Eco-Tourism in Nepal: A Case Study of Nagarkot

Abstract

The concept of ecotourism started from Costa-Rica in 1987 by a Tour Operator.Principally ecotourism needs natural areas especially unspoiled natural areas. Nepalas anaturallybeautiful country having huge bio-diversitycontains greatpotentialityof ecotourism. Nagarkot as a hilly natural area with magnificent Himalayan rangeson theeast,south andnorthernsides also contains one of the huge potential areas ofeco-tourism in the country. The study based on primary data from 80 respondents; 35 local people, 20 hotelowners and 25 tourists has revealed that there is great potentiality of ecotourism andessentiality of environmental conservation for the sustainable income from tourismsector. To maintain the tourism business with future prospect the values andprinciples such as‘Take only photographs leave only foot prints’ are essential toapply. Theexistedbeauty of the place such as heart-touching Himalayanranges, coolfresh air, wide coverage onnatural forest and topographical scenario etc are the keyelements of ecotourism potentiality of the place. The study has found that touristscome to Nagarkot, 32 percent for sightseeing, 22 percent for holiday purpose,and 18percent for the sunset / sun rise, 14 percent for the picnic and equally for theconvention purposes. In spite of huge potentiality of tourism in general and eco-tourism in particular thereare various constraints like poor transportation andcommunication facilities, poorrecreational facilities, a limited season, lack of trained manpower, lack of marketing,poor solid waste management system, limited number of educated people. Thus, the future of ecotourism in Nagrkot is found to be very optimistic and reliesheavily on who is responsible for marketing, setting the planning, initiating the entryfees, involving the locals and establishing the infrastructures needed for ecotourismdevelopment.