TRPAP
Overcoming Poverty
Though rural Nepal is poor, its immense natural beauty and diversity can lure large number of tourists. This is what Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program (TRPAP) has successfully shown - that Nepal 's nature can be exploited to uplift the life of rural people. The program -which is in the final year of completion - is one of the programs that is widely popular in Nepal because of its reach to the grass root level. Launched at the peak of violent insurgency and when local bodies were without elected representatives, TRPAP, which has brought tangible changes in the poverty prone northern districts of Rasuwa, has won the hearts of Maoists at its last leg. Despite frequent disruptions by violent conflict, TRPAP touched the heart and minds of Nepalese people showing that the tourism can be used to alleviate poverty
By KESHAB POUDEL, Goljung (Rasuwa)
Yog Tamang, 36, a resident of Goljung Village Development Committee of Rasuwa district, 100 miles north of capital Kathmandu, had never realized that one day he will host tourists in his home and make money.
This became true in his life as Yog has already made some money from the tourists. After building basic infrastructures like drinking water, stone-paved road and improvement of their home and hygienic conditions, villagers of Goljung like Yog Tamang are now in a position to provide shelter to a couple of tourists under a home stay program.
In the last one year, Tamang has already hosted a dozen of tourists in his home generating cash income of about Rs.8000 (US$ 125). "Along with shelter, I offered tourists Dal bhat (rice and pulse) and vegetable in lunch and soybean and corn and milk for breakfast," said Tamang who charges up to Rs.400 (less than $6) a day for all meals and shelter.
With per capita income below one US dollar a day, the residents of northern remote parts of Rasuwa like Yog Tamang have little option for improvement of their livelihood. As the terrain is steep and weather is unfavorable for agriculture, tourism is an easy way to generate income. Although annually a large number of tourists visit Langtang areas for trekking, the villages like Goljung, Getlang and Chillime, which have many important sites to see hardly get any tourist. According to Tourist Information Center , 4000 tourists visited the area last year.
"Our program is highly successful in Rasuwa district. I am very happy that all eight political parties' leaders hailed our program. This indicates success of program which brings many changes in the area. We have developed Tamang Heritage Trail as a new product where tourism will benefit the poor communities of the district," said Rabijung Pandey, National Program Manager of TRPAP. "The program helped to build the rural infrastructures, institutions mobilizing local communities for the benefits of poor," said Pandey.
Although Trishuli Somdang highway linked these villages more than two decades ago and tourists started to come to Langtang on trekking, residents of northern parts of Rasuwa had not seen any change in their livelihood. Surviving on a subsistence-based farming and living in most unhygienic place, their per capita is among the lowest in the region. According to District Development Committee Rasuwa, four northern remote villages Getlang, Goljung, Chillime, Briddim and Thuman are most underdeveloped parts of the district.
"Though being the nearest Himalayan district from the capital city Kathmandu and linked by the national highway, the living standard of the people of the district is very miserable witnessing Nepalese Rs. 7,111 (US$ 130) per-capita," said Binod Kumar Singh, district development officer. "Despite the present poor human development index, the future prospect of the district seems very bright and optimistic." According to recent study, Nepal 's per capita income is over US$ 270.
When the people of these northern villages were searching a way out to fight against poverty, the implementation of Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program in (TRPAP) August, 2002 came as a boon to the local residents.
"The goal of the program is to contribute to the poverty alleviation objective of the government through review and formulation of policy and strategic planning for sustainable tourism development that are pro-poor, pro-environment and pro rural communities and pro-women," said Pandey, National Program Manager TRPAP.
From dissolution of local elected bodies to the dissolution of House of Representatives and intensification of Maoist insurgency, TRPAP implemented its program in politically volatile and unstable period in Nepalese history.
Because of Maoist insurgency, the project faced many difficulties in the initial period of implementation. Now even the Maoists are demanding the extension of the program. Based on the community based approach, TRPAP is one of the popular programs in Rasuwa and other five districts.
"We want the extension of this program because this is a transparent and pro-poor program," said Rasuwa district CPN-Maoist leader Sameer. "We would like to request concerned parties to extend support to the program as this is a transparent and effective program."
Despite their differences over the political and many other issues, district leaders of eight political parties have common voice on the program. "We will go to center to press the government to extend it," said CPN-UML leader.
TRPAP's proves as one of the popular programs not only in Rasuwa district but all 48 villages of 6 districts where it has been implemented. In the last six years, the project has covered 28,000 people and total beneficiaries of the project are 160,000.
For the district of Rasuwa, the project has brought not only infrastructures but the project also contributed to develop Tamang Cultural Heritage Trail as a new tourism product which has all components to attract tourists.
