Coordination and Cooperation for Promoting Tourism
Report prepared by
Ek Raj Sigdel
Interaction Workshop
In interaction workshop on "Coordination and Cooperation for Promoting Tourism in Mid and Far West" was held at Thakurdwara, Bardia in 20 - 21, April 2009. A total of 31 participants from Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur representing journalists, hotel and travel and tours entrepreneurs, ecotourism forum, youth forum, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Bardia National Park and WTLCP were present at the workshop. Over 50% participants were journalists. The workshop was organised by Far Western Media Development Centre, Dhangadi and supported jointly by WTLCP - Dhangadi, Nepal Tourism Board and Bardia National Park. Nepal Tourism Board supported the program by sending a Resource Person and Bardia National Park shared tourism development activities in Bardia and arranged jungle safari for the participants. Likewise, WTLCP extended financial support for transportation, lodging and fooding and stationary of the participants.
Mr. Udaya Bhattarai, Assistant Manager, Nepal Tourism Board, made presentation on "Understanding Tourism & Tourism System". He covered a wide range of topics, including introduction and definitions of tourism, destination mix, attractions of Nepal, tourism system, tourism marketing, sustainability, key players and new trends in tourism and hospitality. Similarly, Bardia Ecotourism Forum Chair Person Mr. Bishnu Bhattarai shared Bardia experiences on tourism promotion and development. Likewise, Mr. Tika Ram Adhikari, Chief Warden of Bardia National Park shared importance of protected area management for tourism development in Nepal. The presentations were followed by a group exercise and sorted out various efforts made by different stakeholders to promote tourism in the Western Development Region. Also, the group exercises identified major problems and made various recommendations.
Efforts for Tourism Promotion
Bardia National Park has facilitated tourism development in Thakurdwara, Bardia by provisioning various activities, like jungle drive, elephant safari, rafting, fishing and camping. Also, road and nature trails are maintained inside the Jungle for tourists. Similarly, visitor information center, tharu cultural museum, wildlife view tower, and signposts are maintained at various strategic locations of the national park. Being a member of the Executive committee of the Nepal Tourism Board, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) is being involved in preparing tourism policy and programs at national level. In addition, tourism sections in DNPWC and tourism units in protected areas are established which have helped in mainstreaming tourism development activities at institutional level.
Likewise, Kanchanpur Tourism Promotion Committee, Kailali Chamber of Commerce and various other tourism related community based organizations, like hotel associations, nature guide associations, and ecotourism forum have been formed and functional at local level. Similarly, to promote tourism, various tourism fair and festival are being organized in disaggregated manner. In addition, some promotional CD and brochures are prepared.
Problems
Despite putting various efforts and having unparallel natural and cultural beauty, the region has not been able to attract an expected level of tourists thus far. The following are reasons were identified why the tourism is not developed satisfactorily in the Western Development Region.
Tourism development and promotion
It was realized that, there is no systematic study on tourism promotion and marketing in the Western Region. Evan all the tourism sites are not explored and hence the government has put those areas in low priority. Fair and festivals are not regularly organized. In addition, the capacity of the tourism entrepreneurs, mainly in English language, nature guide, and cookery and bakery preparation are to be enhanced.
Air fare from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj is very expensive. Even, the price difference between Nepali and foreigners has discouraged foreigners to visit the Western Region. The government policy of making same fee structure for entering protected areas and experiences jungle safari does not favor tourism promotion. Tourism code of conduct for promoting responsible tourism is yet to be developed. Tourism income and employment opportunity is not distributed fairly at local level. Increasing number of locals and youth are yet to be engaged in tourism business. The government does not have a clear policy for promoting eco-tourism. In addition, lack of basic infrastructure, including communication, road network, and electricity was pointed as the major obstacles for tourism development and promotion in this region.
Park management
The Bardia National Park management needs further improvements for attracting greater number of tourists. Local communities are exerting pressure on the park for collecting fuel-wood, fodder and timber. Poaching of wild animals and encroachment for settlement and agricultural expansion is prevalent in the park. The rampant forest fir in the summer season may have caused shocks to wild animals and also posed visual pollution. The National Park management has perceived that the tourism promotion is their secondary priority. Further, tourism management capacity of the national park and reserve staff needs to be further enhanced.
