Impact of Tourist Industry in Nepal

-Prof. Dr. Prem Raman Uprety, T.U, Nepal

Tourism is a significant instrument of development for any country, specially a developing country like Nepal. It brings the needed capital necessary for development. Developing countries need foreign exchange and, for Nepal, the contribution from tourism to foreign exchange has been as much as 74.3% of total value of merchandise export and 24% of the total foreign exchange earning. There is no doubt that tourism has remained one of the buoyant sectors of the Nepali economy; and natural environment has remained Nepal's major tourism attraction. While talking about mountain tourism, only twenty trekkers visited the Khumbu area in 1964; in 1966 the number rose to 65; nowadays 15,000 to 19,000 trekkers visit the area and stay there on an average of two weeks. They contribute Rs. 60 million, about one million dollar, to the local economy. When this amount is added to local expenditures of camping trekkers, this doubles to more than to Rs. 140 million, US$ 2.4 million. The Makalu Barun Conservation Area generates an annual income estimated at Rs 12.5 million (US$ 275,000). It is due to the sweep of mountain tourism in the above regions that agriculture has become a second occupation to tourism-related activities. Tourism has not only created jobs for the rural and urban population in Nepal by expanding local craft and trade; but has also help build the local infrastructure and foster a sense of pride for a particular region. Thus, on the whole, it has helped to stabilize and diversify the rural economy.

However, tourism has not been an unmixed blessing. International results in imported development, has many physical and social repercussions in the third world countries; and Nepal is no exception. Three major elements contribute significantly to the serious problems associated with mountain tourism in Nepal. First, the slopes of the Himalayas of Nepal are relatively unstable and the intrusion of a large number of tourists in these low-density inhabited areas and in hitherto uninhabited places puts increasing pressure on the natural resource base. The first direct target of tourism is the depletion of the forests. It is true that the government of Nepal prohibits mountaineering and trekking groups using fuel-wood but the regulation is not effectively monitored.

Along with this habitat destruction, environmental pollution along trekking routes and camping sites poses serious problems for mountain tourism. Increased amount of non-biodegradable litter, inappropriate disposal of human waste, contamination of water supply and the pollution of the creeks and rivers are the most visible negative effects.

A second element of un-sustainability is the lack of positive linkage between tourism and the production sector particularly in areas where the tourists frequent. If tourists could buy more local food, economies and production sector could benefit considerably. Linkage of tourism with agro-ecological base could promote a more viable mountain economy. A third element in un-sustainability is the retention of very few benefits of tourism in tourist areas. In other words, reinvestments in natural resources in affective localities have received little or no thought.

Tourism has further resulted in the inflation of property, goods and services in both the urban and the rural sectors. It has also infringed on the privacy of the local community as they are compelled to share their resources with the outsiders. Nepal has also experienced the rise of social evils like cultural degradation( loss of icons and artifacts), gender-violence and the transfer of physical diseases.

However, in this world of interdependence and globalization, we cannot live without tourism. Nepal can't go back to the pre 1950 days of "splendid isolation". This would only be wishful thinking. As Nepal is one of the best tourist attractions in the world, she has no alternative but to cope with the rise of tourism by minimizing its negative impacts. So, Nepal has to be very selective in the type of tourism it is going to promote. One must remember that tourism is the people's industry run by the people for the people for their own well being and enrichment.

But this is not happening in the conventional or mass-tourism. Thus, instead of going into mass tourism, Nepal should go into small-scale tourism developed by the local people. Its aim would be to take the people to the remote areas that have unique natural and cultural beauty. Its aim would be to give the tourists maximum satisfaction but at the same time conserve the environment and promote the well being of the local people.

The Khumbu and the Annapurna areas have exceeded their carrying capacity. So, to sustain the growth of tourism, new destinations have to be promoted. Western and eastern Nepal have remained relatively unexplored for trekking and mountaineering. The possibility of developing selected areas for tourism by providing critical infra-structural facilities (airports, trail improvements, lodges, etc.) should be explored. Trekking routes in the remote parts of Nepal have to be classified according to the fragility of the environment. Thus, there is the need for carefully monitoring tourist activities.

Future Approach Need for Tourism: Tourism has been a stable and a lively sector of the Nepali economy. Its growth has to be attributed to the spontaneous response of the opportunities and challenges by the private sector. But the private sector is also responsible for a part of the problem in the industry. The rapid growth of the tourist industry in Nepal, with little planning has resulted in tremendous social and economic costs resulting from polluted environment - both physical and cultural. The Nepali experience in th tourist sector shows that the private sector is both unwilling and ill suited to solve the problem of cleaning the environment. It is estimated that an average trekking group generates 15 kg of non-burnable garbage in 10 trekking days. Then, with 70,000 trekkers visiting the mountain areas of Nepal, the problem becomes precarious. The development of tourism can't be left to the private sector alone. It needs the integrated approach of the government, the private sector and the social sector to develop the infrastructure and take steps to protect the environment and develop productive apparatus of the tourist area. Certain policies have to be developed to minimize the negative effects of tourism.

a)        Carrying Capacity and Regulation of Volume: The carrying capacity of each major trail and destination has to be determined in terms of fuel demand, garbage waste disposal problems, available accommodation, and the sheer congestion of the tourist trail at a given period. Higher fees have to be imposed on areas with a fragile environment. Fees can also be differentiated according to the seasons.

b)        Regional Diversification: To relieve increasing pressure on existing destinations, new tourist destinations should be located and developed in Western and extreme Eastern Nepal, where the flow of tourists is relatively low.

c)        Develop Alternative Source of Energy: There is a heavy demand for fuel in tourist areas of Nepal. Thus, in these regions, alternative source of energy like mini and micro solar and hydro-projects have to be encouraged. Again, kerosene depots must be installed in appropriate locations on major trails.

d)        Environmental and Pollution Control: There should be a provision for sanitary and toilet facilities in major tourist destinations and a systematic collection of garbage in the site through local initiatives. Conservation and sanitation related education must be imparted to the tourist and the local people.

e)        Development of Manpower: Tourism has reached its adolescence phase without substantial government support. The government should play a leading role in producing the manpower needs in the tourist industry. This would enhance the organizational and management capacity of tour, trekking and rafting organizations and help them provide better quality services.

Text source: The author's article in a NEFAS/CASAC Publication entitled Issues of Governance in Nepal. Editor.

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