University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1998 Impact of tourism in the foothills of Nepal : a case study on income generation occupational structure agriculture production and firewood consumption patterns along the Dhampus-Pothana trekking route in Kaski Tek Bahadur Gurung The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Gurung, Tek Bahadur, "Impact of tourism in the foothills of Nepal : a case study on income generation occupational structure agriculture production and firewood consumption patterns along the Dhampus- Pothana trekking route in Kaski" (1998). 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THE IMPACT OF TOURISM IN THE FOOTHILLS OF NEPAL: A CASE STUDY ON INCOME GENERATION, OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE, AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION AND FIREWOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS ALONG THE DHAMPUS-POTHANA TREKKING ROUTE IN KASKI By Tek Bahadur Gurung B.A. The Tribhuvan University, 1975 M.A. The Tribhuvan University, 1979 presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts The University of Montana 1998 Approved by: Chairperson Dean, Graduate School Nv / 1^1 y Daté UMI Number: EP39234 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Dissartabon Publishing UMI EP39234 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest — ^ — ^ — ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Gurung, Tek Bahadur, M.A., May 1998 Geography The Impact of Tourism in the Foothills of Nepal: A Case Study on Income Generation, Occupational Structure, Agricultural Production and Firewood Consumption Patterns Along the Dhampus-Pothana Trekking Route in Kaski (137pp. ) y % _ - ‘ . Director: Christiane von Reichert, Ph.D. ( ^ c ^ , This thesis is a study of tourist impacts on incomes, farm production, occupational structure, and firewood consumption patterns along the Dhampus-Pothana Trekking Route in Nepal. The study is based on primary data collected from forty-three households who live on the 28 km long Dhampus-Pothana route established in 1970. Between 1970 and 1996, these households moved from nearby villages to the route to establish hotels. On average, each hotel makes nearly Rs 203 per day from lodging services and Rs 1203 from restaurant services. This is in dramatic contrast to a normal day’s wage in Nepal, which is Rs 30 to Rs 50. Out of the 133 people along the trekking route in the work force, 74 percent are involved in the hotel industry, 17 percent in farming, and only 9 percent in service jobs. In farm production, vegetable production has increased while rice, com, and potato production has declined to a large extent. Food grains are imported from Bokhara, and potatoes are bought from the neighboring villages. Processed foods come from India or the Terai plain. Firewood is the main source of energy used to prepare meals and heat hotels. Before 1970, it took an average of forty minutes to collect a bundle of firewood (approximately 35-40 kg) and return back to the village. Now, it takes on average about 126 minutes to do the same job, although the households have moved into what were dense forests along the trekking route. The data suggests that tourism has been positive on economic conditions, but negative on food grain production and forest conservation. For the economic benefit of people, tourism should flourish along the trekking route. However, its negative impact on forest resources should be mitigated by providing alternative sources of energy (hydroelectric power) in the near future. 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study describes the role of tourism in a remote hilly area of Nepal. In the course of this study, many people have helped me in many different ways and to whom I am deeply indebted. I am grateful to Dr. Christiane von Reichert (Department of Geography, University of Montana) for her invaluable guidance from the beginning to the very end of undertaking this task. I express my sincere thanks to Dr. Darshan S. Kang, and Dr. Jeffrey A. Gritzner (Department of Geography, University of Montana) for their contributions and helpful suggestions. Dr. Fred W. Reed (Department of Sociology, University of Montana) deserves my sincere thanks for sharing his ideas and his comments on my thesis. 1 appreciate Dr. Paul Wilson (Chair, Department of Geography, University of Montana) for giving me his perpetual encouragement during my study at the University of Montana. I am grateful to Lecturer Krishana Gurung and Kali Das Sharma (Prithwi Narayan Campus, Pokhara, Nepal) for the field work they had conducted to collect primary data in Nepal. 1 would like to thank all the responding households along the Dhampus-Pothana trekking route for giving information on income, farm production, family occupation and firewood consumption patterns. 1 extend my sincere thank to Kris Soedal for thoroughly editing the text of this thesis. In addition, 1 wish to thank my wife Bibi for the moral support she offered. Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENT.................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................. vii LIST OF M APS .................................................................................................................. viii CHAPTER L INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................ 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study .............................................................................. 7 1.4 Methodology Study A re a ................................................................................................. 7 Methods of Data Collection................................................................... 10 Data Tabulation and Data Analysis Methods ....................................... 11 1.5 Limitations of the Study ............................................................................ 11 1.6 Justification of the Study .......................................................................... 12 CHAPTER II. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF PHYSICAL SETTING, TOURISM CENTERS AND THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS (1984-1995) IN NEPAL 2.1 Physical S e ttin g ......................................................................................... 14 2.2 Important Tourist Centers ........................................................................ 21 iii Page 2.3 Number of Tourists in Nepal (1984-1993) ............................................ 24 2.4 Advantages and Disadvantages of Tourism in Nepal ........................... 28 CHAPTER III. LITERATURE REVIEW AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 3.1 Literature Review ....................................................................................... 29 Economic Impact of Tourism .............................................................. 30 Social Impact of Tourism....................................................................... 38 Environmental Impact of Tourism........................................................ 48 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 55 3.2 Research Questions ................................................................................... 57 CHAPTER IV. RESULTS OF THE STUDY 4.1 Tourist Hotels as a New Income Generator on the Dhampus-Pothana Trekking Route Introduction............................................................................................. 60 Establishment of Hotels (households) along the Trekking