Role of Tourism in Livelihood Pattern of the People living in Lete V.D.C., Mustang

Abstract

This study aims to examine theRole ofTourism in Livelihood Pattern of the PeopleLiving in Lete V.D.C., Mustang with the aim of exploring tourism impacts onpeople's economy and Social life. This study has concerned to find out the impact oftourism in local livelihood to assess tourism related activities especially in social andeconomic aspects and the efforts of stakeholders and locals to promote tourism fortheir social and economic sustainability. Annapurna conservation area (ACA) is the largest undertaking of NTNC which is thefirst conservation area as we as largest protected area. The role of ACA is to preservean environment, culture and developing tourism destination for tourism promotion inits catchment area.The objectiveof the study was to find out the role of tourism onthe livelihood pattern of theLete V.D.C. of Annapurna Conservation Area Project,Mustang Nepal.The analysis was based on 143 respondents from tourism and non-tourism entrepreneurs from entire Lete VDC using simple random and purposivesampling. Primary data was collected through the pre-tested structure questionnaire. Findings show that the main source of livelihood according to the level of income,tourism related business was dominant and the secondary was abroad employment.Tourism is seasonal business so the people in this area are engaged in severalactivities for their livelihood where agriculture was dominant and followed by tourismrelated business. The local products found less consumed in thearea among the localcrops/products apples and potatoes were highly consumed. Highpercent of Thakalicasteare employed in tourism related business and local poor are less advantagedfrom tourism. There is high income disparity between tourism related businessholders and non-tourism related business holders. From the Social aspects it is foundthat there is a good social harmony between one communities to another. It is alsocleared that social harmony is playing vital role for the promotion of tourism in thatarea. On the other hand, In order to distribute the economic benefit local productsneed to promote to consume and it would be better to train farmers for commercialfarming.