Eco-Tourism and Sustainability - Opportunities and Challenges in the Case of Nepal
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Examensarbete i Hållbar Utveckling 10 Eco-tourism and Sustainability - Opportunities and Challenges in the Case of Nepal Hari Nath Yogi INSTITUTIONEN FÖR GEOVETENSKAPER ECO-TOURISM AND SUSTAINABILITY - OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE CASE OF NEPAL BY HARI NATH YOGI MASTER THESIS DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY OF UPPSALA 2010, AUTUMN Supervisor: Flora Hajdu (PhD.) Researcher, Centre for Sustainable Development Uppsala, Sweden 1 Abstract Ecotourism is very burning issue and one of the fastest growing sectors in current world tourism industry. Especially in many developing countries like Nepal are trying to use ecotourism as a tool to achieve sustainable development. The paper mainly considers current opportunities of ecotourism in Nepal where tourism is one of the fastest expanding industries which has been leaving various negative impacts in different areas. It is aiming to study about the current state of ecotourism in Nepal. The paper also attempt to give critical analysis of ecotourism impacts and challenges in the case of Nepal and point out some recommendations for better practice of ecotourism. The paper tries to answer the following question: Is ecotourism opportunity or challenge in Nepal? How is ecotourism practised in the country? Can ecotourism be a beneficial tool for sustainable development of the country? How can ecotourism be very effective means of development and conservation? Nepal has abundance of opportunities of ecotourism industry. But its effective practice and implementation is not promising due to lack of commitment of governmental policy and planning strategy with combination of integrated conservation and development. Thus to run ecotourism project properly, principles and theories of ecotourism must be considered a major base while make its policy and planning. Policy must be integrative, collaborative and comprehensive to achieve real outcome of ecotourism by realizing importance of environmental, social and economic imperatives. Key Words: Ecotourism, Nepal, Opportunities, Challenges, and Sustainable Development 2 Acknowledgement Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Flora Hadju at CEMUS and the examiner of the paper, Mats Eriksson without whom this paper could not have been accomplished because their valuable supports during this work have been remained very significant. Secondly, I am grateful to various teachers of the department specially Brita Svensson and Karin Hogdahl who are persistently supporting for the work. Thirdly, I am thankful to all my friends who support me for the project by supplying their suggestions and help. Lastly but not the least, I am very thankful to my entire family, specially my wife, Basanta Giri, my son, Unique Gyanu, and my lovely daughter, Viva Yogi for their valuable emotional supports from back home, Nepal. 3 The Table of Content List of Tables and Figures List of Abbreviations and Acronyms Chapter 1 – Introduction ................................................................................9 1.1 Objective..................................................................................................11 1.2 Methods and Materials.............................................................................11 1.3 Delimitation.............................................................................................11 1.4 Disposition...............................................................................................12 Chapter 2 – Background: Theories ..............................................................13 2.1 Sustainable Development and Tourism/Ecotourism................................13 2.2 Sustainable Tourism Development..........................................................14 2.3 Ecotourism: A Path to Sustainability.......................................................16 Chapter 3 – Ecotourism: Challenges and Opportunities ...........................24 3.1 Challenges of Ecotourism........................................................................24 3.1.1 Complex Concept............................................................................24 3.1.2 Misuse of the Term...........................................................................24 3.1.3 Lack of Certification.........................................................................24 3.1.4 Leadership and Strategy Formulation...............................................25 3.1.5 Capacity Building.............................................................................25 3.1.6 Implementation Deficit.....................................................................25 Chapter 4 – Ecotourism in Nepal .................................................................26 4.1 Background ..............................................................................................26 4.1.1 Tourism Trends of Nepal..................................................................29 4.1.2 Principal tourist Activities in Nepal..................................................31 4.1.2.1 Village Tourism.......................................................................31 4.1.2.2 Mountain Tourism...................................................................31 4.1.2.3 Trekking..................................................................................31 4.1.2.4 Visiting Religious and Cultural Sites......................................31 4.1.2.5 Rafting....................................................................................32 4.1.2.6 Bungee Jumping.....................................................................32 4.1.3 Efforts of Ecotourism Development in Nepal..................................32 4.1.4 Ecotourism in Nepal.........................................................................33 4.1.4.1 Annapurna Conservation Area Project...................................33 4 4.1.4.2 Ghalegaon-Sikles Ecotourism Project....................................34 4.1.4.3 Kanchenjunga Community Based Ecotourism Project..........34 4.1.4.4 Manasulu Nature Based Ecotourism Project..........................34 4.1.4.5 Upper Mustang Biodiversity Conservation Project................35 4.1.4.6 Tourism for the Rural Poverty Alleviation Project.................35 4.1.4.7 Simikot- Humla Development Package..................................35 4.1.4.8 Others......................................................................................35 4.1.5 Who are the Key Actors?..................................................................36 4.1.5.1 State.........................................................................................36 4.1.5.2 Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)..................................................36 4.1.5.3 Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation......36 4.1.5.4 King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation .....................37 4.1.5.5 INGOs, NGOs, and Grass-roots Organization........................37 4.1.5.6 International Lending Agencies..............................................37 Chapter 5 – Impacts of Ecotourism in Nepal and Challenges ..................39 5.1 Economic Impacts and Challenges..........................................................39 5.1.1 Income and Employment.............................................................39 5.1.2 Regional and Community Development......................................40 5.1.3 Marketing and Green Washing....................................................40 5.1.4 Others Threats..............................................................................41 5.2 Environmental Impacts and Challenges...................................................41 5.2.1 Conservation of Biodiversity.......................................................41 5.3 Social Impacts and Challenges................................................................43 5.3.1 Capacity Building.........................................................................43 Chapter 6 – Some Potential Ecotourism Sites in Nepal .............................46 6.1 Antu Danda and Adjoining Area............................................................46 6.2 Basantapur and Adjoining Area...............................................................46 6.3 Dhanusha Dham and Adjoining Area......................................................46 6.4 Tansen and Adjoining Area.....................................................................46 6.5 Khaptad National Park and Adjoining Area............................................47 6.6 Chitwan and Adjoining Area...................................................................47 Chapter 7 – Policy Implementation .............................................................48 7.1 Ecotourism Policy in Nepal.....................................................................49 7.2 Policy Deficit..........................................................................................50 Chapter 8 – Concluding Discussion .............................................................51 5 Chapter 9 – Recommendations and Future Research ...............................54 9.1 Holistic Planning Approach.....................................................................54 9.2 Making Sustainable Ecotourism..............................................................54 9.3 Innovative Leadership..............................................................................55 9.4 Further Research......................................................................................55 Chapter 10 – Conclusion ...............................................................................56