Proceedings of IOE Graduate Conference, 2019-Summer Peer Reviewed Year: 2019 Month: May Volume: 6 ISSN: 2350-8914 (Online), 2350-8906 (Print) Agri-tourism in Municipalities: A Case of Thaha Municipality – Current Status, State, Obstacle and Countermeasures Suraj Shahi a, Jiba Raj Pokharel b a, b Department of Architecture, Urban planning, Pulchowk Campus, IOE, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Corresponding Email: a [email protected], b [email protected] Abstract Agricultural irrigated land (percent of total) 29.74 percent in 2010 of Nepal’s territory, providing 65.7percent of Agriculture profession. To improve agricultural, agri-tourism in municipality’s conservation and development, a wide range of positive measures should be undertaken. Agri tourism in agricultural lands, when properly managed and developed, plays a major part in agri-toursim and supporting those working in and around agri tourism through jobs and increasing incomes. Based on the analysis of agri-tourism in Thaha municipality, the paper discusses the current status, obstacles and countermeasures for agri-tourism in municipality. Lack of capacity of receiving tourists, and well-educated practitioner are barriers to effective development of agri-tourism in Municipalities. The challenges faced by the operators include expense, lack of capital, interaction with the public, marketing, availability of skilled labor, training of employees, on-farm insecurity, health department requirements, record-keeping, weather, and liability issues. In consideration of Agri tourism characteristics, these barriers can be overcome with government rational plans, and professional practitioner’s cultivation. Keywords Agri-tourism, Municipalities, Tourism in Nepal, Means, Status 1. Introduction world GDP. The direct contribution in Nepal of Travel and Tourism to GDP in 2017 was NPR99.8bn Agri tourism is new concept in Nepalese context, (4.0percent of GDP). despite long history of agriculture and tourism sectors in the country. While the percentage of people For instance, the tea states in eastern Nepal have been engaged in agriculture has decreased from 94.4 (1971) famous for domestic and international tourists for to 65.7 (2001 AD), whereas tourism became an recreational and beautiful landscapes. Furthermore, it important sector since in 1950s after the increased is also popular for agricultural diversity in addition to flow of international tourists to explore the cultures, tea states such as Aalu (potato), Alaichi (cardamom), picturesque of Himalayan landscapes. In 1953, Aduwa (ginger), Akabare khursani (red round big Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa chilly), Olan (milk and milk product), and Amliso. conquered the Mt. Everest for the first time and Nepal Lack [(1997)] emphasized on a successful became a popular destination for the international diversification strategy by augmenting the farm tourists [Motca 2009, Shrestha p 2012]. There are business with tourism activities that is appropriate in many potentialities and popular forms of tourism Nepalese economy by using diversified resources, industries in Nepal. However, there is no specific data landscapes, biodiversity, cultural heritages, and on the history of agri-tourism development in Nepal. unique traditions [Thapa D 2013, Maharjan SK, But, agriculture always remains an important sector in 2006]. However, the scenario has been changing over the tourism industry providing quality, healthy, the years since the agricultural labor forces, especially organic food. WTTC works to raise awareness of youth, are distracted from this sector which is an issue Travel and Tourism as one of the world’s largest not only in Nepal, but also in many other developing economic sectors, supporting one in 10 jobs (313 and even developed countries. But, it is still million) worldwide and generating 10.4percent of continuing to be the backbone of nation’s economy as it contributes nearly 47 percent to the Total Gross Pages: 811 – 818 Agri-tourism in Municipalities: A Case of Thaha Municipality – Current Status, State, Obstacle and Countermeasures Domestic Product (GDP) in the country in 1991 it is used in United States of America (USA) with a which reduced 33 percent in 13th plan. distinctive meaning with agri-tourism. Holdnak (2000) says about the first vacationing on farms was Additionally, tourism has contributed the significant operated in North Dakota in 1880s and according to roles in overall development of the nation and also to the same article the first farm vacation brochure listed uplift the living standards of the people. Many the farm facilities for the tourists in 1949. He researchers emphasized on the importance of indicates the effects of preparing the list of farms increasing the length of tourists