Himalayan Ecotourism Federation

Our Sustainable Tourism Guidelines

  Tourism as a business is planned to perform and sustain actions for the conservation of the surrounding ecosystems and welfare of the local community.

  The locals are the primary beneficiaries of the generated revenues of this tourism-based business.

  The local stakeholders involved in the business must be organized in such a way that collaboration between the locals is encouraged and competition is avoided.

  A substantial part of the revenue generated by the tourism-based business must be reserved for implementing the social and environmental projects of the federation. These funds are ideally, but not imperatively, managed collectively with the local stakeholders.

  The organization must take care that the local stakeholders not only get economically empowered but also that their personal development is ensured: enhancement of their professional and soft skills, raising of their awareness, exposure to global affairs, ecology & political issues, and ability to implement local projects for sustainable development in their area.

  All operated tours and activities must minimize the ecological footprint and the adverse impacts on the local ecosystems and culture.

  The HET federation must hold a very high standard of quality in terms of hospitality, safety, and originality. Only those organizations that already have a solid reputation in this regard can become members of the federation.