Problems and Prospects of Renewable Energy use for Sustainable Tourism Promotion in Nepal (A Case Study of Lukla-Monjo Trekking Route in Chaurikharka VDC of Solukhumbu district)

Abstract

Sustainability has become a vital issue in the development sector these days. As the world's largest industry having multiplier effects, tourism has now been facing challenges of sustainability. The emergence of the concept of sustainable tourism has taken place in response to the adverse environmental and social problems created by mass tourism. This form of tourism is primarily associated with renewable energy and environmental conservation. From the point of view of energy, tourism can operate in any host destination in a sustainable manner only through the promotion of renewable sources of energy. The use of traditional sources of energy and other non-renewable ones such as fossil fuels gives rise to environmental problems. In the context of Nepal, it is widely accepted that the existing poverty can be significantly reduced only through the promotion of sustainable tourism. In the same vein, the title of this research study was selected with the objective of analysing the problems and prospects of renewable sources of energy for sustainable tourism promotion along the Lukla-Monjo trekking route in the Chaurikharka Village Development Committee (VDC) of the Solukhumbu district. With several sunny days and a lot of water resources, the study area holds immense potentiality for harnessing solar power and hydro-electricity. The whole population living along the Lukla-Monjo trekking trail was the universe of the study. Only 40 out of around 100 tourist standard hotels, resorts and lodges were taken as sample units based on gender composition. The respondents were chosen randomly, while the sampling area was selected purposively. Primary data were collected from field survey, observation and interviews with key respondents, while secondary data were gathered from both published and unpublished materials. Probability sampling on a simple random basis was applied. The study is descriptive as well as exploratory in nature. The use of fuel-wood in the study area has been very high. While looking at the quantity of energy used in a hotel/ lodge, about 30 kilogrammes of fuel-wood was found to be used daily. Similarly, 14.2 kilogrammes of Liqudified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and 5 litres of kerosene was used by a tourist hotel/lodge per day. When the reasons behind of the use of solar PV was analysed, an overwhelming 70% used it due to better lighting quality, while 20% consumed it for monetary saving and the remaining 10% opted it for environmental preservation. In the course of analysing the satisfaction level of the respondents about the use of renewable sources of energy, about 77.5% had good satisfaction level and the remaining 22.5% gained average satisfaction level. Similarly, about 65% of the respondents opted for reduction. When the respondents' views on use of RE and its contribution in forest conservation was evaluated, about 70% replied in a positive light. As asked whether the use of RE could help in the promotion of tourism, about 80% of the respondents opined positively. Economic barrier, technological hurdle, problems related to operation and maintenance, shortage of human resources and institutional weaknesses were found to be the major challenges for maximising the use of renewable sources of energy and promotion of sustainable tourism. A careful long-term planning associated with sustainable tourism development and promotion of renewable sources of energy is required. This alone could help conserve the awe-inspiring natural and cultural endowments of the area. The outcome of this research is expected to be helpful for policy-makers to implement new programmes not only in the study area, but in other similar regions of the country as well.