Eastern Nepal in Pictures

Art of Nature, a Laligurans (Rohododendran) tree along the way to Pathivara Temple in Taplejung.






Mai Pokhari the holy lake in Illam district.






Ilam District way to Taplejung the far North East District of Nepal.




Kanyam Tea Estate in Illam District way to Taplejung District.

This lake is surrounded by beautiful forest in Morang District. It's just near the East - West Highway. It needs beautification.

Prospect of Enclave Tourism Development in Nepal

By Dhruba Rai

Around the world, tourism has developed in two ways viz. integrated and enclave development. When tourism is promoted by former concept of development, necessary infrastructures are developed in advance. Tourism grows along with all other developmental aspects simultaneously. Basic infrastructures like roads, electricity, communication facilities and the likes are built that propels a country's development. This type of tourism is a part of a planned development. Tourism entrepreneurs do little about the constructing infrastructures, and generally match their activities with the existing facilities. Especially, local entrepreneurs invest on accommodations and event activities. The aggregate domestic investment is greater than the foreign investment. For this reason, there is a greater acceptance of such a development by the local peoples. Likewise, the latter concept supports the idea of establishing primarily a fully contained accommodation facility with private investments possibly in the form of joint ventures in a potential tourist area. Everything is arranged and managed by the investors with little disturbance from the host communities. This is because such set-ups are established in remote and barren lands where there are less human settlements, but rich with tourism attractions. It sounds like a kind of isolated development. However, it should not be so in the long run. The self-contained resort complex caters all the needs of tourists who arrive as part of a tour package. And, subsequently developing the tourism activities and supporting infrastructure. In some cases, there may be a private investment in infrastructures as well. However, the degree of involvement with local communities is increasing, and to avoid misunderstanding between the resort operators and local communities they amicably enter into an agreement allowing their respective interests to be fulfilled. This helps increase the economic activities of local communities much faster than its usual way. Local communities get a market for their production and employment opportunities while resort operators can operate without any local disturbance, and tourists get the first hand experiences.

Many world famous tourism destinations such as, Bali of Indonesia, east-coast of Malaysia and Australian coastal area have followed the both types of tourism developments. Often, people assume tourism as an integrated tourism development where they argue that if tourism to develop there must be the basic infrastructures made available by the government of a country. Then only tourism can develop with its full scale. They might be right, but look at the other side as well. Those who would like to take risks can not stay behind and wait all that happenings rather they themselves plunge into action. It is difficult, but not impossible, and it may be risky, but it is also rewarding. If they make sufficient basic investment, they can enjoy the monopoly over others. This type of tourism development can benefit developing countries because normally the usual development process is very slow.

In Nepalese context, we find tourism developed as an enclave development. The year 1953 is a milestone in the history of Nepalese tourism. When Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary scaled Mt. Everest successfully in 29 May 1953, Nepal received immense publicity around the world. Though, the publicity attracted a lot of adventure lovers they were not allowed to enter into Nepal as tourists before 1955. Tourism age began only when the tourist visa opened in 1955, and gradually the number of tourists increased. The first recorded tourists in Nepal were 10 Americans and 2 Brazilian visitors sent by Thomas Cook & Son to Royal Hotel in Kathmandu. The Royal hotel was the first ever tourist standard hotel in Nepal that had been established by Mr. Boris a pioneer hotelier. Likewise, "Hotel Everest View" opened formally in 1973. The stories we read in books and magazine written by veterans tell us that in those times opening a hotel was as difficult as climbing Mt. Everest. Porters carried all building materials and supplies of the hotel on their backs. Air service was limited. There was no roads, electricity, airstrips etc. It was almost ground zero. In those times, the facilities were not intended to local communities, but exclusively to the tourists. And, that was an enclave tourism development. More importantly our geographical situation supports this type of tourism development, and still we have a lot of prospect in this type of tourism. Many star-rated resorts have been established in various parts of the country. They particularly cater services to only tourists.

We have many beautiful tourist destinations within the country, which are not used as a tourist destination, and in some cases they are not explored yet. There may be many factors contributing to it, but mainly the problem of accessibility is attributed to it, followed by accommodations and supplies. Rara National Park, Khaptad National Park, Dolpo areas are some of the destinations where it is still very difficult to send tourists. For the first time, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is promoting five new tourist destinations - Antu Dada, Basantpur - Terathum, Dhanushadham, Palpa and Khaptad as its product diversification program. It is obvious that in some of the destinations tourism develops only through the enclave development, requiring huge private investments and participation. The NTB's role is very limited in terms of constructing infrastructures, but definitely has a strong role in promoting these destinations.

