Kathmandu, April 2 -- Even the most optimistic scenario is that it will take at leastfive years for Nepal's travel industry to recoverfrom the pandemic impact.

However, the country has an opportunity for a 'better normal' and to evolve a tourism model that does not damage nature and heritage, but rather enhance them- a clean industry that is environmentally and socially sustainable.

The pandemic has shown that many journeys may actually not be necessary at all, and when they do travel, passengers are now more aware about their carbon footprint.

"Low carbon footprint tourism that benefits the maximum number of local businesses is the only way forward," maintains Shilshila Acharya of theHimalayan Climate Initiative(HCI).

International a...