ASSESSING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF PROMOTING ECOTOURISM IN GABHAR VALLEY: A CASE STUDY FROM BUFFER ZONE OF BANKE NATIONAL PARK
SANDHYA KARKI
Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal.
KESHAB BARAL
Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal.
DEEPAK GAUTAM *
Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal and School of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
CATHERINE MHAE B. JANDUG
School of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China and College of Forestry and Environmental Science, Caraga State University, Philippines.
LAXMI KHANAL
School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
DHRUBA BIJAYA G. C.
Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Nepal has an abundance of opportunities for the ecotourism industry and is very rich in nature and culture. Despite having a lot of tourism potentialities there are still many places in Nepal that are yet to be explored. Gabhar valley is a beautiful village which has recently been listed as one of the 100 ecotourism destinations in Nepal. The objective of this study was to explore the potential eco-tourism attractions/features, ecotourism activities and perception of local people and visitors towards ecotourism in Gabhar valley. Data were collected through key informant interviews, questionnaire surveys with households, visitors and focus group discussions. Out of 440 households in the valley, 25 percent (n=110) households were selected randomly. Three point Likert scale disagree to agree (0-2) was employed in analyzing the perception of local people and visitors towards ecotourism. chi-square test was used to see the variation in the perception of local people. Simple descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean were used to analyze the data, and are presented in different charts and tables. The ecotourism attraction/features such homestays, Lion's Gabhar park, ostrich farm, etc were identified and bird watching, jungle walk, jeep safari, cycling, etc are ecotourism activities in the area. Apart from existing ecotourism attractions/features and activities view tower, Tharu cultural museum, treehouse, horse riding and fishing pond can add further opportunities for ecotourism development in this area. Most of the local people and visitors were positive towards the ecotourism promotion in the area. Long term policy should be made to enhance tourism activities to attract more visitors in the area.
Keywords: Ecotourism, homestay, perception, potential, promotion.
How to Cite
Downloads
References
Colvin JG. Indigenous ecotourism: the Capirona programme in Napo province Ecuador. Unasylva, Rome: FAO. 1996;187(47).UNWTO. Compendium of Tourism Statistics. Madrid: The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); 2001.
Thapa S. Paryatanma Samanti Soch (Feudalistic thinking in tourism). Kantipur, A National daily Newspaper, Katmandu: Katipur Publication, September 17; 2008.
Bhattarai BR, Wright W, Poudel BS, Aryal A, Yadav BP, Wagle R. Shifting paradigms for Nepal’s protected areas: History, challenges and relationships. Journal of Mountain Science. 2017;14(5):964–979.
Available:http://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-016-3980-9
Aryal C, Maharjan KM. Assessment of ecotourism potential of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Eastern Nepal. Journal of Tourism and Adventure. 2018;48-67.
ISSN 2645-8683
World Tourism Organization and United Nations Development Programme. Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030; 2018.
Available:http://doi.org/10.18111/9789284419401
WTTC. Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2018 World. World Travel and Tourism Council; 2018b.
WTTC. Travel & Tourism: Economic impact 2018 Nepal. World Travel and Tourism Council; 2018a.
NTB. Potential Tourism Development Areas, Upcoming Tourism products of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu; 2001.
NPC. The Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-2002). National Planning Commission; 1999.
Weaver D. Ecotourism in less developed world. School of Tourism and Hotel Management, Griffith University; 2001.
Paudel G. Biodiversity Conservation. The Rising Nepal; 2014.
Available:https://therisingnepal.org.np
Subedi BR. Prospective and challenges: Tourism development at Meghauli. Journal of Advanced Academic Research (JAAR); 2014.
ISSN: 2362-1303 (Paper),
ISSN: 2362-1311(Online)
Wearing S, Neil J. Ecotourism: Impacts, Potentials and Possibilities (Second), Elsevier; 2009.
Available:http://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(01)00019-X
Dahal D, Gautam D, Bhattarai S, Khanal L, Baral K, Acharya KR. Potentiality of Pangolin based ecotourism in Chuchhekhola Community Forest, Makawanpur, Nepal; 2019.
Available:www.jetir.org
DOI: http://doi.one/10.1729/Journal.22838
ISSN-2349-5162
Walter P, Regmi KD, Khanal PR. Host learning in community-based ecotourism in Nepal: The case of Sirubari and Ghalegaun homestays. Tourism Management Perspectives, 2018;26:49–58.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.02.002
ICIMOD. Climate change Vulnerability of Mountain ecosystems in the Eastern Himalaya, Kathmandu Nepal; 2009.
Gautam D, Bhattarai S, Sigdel R, Jandng CMB, Mujahid A, Dhruba Bijaya GC. Climate variability and wetland Resource in Rupa Lake Catchment, Nepal; 2019.
Available:http://twasp.info/journal/home
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3568477
Okello F. Ecotourism in Uganda-A case study of Malinga National park. A Master's Thesis in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Goteborg University. Gothenburg Sweden; 2004.
Yogi HN. Eco-tourism and sustainability- Opportunities and challenges in the case of Nepal. A Master's thesis Department of Sustainable Development, University of Uppsala; 2010.
Higham J (ed.). Critical issues in ecotourism: Understanding a complex tourism phenomenon. Elsevier, UK; 2007.