Kalika Multiple Campus, Pokhara, in collaboration with OTS Academy, Oxford, UK, the University Grants Commission Nepal, and the Dean's Office, Faculty of Management, Tribhuvan University, is set to host a significant international conference on "Role of Higher Education in Sustainable Tourism, Innovation and Economic Development." The event, supported by Pokhara Metropolitan City and KC Group, Pokhara, will take place on March 29-30, 2025, at Hotel Barahi in Pokhara.
The conference aims to address the evolving landscape of the tourism sector, heavily influenced by climate change, technological advancements, and socio-economic shifts. It will provide a platform for discussing the principles of sustainable tourism, innovative technologies, the crucial role of higher education, and strategies to foster innovation within the tourism industry.
"This conference is a vital step towards enhancing the quality of higher education in Nepal and driving innovation in our tourism sector," stated Biranji Gautam, Campus Chief of Kalika Multiple Campus. "We aim to create opportunities for international knowledge exchange and foster collaboration between tourism entrepreneurs, policymakers, professors, and researchers."
The two-day event will feature six national and international keynote speakers, two panel discussions, and over 50 research paper presentations. Over 150 national and international researchers are expected to participate. Discussions will span a wide range of topics, including sustainable tourism practices, the impact of climate change, research in tourism education, the contribution of tourism to economic development, curriculum improvement, and the promotion of research.
Participants will include researchers, professors, policymakers, administrators, tourism entrepreneurs, industrialists, international presenters, and representatives from local bodies from various countries, including Japan, America, India, Britain, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Thailand, and China. Additionally, over 50 community campuses in Nepal receiving Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) from the University Grants Commission will participate.
Expected outcomes of the conference include identifying challenges within Nepal's largest industry, prioritizing research in tourism policy formulation, strengthening the relationship between tourism and higher education, and providing a platform for researchers to share their findings. The best research papers presented at the conference will be published in the Kalika Journal and forwarded to relevant bodies for consideration in policy-making processes.
