Our country our pride Nepal, a small in territory nestled between two big countries China & India having diverse culture, tradition & ethnicity is well-known for its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage & majestic mountains including Mount Everest. Nepal is an absolute destination for tourism due to its tranquil nature & multifaceted tourism sector. The eyes of the tourists obviously get soothed by seeing the majestic view of the various mountains, landscape view of the hills & the beauty of plain terai. Although our country has a lot of potential in the field of tourism, the country is lagging in the number of tourists that can be brought in. Tourism in Nepal is playing a vital role in uplifting the economy of Nepal, as well as contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings, employment & development infrastructure.
A Land of Multifarious Attractions
Tourism in Nepal is undoubtedly mesmerizing. From the towering peaks of the Himalayas to the greenery hills to the plains of Terai, the country’s topography makes every traveller feel & relaxed. There are the gems of attractions i.e. mountains including the world’s highest peak Mount Everest. Every year, thousands of tourists come to Nepal to experience the thrill of mountaineering, trekking & conquering these majestic, beautiful mountains. Even Hollywood movies are shot in Mt. Everest that assist people to know about Mt. Everest & Nepal. Similarly, the Everest Base Camp trek, Annapurna Circuit trek, Langtang Valley trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek & others are popular trekking routes which show stunning views & the pain of trekking could be erased due to their beauty & cultural encounters with localities.
Beside the mountains, Nepal is rich in cultural heritage & some of them are listed in UNESCO. Kathmandu Valley, the capital of Nepal, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here tourists can visit ancient temples, palaces & stupas of the Malla kingdom. Kathmandu is well-known as the city of thousands of temples as well. The Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur & Lalitpur are not only rich in physical appearance, but they also have quite beautiful & technical architectural designs that amaze the visitors. The Swayambhunath Stupa & Bouddhanath Stupa are significant pilgrimage sites for Buddhists located in Kathmandu valley, while Pashupatinath Temple is considered the holiest place for Hindus in the world. It has a special faith & importance among Hindus & every Hindu from all over the world are assumed in general to come here once before dying in their lifetime. Similarly, for exploring wildlife, Nepal’s national parks (12) &wildlife reserves (4) conservation areas (6) help visitors observe the country’s diverse flora & fauna. Chitwan National Park is one of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites renowned for its rich flora &fauna and is home to the last population of the one-horned Asiatic rhinoceros & the Bengal tiger.There, visitors can enjoy jungle safaris, jungle walks & visit Tharu homestays. Bardia National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Shivpuri Nagarjun National Park & Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve are other important tourist spots for wildlife tourism.
Adventure Tourism: The Thrill-Seekers Heaven
Nepal has immense natural scenery making it an ideal destination for adventure tourism. Besides trekking & mountaineering, Nepal has the potential for diverse adventure activities that make the tourists contented & enjoy their adventure to the fullest. For experiencing thrilling moment, rafting could be the best & for rafting, Trishuli, Bhote Koshi, Seti, Marshyangdi are popular. There, visitors would definitely get adventurous experiences. Similarly, white-water rafting is also a popular activity here. For added thrill, our country offers a paragliding from Sarangkot in Pokhara & it has gained international acclaim too.
Pokhara has been recognized as one of the top five tandem paragliding spots in the world. While paragliding here one can see the magnificent view of the Himalayas & the lake.
Another site is Bungee jumping, Bhote Koshi, Pokhara & Kushma are famous for bungee jumping from suspension bridges. Located in Parbat district, Kushma Bungee Jump is the highest bungee jump in Nepal & the second highest bungee jump in the world. Furthermore, mountain flights provide an opportunity to get up close with the highest peaks of the mountains. These flights offer breathtaking views of Mount Everest & other Himalayan ranges.
Cultural Tourism: A chance to understand Nepal’s Soul
Nepal’s cultural tourism is closely inter-related with its religious & spiritual heritage. The country is predominantly of Hinduism & Buddhism having many festivals, rituals, cultures & traditions that offer visitors a glimpse into the spiritual life of the Nepalese people. The festivals of Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Teej & Buddha Jayanti are celebrated with great importance & these festivals attract tourists to witness these cultural aspects. We have seen a lot of foreigners enjoying our festival & this is a good aspect for us in that they know about our cultural tourism.
Similarly, Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautama Buddha, is the most important pilgrimage site for Buddhists around the world. By the name of Lumbini, our country is known all over the world. Maya Devi Temple, sacred Garden & various monasteries built by different countries reflect the global significance of this holy site. For its upliftment, the Lumbini Development Trust is currently working to promote it at the international level.
Legal Framework: Key to Establishing Tourism
There are certain policies, acts, rules, standards etc. that act as regulators of tourism in Nepal. They aim at promoting & managing the tourism sector at its highest peak. Tourism Act 1978 AD, National Tourism Policy 2009 AD, National Parks & Wildlife Protection Act 1973 AD, Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1956 AD, Local Governance Act 2017 AD are the institutional framework of tourism. Additionally, there is Nepal Tourism Board that acts as a watchdog & formulates strategies to attract tourists in higher proportion. It would be heavy to say but the enforcement of those laws &standards is not at a good peak. Which is why, our country has not achieved proper success in tourism although it has a lot of potential. In fact, there is a significant gap between the legal framework & their enforcement. Issuelike corruption, lack of resources & bureaucratic inefficiency are hindering the effective enforcement of the laws.
Challenges
It is an undeniable fact that Nepal’s tourism industry has immense potential & having said that it also faces several challenges. In this context, the country’s infrastructure, particularly in remote areas, creates barriers for tourists to explore the sites. Lack of proper roads, transport & accommodation facilities are deterring & can deter potential visitors. There are no safe airways & no safe roadways of transportation in that our country Nepal is constantly facing plane crashes & bus accidents and due to these, tourists feel insecure of their lives. Also, natural disasters have been a critical issue for tourists & there is no proper management of dealing with such disasters. Every year native people including foreigners lose their lives due to natural disasters & this has a negative impact on both visitors & tourism.
Conclusion
The challenges facing Nepal’s tourism sector are significant but not insurmountable. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated effort by the government, private sector & local communities with a focus on sustainable development, infrastructure improvements & better governance. By addressing these challenges, Nepal can strengthen its tourism sector & ensure that it remains a major contributor to the economy while preserving its unique cultural & natural heritage. Tourism in Nepal is more than just an economic activity. Tourism in Nepal is also a gateway to understand & explore the country’s rich cultural heritage, unity in diversity, natural beauty & pliability of the Nepali people & communities.
Apart from these, there is no doubt that the tourism industry has an important role in the significant improvement in the country’s economy & in shaping the country’s future. The challenges faced by Nepal’s tourism sector are significant & must be addressed by the government & its organs. By overcoming the challenges, Nepal can have a lot of benefits in diversified sectors. If the initiative was taken seriously, Nepal would be a destination that promises unforgettable memories for foreign visitors.
Keshav Gharti Magar
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