One day training on local lodge management and hospitality
was conducted at Ghachowk, Kaski to strengthen home-stay and promote
eco-tourism in area on 23 June 2013. The programme was organized by Bird
Conservation Nepal (BCN) Pokhara branch and Vulture Conservation and Management
Committee Ghachok, Kaski supported by Bird Conservation Nepal. The programme
was run on the chairmanship of Ravi Pokharel, coordinator of Vulture
Conservation and Manageent, Ghachowk and conducted by Rabin Gaylan. Khadananda
Paudel, Vulture Conservation Officer at BCN presented the Vulture conservation efforts
in Nepal linking up eco-tourism, sustainable development and community
participation in vulture conservation. Krishna Prasad Bhusal, Field Biologist
at BCN introduced the nine species of vultures found in Nepal and their role in
ecosystem balance. Narendra Lama, Tourism Officer at Annapurna Conservation
Area Project/NTNC explained on the concept of home-stay in Nepal, its
components and possibilities in the area. He added that vulture safe feeding
site; Ghachowk has vital potentiality for eco-tourism because of critically
endangered vulture species coming at the site for carcass feeding. Rajiv Kumar
Jha, Tour and travel instructor at Pokhara Tourism Training Center (PTTC)
trained how to deliver service and facility, necessity behavior with guest, lodge
management and hospitality. Participants in the training programme were
home-stay owners from Ghachowk and Machhapuchhre Village Development Committee
(VDC) and local youths of Ghachowk Village. Altogether 28 participants used the
opportunity to discuss on increasing tourism facilities promoting eco-tourism
and conserving biodiversity in the area.