Coordination
Tourism promotion and development activities are being done in a piecemeal approach and in an isolation manner. There is a very weak coordination amongst tourism entrepreneurs, and concerned government line agencies. Tourism development work is being done in an ad hoc basis. Bardia Tourism Plan, Western Terai Landscape Level Ecotourism Plan, and Khaptad Tourism Development Plan are yet to be fully implemented.
Recommendations
Firstly, tourism development activities are needs to be mainstreamed in the protected area management system. In this regard, the status of Reserve of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) should be upgraded as National Park. To attract tourists, a resort should be established immediately inside the SWR. In the mean time, possibility of declaring Appi, Nampa Himal as conservation area should be explored. Moreover, the protected area administration should be more transparent and media friendly, mainly they should disclose wild animals data timely and easily. Efforts should be made to plough back part of the protected area revenue towards promoting tourism.
Secondly, close coordination amongst tourism stakeholders, including hotel, park authority, I/NGO, local authority, journalists, political leaders and local community should be maintained. Formation of a District Tourism Development Coordination Committee could be an option to embark planned tourism development.
Thirdly, fund for tourism development should be explored. In this regard, BZMC should give pressure to the DDC for allocating part of the development fund for tourism infrastructure development. Also, the part of the park revenue should be shared for tourism development in the protected areas.
Finally, the tourism site people should give priority to improve sanitation, drinking water, communication, electricity and transportation facilities. Over and above, the prevailing culture of highway blockade should be discouraged.
Action Points
The participants identified following activities for immediate implementation.
A loose network for coordination amongst partner organisations, like journalists, tourism entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce, women and youth needs to be formed immediately.
A promotional souvenir like hat, baskets from Banana leaves needs to be developed and potential of agro tourism should be explored.
Politicians should be made aware on the higher importance of tourism and conservation for income and employment generation.
Ambassador of India should be requested to play a proactive role for promoting tourism in the Mid and Far Western Development Region.
Media coverage on tourism promotion and marketing should be increased
Media persons, including editors and reporters should be trained on conservation and tourism so that the level of understanding amongst the stakeholders about tourism development could be equal.
Conclusion
Finally, realising the importance of coordination amongst the diverse stakeholders a 19 member loose network forum of journalists, tourism entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce, women and youth was formed. The program reiterated a slogan "Now turn of West".
In interaction workshop on "Coordination and Cooperation for Promoting Tourism in Mid and Far West" was held at Thakurdwara, Bardia in 20 - 21, April 2009. A total of 31 participants from Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur representing journalists, hotel and travel and tours entrepreneurs, ecotourism forum, youth forum, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Bardia National Park and WTLCP were present at the workshop. Over 50% participants were journalists. The workshop was organised by Far Western Media Development Centre, Dhangadi and supported jointly by WTLCP - Dhangadi, Nepal Tourism Board and Bardia National Park. Nepal Tourism Board supported the program by sending a Resource Person and Bardia National Park shared tourism development activities in Bardia and arranged jungle safari for the participants. Likewise, WTLCP extended financial support for transportation, lodging and fooding and stationary of the participants.
Mr. Udaya Bhattarai, Assistant Manager, Nepal Tourism Board, made presentation on "Understanding Tourism & Tourism System". He covered a wide range of topics, including introduction and definitions of tourism, destination mix, attractions of Nepal, tourism system, tourism marketing, sustainability, key players and new trends in tourism and hospitality. Similarly, Bardia Ecotourism Forum Chair Person Mr. Bishnu Bhattarai shared Bardia experiences on tourism promotion and development. Likewise, Mr. Tika Ram Adhikari, Chief Warden of Bardia National Park shared importance of protected area management for tourism development in Nepal. The presentations were followed by a group exercise and sorted out various efforts made by different stakeholders to promote tourism in the Western Development Region. Also, the group exercises identified major problems and made various recommendations.
Efforts for Tourism Promotion
Bardia National Park has facilitated tourism development in Thakurdwara, Bardia by provisioning various activities, like jungle drive, elephant safari, rafting, fishing and camping. Also, road and nature trails are maintained inside the Jungle for tourists. Similarly, visitor information center, tharu cultural museum, wildlife view tower, and signposts are maintained at various strategic locations of the national park. Being a member of the Executive committee of the Nepal Tourism Board, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) is being involved in preparing tourism policy and programs at national level. In addition, tourism sections in DNPWC and tourism units in protected areas are established which have helped in mainstreaming tourism development activities at institutional level.
