A Case Study of Bandipur Village, Tanahu District, Gandaki, Nepal.

Abstract

Tourism can be one of the important industries for the economic growth and human development in the country like Nepal. The diversity of geographical belt has made Nepal useful and attractive for tourist. The uniqueness of physical feature of the country has given a wide range of tourist activities from visiting jungle resorts, camps, to the snow-capped mountains. In Nepal approximately 100,000 persons are employed directly in tourism sector. Bandipur has a wide prospect for the development of tourism, but there is no macro or micro level study related to the tourism. Bandipur has all the necessary infrastructures to develop as a tourist destination. It is a well-accepted fact that Nepal has many tourist attractions like Bandipur. Most of the studies on tourism in Nepal are conducted in macro level, thus the recommendations are of generalized in nature. But we also need some specific type of recommendations in order to upgrade the tourism in our country. This is possible through a micro level study of the problem. Hence, this research is based on micro level with a case study of Bandipur. This will be an attempt to investigate the issues relating to the village tourism promotion at macro level. Thus, this study is proposed to the improvement and problem identification regarding village tourism and its socio-economic impact on local level. 1. To assess the present situation of tourism in Bandipur village. 2. To analyze the impact of tourism in Bandipur village. 3. To examine the challenges of rural tourism in Bandipur village.

This research paper addresses the below mentioned research questions: 1. What are the social, economic and environmental impacts of tourism in Bandipur? 2. Are factors such as lack of trained manpower, transportation, advertisement, information center and ecological problems major challenges of tourism in Bandipur? In this research, the researcher has collected primary and secondary information from different instruments. Household survey conducted in the initial period provided primary quantitative information while data from CBS and other organization provided secondary information. These works were followed by informal interview and key informant interview. This research followed by descriptive cum analytical in nature. This research is based on field study on tourism in Bandipur village, Tanahu district. Thus, the study is able to show that Bandipur has basic infrastructural facilities, which shall be upgraded. It also shows that it has tourism products to attract tourism in future. At present the income generated from tourism is not satisfactory. Neither the distribution of income nor the employments generated from tourism is encouraging. So it is necessary to make active participant of all the local residents in this sector. If majority of local residents work in this sector being aware of tourism industry and its advantages, then they can certainly increase tourist revenue and its equal distribution. It also helps the local people to drive the tourism activities in a sustainable way. The developments of tourism have negative impacts and maximize the positive impacts. Thus, we shall be actualized to increase the level of income of the local.