country's diverse attractions to tourists. The expectation is that the acquired photography skills among these guides will significantly contribute to the promotion of tourism in Nepal.

The training sessions were conducted by seasoned professionals in the field of photography. Senior photojournalist Rajan Kafle and photojournalist Pradeep K Shestha provided instruction on camera operation, and the significance of photography, and covered both theoretical and practical aspects of the craft. Furthermore, T.P. Bhusal, a Media Consultant at the Nepal Tourism Board and Deputy Professor of Journalism offered training on various facets of tourism and tourism photography in Nepal, including important legal considerations such as privacy in photography.