Likewise, Kanchanpur Tourism Promotion Committee, Kailali Chamber of Commerce and various other tourism related community based organizations, like hotel associations, nature guide associations, and ecotourism forum have been formed and functional at local level. Similarly, to promote tourism, various tourism fair and festival are being organized in disaggregated manner. In addition, some promotional CD and brochures are prepared.
Problems
Despite putting various efforts and having unparallel natural and cultural beauty, the region has not been able to attract an expected level of tourists thus far. The following are reasons were identified why the tourism is not developed satisfactorily in the Western Development Region.
Tourism development and promotion
It was realized that, there is no systematic study on tourism promotion and marketing in the Western Region. Evan all the tourism sites are not explored and hence the government has put those areas in low priority. Fair and festivals are not regularly organized. In addition, the capacity of the tourism entrepreneurs, mainly in English language, nature guide, and cookery and bakery preparation are to be enhanced.
Air fare from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj is very expensive. Even, the price difference between Nepali and foreigners has discouraged foreigners to visit the Western Region. The government policy of making same fee structure for entering protected areas and experiences jungle safari does not favor tourism promotion. Tourism code of conduct for promoting responsible tourism is yet to be developed. Tourism income and employment opportunity is not distributed fairly at local level. Increasing number of locals and youth are yet to be engaged in tourism business. The government does not have a clear policy for promoting eco-tourism. In addition, lack of basic infrastructure, including communication, road network, and electricity was pointed as the major obstacles for tourism development and promotion in this region.
Park management
The Bardia National Park management needs further improvements for attracting greater number of tourists. Local communities are exerting pressure on the park for collecting fuel-wood, fodder and timber. Poaching of wild animals and encroachment for settlement and agricultural expansion is prevalent in the park. The rampant forest fir in the summer season may have caused shocks to wild animals and also posed visual pollution. The National Park management has perceived that the tourism promotion is their secondary priority. Further, tourism management capacity of the national park and reserve staff needs to be further enhanced.
Coordination
Tourism promotion and development activities are being done in a piecemeal approach and in an isolation manner. There is a very weak coordination amongst tourism entrepreneurs, and concerned government line agencies. Tourism development work is being done in an ad hoc basis. Bardia Tourism Plan, Western Terai Landscape Level Ecotourism Plan, and Khaptad Tourism Development Plan are yet to be fully implemented.
Recommendations
Firstly, tourism development activities are needs to be mainstreamed in the protected area management system. In this regard, the status of Reserve of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) should be upgraded as National Park. To attract tourists, a resort should be established immediately inside the SWR. In the mean time, possibility of declaring Appi, Nampa Himal as conservation area should be explored. Moreover, the protected area administration should be more transparent and media friendly, mainly they should disclose wild animals data timely and easily. Efforts should be made to plough back part of the protected area revenue towards promoting tourism.
Secondly, close coordination amongst tourism stakeholders, including hotel, park authority, I/NGO, local authority, journalists, political leaders and local community should be maintained. Formation of a District Tourism Development Coordination Committee could be an option to embark planned tourism development.
Thirdly, fund for tourism development should be explored. In this regard, BZMC should give pressure to the DDC for allocating part of the development fund for tourism infrastructure development. Also, the part of the park revenue should be shared for tourism development in the protected areas.
Finally, the tourism site people should give priority to improve sanitation, drinking water, communication, electricity and transportation facilities. Over and above, the prevailing culture of highway blockade should be discouraged.
Action Points
The participants identified following activities for immediate implementation.
A loose network for coordination amongst partner organisations, like journalists, tourism entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce, women and youth needs to be formed immediately.
A promotional souvenir like hat, baskets from Banana leaves needs to be developed and potential of agro tourism should be explored.
Politicians should be made aware on the higher importance of tourism and conservation for income and employment generation.
Ambassador of India should be requested to play a proactive role for promoting tourism in the Mid and Far Western Development Region.
Media coverage on tourism promotion and marketing should be increased
Media persons, including editors and reporters should be trained on conservation and tourism so that the level of understanding amongst the stakeholders about tourism development could be equal.
Conclusion
Finally, realising the importance of coordination amongst the diverse stakeholders a 19 member loose network forum of journalists, tourism entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce, women and youth was formed. The program reiterated a slogan "Now turn of West".
posted by Ek Raj Sigdel at
April 26, 2009
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