Shrestha, Corrina (2025) ADOPTION OF ECO-CERTIFICATION: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN NEPAL. Master thesis, Cultural Geography - Climate Adaptation Governance (CAG).
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Abstract
This research examines the opportunities and challenges of adopting eco-certifications in Nepal’s tourism and hospitality industry, using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a guiding framework. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, the study combines a survey of 129 Nepali travelers and 17 semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders, including hotel owners, managers, government officials, and community representatives. Findings reveal a significant awareness gap around eco-certifications, with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) more familiar and socially accepted than formal environmental standards. While travelers and businesses express general support for sustainability, both groups prioritize comfort, affordability, and visible social impact, such as local sourcing and cultural preservation, over technical environmental practices like water conservation or formal certification. Stakeholders cite mistrust in government systems, lack of incentives, and bureaucratic inefficiencies as key structural barriers, while travelers report limited access to eco-certified options. The study highlights a critical demand-supply mismatch and emphasizes the role of government enforcement and incentives in shaping subjective norms. By comparing demand-side intentions with supply-side constraints, the research offers actionable insights for policymakers, certifiers, and tourism operators to foster more accessible and credible sustainability practices in Nepal’s tourism sector.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Name supervisor: | Rahmadian, E. |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Aug 2025 13:19 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Aug 2025 13:19 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/762 |
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