Prospects and challenges of eco-tourism (A case study of Shey-Phoksundo National Park Area in Dolpa District, Karnali zone

Abstract

The thesis entitled "Prospects and Challenges of Eco-tourism: A Case Study of SPNP area of Dolpa" has been prepared for the fulfillment of master degree in Rural Development from the Central Department of RD, TU, Kirtipur. Its entirely based on the field survey in which researcher has exercised to highlighted the eco-tourism is one of the greatest industries in Dolpa; as its natural environment and cultural richness. Eco-tourism is a new concept in the tourism sector and operations have been established all over the world particularly in developing countries on the assumption of poverty alleviation and environment conservation as well as minimum impact in environment sector. The general objective of the study was to identity the prospects and challenges of eco-tourism in SPNP in Dolpa District and used the purposive sampling method in selected areas of SPNP. The primary data were collected through questionnaires and secondary data from various sources. Among oil, automobile and tourism industries, the tourism or eco-tourism is suit-feasible in present situation due to the geography and lack of awareness in Nepal. Nepal has heavenly coloured nature and culture for human or any creature's feeling, knowledge and service for tourism scope to generate different sectoral developments. Its no dought, originated in the event (activities) of human civilization and change of human desire. The study identified that there were tremendous prospects of eco-tourism and challenges as well. The Phoksundo National Park, Jagdula and Phoksundo Lakes, Suligad (Phoksundo) Water fall, Fauna-flora, Medicinal Plants, Scenic View, Historically reputed Monasteries, Local Cultures and hospitality. Similarly, the challenges were found mainly about the geography accessibility, accommodation, trained manpower, communication, pure water drinking, medicinal facilities for altitude sickness, hospitals and schools. There were absence of wel, electricity, sanitation, marketing, medical facilities, recreational centre, visitor information centre and entry fee which the were vital challenging problems. The eco-tourism in Dolpa generated economic opportunities and opened the Iron Gate of various developmental sectors, for the sustainable nation development. Eco-tourism is regarded as an efficient and trustful approach in Dolpa-SPNP area. But it was not in a desirable extent and economic benefit also was not distributed equally. It concluded that SPNP area offers a high value of eco-tourism attraction in terms of the natural and scenic attributes combined with the socio-cultural and lifestyle of its indigenous people. The research has been conducted on the basis of field survey applying exploratory cum descriptive in which 50 locals, 10 hotels and 40 tourists were taken as sample and also applied interview, timeline and table as tools. The study had found animal husbandry almost cover 20-30% and besides, agriculture, seasonal migration and trade are ultimate economy sector. The major issues were poverty, livestock grazing, crop and livestock depredation, high dependency on natural resource and poaching. The species diversity in SPNP area were plants (1200), mammals (32), birds (200) and reptiles (40). There were two major Trekking Routes: ( 1) PNET (from Juphal airport to Rigmo) for 5 days long trek and (2) Juphal-Dunai-Dho-Rigmo-Suligad-Juphal: 10 days long trek, which is DEC. The best time to visit the area was September to October months. Hence, the future of ecotourism in SPNP area is found to be very optimistic and relies heavily on who is responsible for marketing, eco-tourism planning, modifying entry fee, establishing infrastructure, making aware to locals and tourists regarding to eco-tourism in the study area (SPNP area). Apart this, eco-tourism provides a high level of education on ecology and environment, which has positive impact upon the protection of environment and culture and brings about economic benefits for the host communities and contributes to conservation activities efforts.