There may be a long list for and against of each of these types of tourism developments. But, the important thing is to get the tourism benefits from either ways. It may seem contradictory at first, but rather both of these are complimentary with each other. These can coexist simply because they have different client groups. There is no doubt that tourism can not be developed in isolation in one hand and on the other hand when we want fast growth we have to be selective.

Published

Taplejung: Upcoming Trekking Destination

From the top of the Pathivara.

By Dhruba Rai

Taplejung district of Mechi Zone used to be one of the remotest districts amongst many others until some years ago. It still is, but rapidly changing its face in terms of accessibility. Mechi highway starting from Birtamod, Jhapa to Phungling the district headquarter of Taplejung has already been completed. The road has been blacktopped upto Phidim, Panchthar. A slight difficulty might be felt plying vehicles during the monsoon from Phidim to Taplejung. But, in other seasons plying vehicles is not a problem at all. It is expected that the rest of the road is blacktopped within three years. Hopefully, it will go as planed. A bifurcated road from Gopetar to Yamphudin, a way to Kanchanjungha Base Camp is being constructed. Now, a graveled road has reached a half way.

Apart from the roads, the district possesses an airstrip at Suketar. However, it needs technical upgradation and expansion of runway. Once the air services are regular and reliable, this district will not look back to its past. Prosperity lies ahead, among many other sectors tourism is one of such sectors. The Suketar would be a base camp for trekkers towards Kanchanjungha Conservation Area (KCA). Tourists will have options. Tourists with limited time can take a flight. If they have enough time, they can take a vehicle. The road also makes it possible for them to enjoy the vehicle ride along the plain in the Terai and winding roads upwards to the north capturing beautiful hillscape.

It touches India to the east and China to the north. Reclining on them, ensconced high on rolling mountains and himalayas, decorated with colorful sub-tropical and alpine flora and fauna, having serene emerald lakes, rivers in a tranquil surroundings this district enjoys everything that the nature offers. The world's third highest peak Mt. Kanchanjungha (8586 m) lies here. Mt. Yalung Kang (8505 m), Nepal Peak (7168 m), Kumbhakarna (7710 m), Kangbachen (7903 m), Kirat Chuli (7365 m), Jhingsan (7483 m) are some of the peaks which stand still along the border. Several lakes like Panch Pokhari, Dudh Pokhari, Suke Pokhari, Lam Pokhari, Tin Pokhari, Timbu Pokhari provide serenity in the wilderness. Most of them are of religious values for local people and surrounding areas. Glaciers, perennial sources of rivers, provide breath taking views of out-stretching whiteness.

A vast area of 2035 sq. k.m. of northern part of the district is protected as the Kanchanjungha Conservation Area Project (KCAP). The KCA covers four VDCs viz. Lelep, Olangchung Gola, Tapethok and Yamphudin. In fact, the KCA is a trans-national nature reserve, which covers more than 20,000 sq. k.m. of area of Nepal, China and India. This area has one of the richest bio-diversity landmarks in the world. Nepal declared a "Gift to the Earth" with support of WWF's living planet campaign to recognize this bio-diversity and indigenous culture of that area in 1997. Previously, various integrated conservation and development programs were initiated jointly by Department of National Parks & Wildlife Conservation and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) with active participation of local communities. This has enhanced the knowledge and skills of local communities about the conservation and they are capable of managing the project.

Some of the tourism entrepreneurs claimed that the Annapurna Circuit has been divested by the construction of road along the circuit. But now, it's too late to turn around. As KCA has largely been replicated from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in terms of conservation and tourism, it should not fall into a trap of mistakes that have been made as in the ACAP. Although the road in Taplejung has been constructed, it really does not relegate the wilderness of the northern part of the district. The road is far below the protected area along the human settlements, leaving the KCA as less trodden area as ever and best for trekkers. Thus, the area is suitable for wild escapade.

At the time, when everyone is voicing for diversification of tourism products and areas, this could be an option. Mountaineers flock every year to scale the Mt. Kanchanjungha. In days to come Kanchanjungha Conservation Area will be a popular trekking destination among many others in the country. Time has come to unveil the shrouded image of this district as a trekking destination.


Published in Info Tourism, 2007

Tourism Patterns towards Niche

By Dhruba Rai

The global trend of travels has gradually been changing. The practice of selling “hectic 10 day 10 city tour packages” or traditional "Sun, Sand and Sea" and the likes are slowly fading away. Tourists, now, really have become holiday makers in a way. They prefer “moving less and seeing more”. They enjoy the focused and meaningful holiday trips at their own pace. They want to visit remote parts of destinations enjoying the flaunting natural beauties and landscapes, interacting with locals, learning their cultures and the way of living. A western tour operator was quoted saying, "Tourists want to say, I didn't just go to Amsterdam for the weekend but I went whale watching in Iceland or wine tasting in South Africa." This shows how the tastes have been changing of tourists over time. Today, holiday makers also consider travel as a form of self-expression. They want to return their countries with full of stories and experiences in their bags as souvenirs from their trips.

