Rural Tourism Potential in Nepal: A Case Study of Phewa Lake Watershed Area

Abstract

Recreation is human character which brings movement of the individuals then it creates travel. Tourism is essential for the leisure and pleasure motivated by pulling and pushing factors according as human nature of seeking and escaping. Tourism is foremost economy change all over the world, that growing awareness of the direct, indirect effects of tourism one employment value added personal income, government income and so on. Rural tourism is relatively, new phenomenon, which means tourism development in local setting at the stage of rural belief, values, norms, and religious practices, their daily home practices, family relation, agriculture etc. It makes their own world and a kind of circuit where people round around and create new interest to recreation and leisure in natural environment. Beautiful country Nepal situated in the lap of Himalayan located in between 26º04' E to 30º 27’ E latitude and 80º 08'N to 88º 12' N longitude. It is very rich in natural, cultural historical assets and ethnical and cultural diversity. There are diversity in language and cultural alive, people harmony and unity, people friendly with smiling faces in Nepal. Nepal has occupied only 0.1 percent land of the mars of the earth which is home of 2 percent of all the flowering plants in the world, 8 percent of the world population of the bird (More than 848 species), 4 percent of mammals, 11 percent of the world families of butterfly (more than 500 species), 600 indigenous plants families and 319 species of exotic orchid. The study area includes two VDCs, Kaskikot VDC and Sanangkot VDC of Phewa Lake watershed area which lie on Southern part of the Kaski District. Geographically study area is located at 28º14' N to 28º16' N latitude and 83º 39' E to 83º 58' E longitude, on the north-west part of the Pokhara Sub-metropolitan city. Its elevation ranges from 793m to 1786m Kashap Hill the highest Summit point of the study area. The total area of the study is 42.68km2. The average maximum temperature and Minimum temperature of the area is 30ºc and 7ºc. The average rainfall of this study area is 300mm. The total household and total population of the study area is 2666 and 13152 according to Census Report 2001. There are recorded 21 ethnic caste groups and Literacy Rate is 53.7 percent. The main occupation of this area is agricultural and some are linked with other services. A little bit physical and social infrastructures are built on the study area but they are only in satisfactory condition and among them drinking water condition is in the poor condition. There are twenty-four educational institutions including one higher secondary school. There are some institution, both government institution and non-government which are help and work for the development the study area. The main aim of this study was to explore the natural, cultural and historical assets of the study area. This study was also focused to introduce the geographical location, to access the socio-cultural status and to assess the tourism impact of the study area too. Both qualitative and quantative method were employed for this study. This study was based on both the primary data and secondary data. This secondary data were from census reports, journals, books, DEO reports, Village profiles, etc. related to the study area and tourism. Similarly, the primary data were collected from interview with local people, and field observation of the study area. There was taken 80 sample from two VDC. This study is limited to examine rural tourism potential of the study area and to assess impact of tourism on the study area. The main findings of this study are as follows: 1. Nepal is the ultimate tourism destination of the world. 2. Nepal has highly potential rural tourism resources. 3. Study area is historical place which was the habitant of the pre-historic men. 4. Study area has potential for adventure tourism for example rock climbing, mountain bike, and paragliding. 5. Natural attractions, like view of Phewa Lake, Phewa-plant, view of Pokhara valley, view of sun-rise and sun-set are natural beauty of the study area. 6. Mostly, cultural practice and activities of the study area performed according to Hindu cultural practices. 7. In term of infrastructure development tourism has played curial role on the study area. 8. The foreigners have donated for the development of the different sector of the infrastructure development on the study area. 9. Tourism has brought change into settlement pattern, housing pattern and family structure of the study area. 10. Lack of well management system of the waste material, pollutant, garbage, litter damage the scenic beauty of the study area and has brought stress on the environment. 11. Tourism has helped to preserve and promote the culture in the study area, uplift economy condition of the local people and it has brought awareness to the local people. Finally this study was recommended that: 1. Master Plan should be prepared for the rural tourism development of study area. 2. The government should be considered decentralizing tourism administration by involving the local community. 3. It should be conserved and preserved from vandalism and theft of items of cultural and natural assets then should be strictly controlled. 4. Advertisement of the study area should be focused. 5. Local people should be provided the knowledge about positive and negative impacts brought by tourism through the training and seminar. 6. Phewa Lake is not only important assets of the study area, but it is important asset of the nation. To keep it alive, Phewa-Lake watershed area should be included as a protected area. 7. Trails, view tower, etc should be constructed at necessary place. 8. Development plan and programs should be directed toward women and disadvantaged groups of the study area At last to improve of the socio-economic condition of local people, we should remember and act above recommendation as our belief, value and tradition such that study area may comes to be model rural tourism destination.