stay Gautam and serving vacation facilities on the numbers of Adhikari and tourism in Nepal is also exploring new agrI-tourists. forms of tourism activities to lengthen the stay of tourists. In this context, agri-tourism can be new In Europe, rural tourism first developed in France in possibility in agriculture sector that motivates and 1951 (Dettori et. al., 2004). A survey study in France encourages farming communities and also youths to in 1992 indicates the French farmers declared that raise the crops in an eco-friendly manner and diversity rural tourism is acquiring an increasing role and their economies by utilizing their traditional economic impact within their agriculture activity and knowledge, conserving biodiversity and maintaining a also from the analysis, it also emerged that rural rural and agricultural way of life. Municipalities in tourism mainly practiced by female operators (Dettori Nepal are cities and towns meeting minimum criteria et. al., 2004). It is known that in 1994, there were 21 set out by the government. These criteria include a 000 farms with 109 000 bedrooms serving certain population, infrastructure and revenues etc. accommodation facilities providing benefits to Among these 276 municipal councils Thaha farmers and regional economies by the rents of the Municipality selected for case study. This paper rooms, selling agricultural products in Austria review current state, means of promotion of (Kahraman and Turkay,¨ 2004). Although agri-tourism agri-tourism in municipalities of Nepal and intends to was firstly emerged as individual enterprises, it find practical ways to build a prosperous agri-tourism developed as a sub-sector of tourism sector in industry in Nepal. cooperative manner by the effects of well planned processes. Essentially, rural tourism contains agri-tourism. However, not all tourism which takes 2. Literature Review place in rural areas is definitely rural, it can be urban USA - According to the Utah State University in form, and merely be located in a rural area (Ivona, Cooperative Extension, visiting family and friends’ 2003). fields grew in popularity in the1920s, after the American Farm Bureau Federation (2004) makes a invention of the automobile. The period of definition of the concept as: Agri-tourism refers to an international mass tourism (1950- ): Especially the enterprise at a working farm, ranch or agricultural years between 1950-1960 are the years of recovering plant conducted for the enjoyment of visitors that the economic conditions that the II. World War generates income for the owner. Agricultural tourism caused. After this period, increase in the automobile refers to the act of visiting a working farm or any numbers and improving the life conditions lead to the horticultural or agricultural operation for the purpose growing of the sector in the following years. As of of enjoyment, education or active involvement in the 2010, an increased interest in food production and activities of the farm or operation that also adds to organic practices brings travelers out to till the soil. economic viability of the site. Other characteristics agri-tourism is also known as agricultural tourism, that impinge upon farmer’s decision to participate in agrotourism, agri-ecotourism, farm tourism, agri-tourism include age, educational level of the farm-based tourism, vacation farms, farm stays. farmer, number of acres of farm, whether the farmer Kokko [2011] has identified numerous distinguished pays for advice, and whether the farm is organized as prospect and potentials of agri-tourism industry. a partnership or corporation. Of these liability issues Examining literature presents the result that, the terms was cited as the primary challenge for all the farms. of farm tourism and agri-tourism often utilized in Directly linked to these challenges are the information Western Europe. Agro-tourism/agrotourism is needs of the operators which included information generally the usage of Eastern Europe like Greece, about risk management and liability programs, Italy and Turkey. Another usage, agriteinment is a financial sources, government agricultural policy, term of combining agriculture and entertainment and 812 Proceedings of IOE Graduate Conference, 2019-Summer agri-tourism opportunities and direct marketing and 2.1.2 Agri-tourism resources advertising strategies. Operators were optimistic Charming natural environment is one of the basic about the future of agri-tourism and its role in their agri-tourism resources in Thaha. Enough amount of individual economic viability. The successful fertile land gift for the Agri-tourism in this area. implementation of the recommended development Vegetable, fruits of price of 1 billion rupees expert to strategy and associated tourism targets will require the