Ecotourism Specialist

Want to apply your marketing and business skills to promote ecotourism in Nepal?
Trekking, mountaineering, and homestays have been instrumental in creating ecotourism job opportunities in more remote regions of Nepal. However, rural tourism faces a number of challenges, including inadequate language skills and the inability to link entrepreneurship development with ecotourism development. Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) therefore requests the support of native English speakers and savvy marketers to train local small business owners and tourism workers in the Gandaki Province.
As an Ecotourism Specialist, you will collaborate with local tourism stakeholders to strengthen English language skills, which is critical for attracting international tourists. Alongside community members, you will provide business and marketing guidance to strengthen small enterprises or launch sustainable livelihood initiatives. Your support will simultaneously boost Nepali household financial security and enhance the experience of tourists.

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or hospitality and tourism.
AND
Three years of experience in tourism marketing and/or hospitality planning and project implementation.

Volunteers live in a rural or peri-urban community in the mid-hills of Nepal. Volunteers live in semi-independent housing, usually a set of two to three rooms within a larger family house or compound. Toilets in this region of the country are likely indoors but some may be outside. Running water is generally only cold tap water and clothes must be handwashed. Volunteers must be prepared to walk several miles every day on hilly terrain in both hot and cold weather, as well as during the monsoon season from June through September.

Create opportunities for sustainable tourism in a picturesque, rural part of Nepal.
Learn about local customs and arts to market to tourists.
Build lifelong connections with colleagues and community members.

Assess current English language skills of stakeholders, including homestay operators, small business owners, hotel entrepreneurs, and trekking guides and porters.
Develop a conversational English class schedule based on proficiency levels and needs.
Prepare and teach both group and one-on-one English lessons.
Assist homestay business owners and hotel operators to develop basic business literacy and marketing skills.
Survey tourists to identify areas for enhancement and present findings to local government and business organizations.
Collaborate with local officials and organizations to identify tourism enhancements.
Assist homestay communities to create a well-functioning business promotion plan of action that includes social media outreach campaigns.
Assist tourism-based communities to prepare sustainable livelihood initiatives, including but not limited to community-based solid waste management, tree plantation, plastic management, and the marketing of traditional arts and handicrafts.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as developing museum exhibits or supporting a local public school.

After a 2-weeks orientation, you will move to your assigned rural or peri-urban community along with a Peace Corps Language and Cultural Facilitator (LCF) who will assist for up to 10 days. The LCF will provide support in meeting counterparts and community members and setting up housekeeping.
Peace Corps/Nepal will equip you with Nepali language resources and you may work with a local tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.