In this episode of PODS by PEI, PEI colleague Shreeya Rana sits down with Raj Gyawali, tourism entrepreneur and founder of Social Tours Pvt. Ltd., to explore how sustainable and community-based tourism can redefine Nepal’s future.
Raj shares personal stories from his two-decade journey in tourism, unpacks the value of local communities in the tourism value chain, and challenges conventional development models. From livable destinations to people-first tourism, this conversation offers deep insight into what makes Nepal’s tourism product truly unique—and what needs to change.
Topics covered:
The shift from adventure to experience-based tourism
The flower power movement and Nepal’s 1960s tourism boom
Grassroots sustainability in rural tourism
The real contribution of tourism to Nepal’s economy
Navigating climate change and over-tourism
If you care about responsible travel, Nepal’s development, or the intersection of tourism, identity, and community, this episode is a must-listen.
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About Raj Gyawali: Raj has over two decades of experience working specifically on responsible tourism in practice – on the ground developing his company Social Tours as the first tour company in Asia to be sustainability certified.
As a consultant, he helps governments and communities develop more sustainable practices, and inserts sustainability strategies in government plans.
Raj’s work ranges from training guides in more sustainable practices, to educating customers on the practice of responsibility in tourism as travelers, developing more sustainable tourism offerings, as well as guiding governments and stakeholders in putting sustainable procedures into action.
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