"With the technical and financial support granted from DFID, UNDP, SNV-Nepal through TRPAP, DDC Rasuwa has been able to efficiently implement the rural tourism program in the northern part of the district. A new tourism product called Tamang Heritage Trail has been developed and promoted comprising the settlement of the poor people in Getlang, Chillime and Goljung area," said LDO Binod Kumar Singh. "The implementation of TRPAP program passed through the very critical period. Some positive impact of the program has been seen in the area and full impact of the program will be seen in coming days."
Adventure Sports Tourism
Northern parts of Rasuwa have also immense potential to start adventure sports tourism. Small valleys and high mountains, all these are enough to attract adventure tourism. When two dozen mountain-bikers started their competition in Syaphrubesi covering three villages Getlang, Chillime and Goljung and Syaphrubesi, Rasuwa also showed that it has a potential for adventure sports tourism. With beautiful mountain range of Himalayas including Gosainkunda and Langtang, Ganesh and other peaks, Rasuwa's northern part has many products for tourism.
Promoted by Nepal Tourism Board and Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program and organized by Himalaya Expeditions a leading private Nepalese agency for adventure sports tourism, the first Mountain Bike Race on the Tamang Heritage Trail opened the potential of these areas to promote adventure tourism.
"There are immense potential to promote Rasuwa for adventure tourism but we are unable to exploit them because of lack of promotional marketing. Our collaboration with TRPAP will definitely help us develop this area for adventure sports tourism," said Bikram Pandey, managing director of Himalaya Expeditions.
Participated by 26 professional bikers including a foreigner, the bikers crossed 25 kilometer of Tamang Trail. Suresh Kumar Dulal secured the first place completing the race in 2 hrs 11 minutes. Surendra Rai finished at second place followed by Padma Sambahan.
"These areas can be sold out as a new product in international tourism market," said Lila Baniya, chief of sustainable tourism unit of Nepal Tourism Board. "There will be more tourists in the area in the future."
TRPAP's message is that tourism can be best way to fight against poverty in the country's like Nepal .
"TRPAP Has Proved That The Concept Of Rural Tourism Can Bring Prosperity"
Madhav Prasad Ghimire
Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation MADHAV PRASAD GHIMIRE, is one of the energetic secretaries. Having a long experience of working with various ministries including as a head of Foreign Aid Division of Ministry of Finance, Ghimire who is well acquainted with Nepal's development process, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on future of Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Program. Young and energetic Ghimire also attended mountain bike competition in Syaphrubesi. Excerpts:
Known as a successful programs fighting against poverty, TRPAP is now on the verge of being phased out. Does the government have any program to continue it?
There is no doubt that TRPAP is one of the successful programs. The last mid-term evaluation also showed that TRPAP has made enormous progress achieving its objectives. The report revealed that of all the UNDP's programs, TRPAP is a very successful one.
How do you see your meeting with local communities?
After discussions with various stakeholders in Rasuwa including Goljung VDC, we came to realize its popularity among the community. As it receives massive support in grass root community and all eight political parties have demanded extending this program, the ministry is considering giving continuity to this program.
Have you consulted with Nepal's development partners?
We are taking this issue with UNDP, the World Bank and other concerned donor agencies. Though no donors have given firm commitments to it, they indicated certain positive indication to extend the program. After completing its six years, TRPAP has shown how tourism can be used to alleviate the poverty. Along with contributing to poverty alleviation, the program also helped to generate awareness among the rural community in various issues including health and hygiene.
Do you have any plan to replicate it in other areas also?
When it has shown so many positive results, the government is also considering replicating the program in other areas. The government is considering continuing this program on its own resources. We are also discussing extending this program in modest way.
Which are the major agencies the government is approaching now?
We have been discussing the issue with the World Bank, UNDP, Asian Development Bank and other development partners. ADB has shown interest to contribute something in Lumbini. We are in the process of formalizing it. We have also approached the World Bank. We also held discussions with British Ambassador. All Nepal 's donor partners have shown positive response towards it. If the government allocates certain resources to replicate the program, Nepal's donor partners will definitely come to support us. To show our own commitment to the project, Nepal government should take initiative allocating certain resources.
What are the major achievements of TRPAP?
One of the major achievements of TRPAP is that it has changed the concept that tourism is not only for high income people. If one can develop basic infrastructure through participation of community, tourism can also benefit poor people. Introducing some innovative concepts like Home Stay programs in traditionally non-tourists areas like northern parts of Rasuwa and southern parts of Solukhumbu, TRPAP has proved that the concept of rural tourism can bring prosperity in rural remote areas.
What changes did you find in the villages?
It has raised awareness among the people on why tourism is important and what is the benefit of tourism and what kind of hospitability we can provide to tourists. Along with developing new products, TRPAP also has shown the way to sell the product to the outside world. For instance, the mountain bike competition showed that the district has also place for adventure tourism. Other achievements of the TRPAP are that it switched our urban-based tourism to rural areas. It tied up the product with the people. The ministry is seriously considering continuing this project. If it is necessary, we will allocate certain amount of our own resources.
