KATHMANDU: Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Shraddha Shrestha, has expressed concern over the impact of climate change on Nepal’s tourism industry, emphasizing that women are the most affected.

Speaking on the disruptions caused by climate-induced disasters, Minister Shrestha highlighted that natural attractions, biodiversity, and cultural heritage—the backbone of Nepal’s tourism—are increasingly threatened by events such as glacial lake outbursts, irregular snowfall, landslides, and water scarcity.

She noted that women in tourism-dependent communities primarily rely on informal and seasonal incomes, including running homestays, selling local products, working in hotels, and providing cultural services.

Climate disruptions risk cutting off these vital livelihoods.

Minister Shrestha also criticized existing climate finance structures, pointing out that most “resilient funds” are focused solely on infrastructure, which she described as “gender-blind climate financing.” She stressed that many women working in rural tourism lack social protection and face high risks.

Highlighting the triple burden women bear—managing households, agriculture, and community disaster response—especially when men migrate for work, the minister said tourism often becomes a critical lifeline for women.

She urged that climate-resilient tourism financing should go beyond roads and buildings to invest in people, particularly women. Accessible climate funds, strengthened cooperatives, and gender-sensitive renewable energy infrastructure are key, she said.

Minister Shrestha emphasized the need to directly benefit women who link tourism income with community resilience and conservation, making it imperative to support their initiatives.