Tourism in Nepal: Problems and Prospects of Female Employment

Abstract

Tourism is known as hospitable business. Nepal is one of the enchanting tourist destinations in the world with its natural beauty and cultural, religious, historical and archeological heritages. Despite the enormous potentiality for tourism, the country has however, not been able to reap adequate benefits in this sector. Tourism is an activity to generate a number of economic and social benefits which not only the augment of foreign exchange opportunities but also various types of employment through backward and forward linkages with other sectors of economy. As far as employment in tourism is concerned, Nepal Rastra Bank (1989) carried out an econometric study focusing on income and employment in tourism in Nepal which was found among the total number of employment, only 10.8 percent female employees were in tourism sector. Various scholars and institutions have done activities on different aspects of Nepalese tourism but a comprehensive and the depth analysis of problems and prospects of female employment in tourism has not been studied yet. Most of the reports and studies have mainly concentrated on some particular problems and policy related issues only. Therefore, the present study is concentrated on the impact of tourism in female employment generation from different perspective. For this series of questions may be raised such as what is the status of female employment? What are the major problems of tourism to generate female employment? How could tourism could be developed and established as one of the prosperous industries in Nepal increasing number of female employment in this sector? Why are the female employees as inevitable in tourism sector as male to make more effective business in the country? In this respect, the study is carried out using primary as well as secondary data. The primary data were collected through a sample of 122 tourists, 35 employers of various tourism sectors and 110 working female employees in tourism. Similarly, secondary data were collected from various publications of government and non-government organizations. Analysis has been made using descriptive, analytical and statistical approaches, statistical tools like charts, graphs, percentages, growth rates, index etc. The main objective of the study is to search out the contribution of tourism in Nepalese economy especially, female employment in tourism recommending the measures and strategies to develop tourism industry as an important sector. So, in this study, an attempt has been made to provide conceptual view on gender issue in workplace, theoretical foundation of tourism and literature review with reference to female employment in Nepal. A detail account of tourism development and its contribution in national economy has also been studied. Similarly, existing planning and policies as well as the potentialities of tourism products and infrastructures of the country have been also studied in depth. In short, the whole study has been concentrated on the problems and prospects of female employment in tourism. The study presents that male dominancy, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, social and family helplessness are the major problems of the female employees in tourism sector. Similarly, quality education, job oriented trainings, high salary and more facilities are needed to attract them. It seems that traditional social values, caste and religious system and foreign language practices are also the problems to generate more job opportunities for them. In this context, some of the legal provisions are needed to be made in favor of female. Similarly, cottage and small scale industries related to tourism should be also increased to generate additional job in the country. Women by nature are more hospitable, caring and supportive. That is perhaps why more institutions related to tourism all over the country are providing women more opportunities, skill and efficiency in various sectors of tourism. Similarly, there are many institutions for the growth in tourism such as hotels, travel and tours, trekking, mountaineering and so many adventures tourism and so on to generate more job opportunities in all over the country. Some of the legal provisions have been changed to support employment policies and programs. They have been also conducted to generate more job opportunities in this sector. In this regard, social awareness, family support, gender equality, women empowerment, safety and security, quality education and job oriented trainings are seemed inevitable factors. On the other hand, male dominancy gender discrimination and sexual harassment should be avoided for the bright prospect of female employment in tourism. The study has suggested that for women, Nepal government and concerned authorities should (i) create favorable environment in tourism (ii) offer them the same kind of responsibilities as men (iii) accept them as full members of the team and listen to them (iv) acknowledge that they will necessarily be on emphasis than their male colleagues. Hence, it can be said that the prospects of female employment seems very bright in every sector of tourism in Nepal