3 Sisters Nepal nominated for Virgin Responsible Tourism Award 2012
The Hague: CBI coached Nepal travel company ‘3 Sisters Adventure Trekking’ has been nominated for a Virgin Responsible Tourism Award 2012. The award recognizes since more than 10 years “shining stars of responsible tourism” in order to inspire the tourism industry at large. Nominees have been selected by a professional jury of responsible tourism and industry experts. The final winner will be revealed the during the Responsible tourism day at the upcoming World Travel Market in London.
3 Sisters Adventure Trekking was founded in 1993 by the Chhetri sisters, Lucky, Dicky and Nicky and offers adventure trekking purely with female porters and guides. In a patriarchal and male dominated society like Nepal, this marked a revolutionary change of roles, as traditionally these jobs were strictly reserved for males.
All employed women have been trained by ‘Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN)’, a dedicated NGO established by the three sisters. Twice a year a six-month trekking guide training takes place. Participating women from remote rural areas are provided with trekking equipment, free accommodation and food at the EWN training center in Pokara. After the training, the women enter an apprenticeship program with 3 Sisters where they earn wages equal to those of men and acquire field experience working as trainee guides.
3 Sisters and EWN have meanwhile trained more than 1000 local women. They have provided them with an alternative to domestic labor and contributed to their independence, confidence and self-sufficiency. Meanwhile many of the trained women are working with other trekking companies or have started their own business. The profit of the 3 Sisters trekking company is channeled back to NGO and is partly used to promote wider sustainability and awareness raising initiatives within the tourism sector, such as proper management of waste.
CBI, the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries, has been supporting local tour operators and ground handlers for more than 30 years. 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking is part of the present 2008-2014 tourism export promotion program supporting more than 200 companies from over 35 countries. Many companies have been selected because of their focus on sustainability and community based approaches. All companies have been trained and audited by the international CBI Expert team and are supported towards more sustainable business practices.
For the third consecutive year a special stand ‘CBI – Community Based Tourism’ will be present at the World Travel Market (November 5-8) where the international tourism industry, press and media can meet with 3 Sisters and 10 other inspiring sustainable and community based tourism initiatives supported by CBI. In addition more than 53 CBI supported companies will join their national stands. – CBI / Netherlands