Tourists want to explore new areas, and are ready to pay extra for the newness. They don’t only look into the prices and regional destinations as their choices, but also look into their ulterior motives and aspect of travel itself. They want to make the journey to the destinations as much enjoyable as the destination's offers by selecting the proper mode of transports and indulging activities they like. Especially, trains are the first choice for long haul travels instead of jets in Europe. They call it "slow travel". If you travel at a slow pace, you enjoy traveling, and also get enough time to observe things and surroundings while passing through. Environment issues are coming up strongly. Eco-levels are everywhere, which promote eco-products. Such trend is reducing air travels insidiously though the air travel is increasing steadily at the rate of 5 percent a year.

Increasingly, the tour operators around the world are applying niche strategies to tap such markets. A niche market is characterized by small but profitable size, growth potentiality, relatively less competition and need of skilled human resources. In other words, the niche market is a specialized segment within segment. Thus, the tour operators apply niche strategies out of sheer compulsion i.e. competitions and not by a choice. Otherwise, their first choice would be only to indulge in a lucrative segment. Again, no one would follow a niche if they don't make money. But, some also use multiple niche strategies, means they handle more than a single niche at a time. The tourism niche markets are sizable, but it has no boundaries, thus making it worldwide. Demographics, sexes, regions or whatsoever really don’t affect the market at all. The common interests, enthusiasm among them are the binding thread to lead a special segment.

Nepal offers many niche segments ranging from smooth observations to hair raising adventures. We can name hundreds of them viz. fossil hunting, honey hunting, butterfly observations, fishing, mountain biking, paragliding, ultra-light flights, bungy jumping, trekking etc. Non urban tourism like home-stay, in Nepal, is definitely a unique niche product. The home-stay experience is uniquely assimilated the Nepalese taste of cultures, traditions, customs and the touch of peoples' bonhomie. The tourists can learn and enjoy the cultures and traditions, customs by themselves as their own. They enjoy authentic and first hand experiences which are invaluable for them. They enjoy their stay more interestingly involving and enjoying small activities like hiking, photography, village tours etc. Our home-stay infrastructures are quite good. Bridim in Rasuwa, Sirubari, Ghalegaon, Antu in Ilam are some of the home-stay products which are in operation for quite some time. Sooner or later, these products will be popular among holiday makers from home and abroad.

Nepal provides an ample environment for over 869 species of birds, 92 specialty species including 27 endangered birds. In fact, Nepal is really a paradise of bird watchers. Some of the bird watching areas are Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Chitwan National Prak, Annapurna Conservation Area, Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, Langtang National Park, Bardiya National Park, Godawari, Phulchowki, Shivapuri etc. Some companies are doing well handling such market. We can still do better because there is future growth. Even, Mr. Jimmy Carter the ex-president of the U.S.A. at that age and haste shared some of his precious time to watch birds while he was in Nepal some days ago.

Similarly, the orchid lovers enjoy more than 400 species and varieties of wild orchids throughout the mid hill regions. It may sound ridiculous to us, but the wild plant lovers relentlessly seek the opportunities to find them, click them and write them. Such committed lovers are also the committed visitors. Yet, little has been done to promote such golden plants.

Rivers originated from the high Himalayan region with its course down to plains provide rendezvous with nature's gifts. White water rafting in roaring and serpentine rivers with waves deadly enough to resurrect one's oblivious spirit on board is a thrilling experience. Rivers are from 1 to 5+ grades available to test one's physicality. There is a strong attraction for adventure lovers in these rivers.

The westerners flock every year to the east just to practice meditation. Numerous monasteries and mediation centers in Kathmandu and other places are ready to provide space for them. Spa with medicinal purpose is becoming popular. In fact, it has established itself a unique product. Many hotels are providing such facilities as an extra product in hotel's service line. It has become an attraction while selling accommodations. Similarly, Ayurvedic treatments are also becoming popular.

As discussed above, we have so many places, events and activities with high degree of potentiality, there is no question about it. Now, in the light of changing pattern of travel, we definitely, need to change our strategies to tap such potentialities. May be in future, tourists might say, " Yes, last year, I went to study wild orchids in Nepal, this time I am planning to visit for bird watching and trekking in the remotest part of Nepal." How do you feel? Sounds great !


Published in NTTR, 2007