Promoting Rural Tourism in Nepal

By Dhruba Rai

Promoting tourism in rural areas is a hard nut to crack. Mission is there, reduction of poverty. Policies are positive, encouraging rules and regulation of investment. Objectives are many, for god's sake nothing's left. Programs are enough, we need more budget. But, what about strategies? Do we have concrete strategies? This means, have we aligned our activities towards acheiving the mission. Have we backed up these activities on the basis of research outcomes? How long does it take sustained efforts to produce results?

Tourism has flourished in only urban areas where infrastructures and other amenities are already in place, and it will continue for many years. Local entrepreneurs should be able to handle all basic services relating to tourism. They should be able to provide proper rooms in hotels, hygienic foods in restaurants and standard services to tourists. It happens only when they understand the tourism in their way i.e. make money out of it. Obviously, it will not happen in overnight. It means, tourists will not visit to their places at once despite their huge investments in hotels, lodges and human resources. It's like a story of chicken or egg which is first, in a way.

My view on this is very simple. We should focus on promoting domestic tourism before attracting foreign tourists. It means that tourism development strategies should be soft market penetration focusing on domestic tourism promotion in rural areas. Implementing programs that promote domestic tourism not only increase the economic activities but also save money otherwise spent abroad by domestic tourists. In the meantime, the entrepreneurs will learn business tactics in the process of sustaining their businesses. And eventually, it attracts foreign tourists.

Besides promoting domestic tourism in national level, paid holidays' concept should be encouraged and implemented. Some institutions like banks, semi government organizations, public companies have already started the concept of paid holidays to their employees which is very, very encouraging in promoting domestic tourism. NTO should play a catalyst's role bridging the expectation gaps between urban tour operators and local entrepreneurs.

Similarly, government ministries, departments and other agencies can conduct meetings, seminars and workshops in those areas instead of spending monies in only star hotels and convenient cities. This type of MICE tourism definately helps rural tourism.

Tourism in New Nepal

Tourism business is not affected much in New Nepal. Obviously, some procedural formalities and certain fees may be in place as various states formed in the future. It may increase the price of tour packages a little, but it will not too expensive for the tourists. In fact, tourists feel themselves that Nepal is a cheaper destination beside airfare. What is more important is that they love to have good services and nice places to see. Tourism will not change its trends and fashions being one country's political system. The basics of tourism remain the same.

Important things are the government polices towards tourism. Everyone is in favor of tourism development in this country. No one has denied the potential contribution of it to the economy. Thouh it's not satisfactory in terms of GDP. Maoist has given high priority to tourism along with agriculture, hydro power, education and other service sectors.

Soft Mobility Tourism

By Dhruba Rai

Werfenweng, a small village with about 800 inhabitants, is a fascinating model village in Austria for "soft mobility and car free tourism" for its inhabitants and tourists. It accommodates about 36,000 tourists with 212,000 overnight stays per year. Though it has good roads, once you reach the village you have to forget your car key or shuttle bus. You reduce your speed and relax walking along the road, which pass through the unfurled green carpet of meadow. They call it "soft mobility world". You walk enjoying, admiring the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. The beautiful garlanded houses with flowers are extremely happy to welcome and receive you. You can enjoy riding fun vehicles, e-cars, scooters all powered by batteries. In winter, they use skies and sledges for mobility. This is an example of how tourism can be developed balancing 3Ps People, Planet and Profit.

Nepal as a tourism destination always longed for mass tourism, and it's still hungry for it. About 491,504 tourists were recorded in the year 1999 as the highest arrivals, and then it plummeted over the years. Causes were many; remedies palliative. Pullulating businesses centered around urban areas especially the golden triangle; many could not survive during the turbulent period. Our tourism activities are based primarily on three themes viz. culture, nature and adventure. The hotspots of tourism within the country are mostly gateaway to "adventure and nature" based activities. Tourists during their journey interact with local people which allows them to understand their culture and life style.

The geographical setting provides enormous avenues for "adventure" activities. This also allows it to display an array of tourism products and untrodden areas. The undulating landscapes, forests embracing a gamut of flora and fauna, rivers and rivulets falling freely making incessant whispers, range of high mountains abode of god what not. These captivate the nature lovers. It's said that to harness and explore the strengths are easier than to improve shortcomings. Nature and adventure activities are our strengths. These segments augur well without having proper accessibility. Often, this very disadvantage proves the advantage for them. When you cruise by vehicles, you miss the heavenly feeling and closest whisper with nature.

Having its many priorities such as agriculture, health and education on top of the agenda, the government can’t make a huge investment on infrastructures like roads, airstrips though the government knows the need. You cry for it, die for it, nothing happens, but it will happen at its own pace. So, it's futile to waste time pondering and lamenting over such impenetrable issues. But, at the same time, we can’t deny the fact that we need infrastructure like roads for nation building. And, how can we deprive the people of enjoying the fruit of development? This urges tourism planners, stakeholders and of course entrepreneurs to ruminate and develop alternatives as well as diversify the products. The new development initiates new prospects. It may start totally new opportunities for businesses. Look at the Manakamana cable car’s success. Small scale hotels and teashops along the trail to the Manakamana Temple protested the idea of introducing the cable cars. Their businesses were swept away by the change. But, in due course of time, everyone adjusted and took alternate options. Now, everyone is happy.

Reports are that the world famous Annapurna Circuit is being devastated by the construction of roads. Tourists didn't like the idea of destroying the trekking circuit at all. A repeat German tourist said that he would never come back to Nepal ever again after seeing such devastation in that area. Tourism entrepreneurs have raised this issue in many a time. This instance tells us that accessibility i.e. roads for trekkers and nature lovers is not a hurdle. In fact, they prefer trekking on trails instead of roads. Now, after the issue was raised seriously, ACAP has done some homework. As a result, it has proposed an alternate route for trekking, which is encouraging to rescue tourism in that area. However, it will take sometime to gain its reputation. The roads should not have been constructed in the Annapurna Circuit at the first place. But, it's too late to turn around, and it's useless to drag the issue. Now, we have only two options. We can either develop alternatate routes in that circuit or explore new trekking circuits in other parts of the country. Kanchanjungha, Basantapur, Solukhumbu, Makalu – Barun, Khaptad, Bardiya, Rara and Dolpo areas are just to name a few.

Conflicts among People, Planet and Profit are common everywhere. Power plays. The dispute is interminable. However, if priorities are set in advance, these provide a framework to settle conflicts. The only panacea for such conflicts is to build common consensus on setting priorities and stand by with the commitments. It means local people have to decide what is important for them. While doing so they have to consider the competitive advantages, opportunity costs and environmental issues. Furthermore, sustainable development should be the core issue in every human intervention. Otherwise, euphoric successes lead to nowhere, but to disaster.

Let's imagine, roads are smooth, other facilities and services are in proper place, Jomsom and surrounding places along the Annapurna Circuit will definitely be hotspots. It will open new opportunities to both locals as well as tourists. Local people will enjoy a higher living standard. Tourists will get an easy access to such beautiful places. They can satisfy their gargantuan appetite for mind, body and soul. Any human intervention in the name of development should not imbalance the People, Planet and Profit. When we work together, think alike and understand the concerns of others, it is not difficult to settle disputes. One day, like the Austrian village Werfenweng, we can develop Jomsom and other villages as a "soft mobility and vehicle free tourism".

-end-