Kathmandu. The National Sustainable and Tourism Club (NSTC) Bagmati Province has issued an 11-point ‘NSTC Dhulikhel Declaration 2026’ giving priority to student leadership development, sustainable tourism, environmental protection, promotion of local destinations and community participation. Mentors and principals, club coordinators, teachers and student captains of seven NSTC clubs of Bagmati Province participated in the two-day capacity building program organized on October 1 and 18 at Hotel Sarathi, Dhulikhel.

The program was organized in collaboration with Tourism Research and Training Institute (TRTI), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Sustainable Tourism Project (STP), Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP), and the Institute of Aviation Skills (IATS), Tourism Development Institute (TDI) and Veda Technical Academy.

The manifesto promises to strengthen student leadership, skills, creativity and practical learning in the tourism sector. Likewise, priority has been given to sustainable tourism, environmental protection, sanitation, responsible use of natural resources and promotion of tourism destinations.

The declaration also gives special importance to the protection and promotion of local and rural tourist destinations, culture and heritage. It also promises to expand collaboration and network with the local community, tourism stakeholders and various organizations. It has been announced to ensure regular planning, activities, monitoring, member participation and continuity to make the NSTC clubs more active and effective. The manifesto also includes the issues of student participation, motivation, research, innovation and creativity.

Similarly, it has been committed to expand capacity building, exposure and networking opportunities for students and to promote Nepal’s tourism at the national and international level through research, innovation, destination promotion and digital campaigns. The manifesto also pledges to provide financial, institutional and policy support to address the challenges faced by NSTC clubs due to time management, coordination, institutional continuity and limited financial, technical and physical resources.

The manifesto outlines three strategic priorities for NSTC’s future course of action: ‘Good Governance and Sustainability – Active Clubs’, ‘Skills, Leadership and Career – Learning and Leadership’ and ‘Sustainability and Work Destination and Community’.

The NSTC clubs also committed to organize at least 6 effective and exemplary events annually to match their priorities. The participants of the program emphasized that the manifesto should not be limited to mere commitments but should be implemented in practice through the existing NSTC clubs. The participants were of the view that the development of sustainable tourism can be made more effective through collaboration between students, educational institutions, local communities, tourism sector, local government and development partners.

The Dhulikhel Declaration 2026 is expected to further strengthen NSTC as an opportunity for students to learn, lead, mentor, innovate and promote tourism by providing common guidance to the 50 NSTC Clubs in Bagmati Province.