Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable Tourism

Tourism is one of the main sources of earning foreign currencies for the country's development because travelling to beautiful destinations in leisure time is everyone's hobby. No one in this world doesn't have the desire to go on tour with family and friends for refreshments. One can have several benefits by travelling or going on a tour, such as learning the culture of the places they visit, meeting new people and making friends, developing ideas about the proper system of the visiting destination for their homeland, and many more.

In the context of Nepal, tourism stands out as one of the pillars of the country's economy. After agriculture, it is the main source of income for local people in remote areas. This is because most tourists visit these regions to enjoy the fresh air, organic food, and stunning views of the Himalayan Mountain range, such as Sagarmatha (848.86 m), Makalu (8,485 m), Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m), and many more.

As mentioned above, tourism is the main source of income in Nepal. However, it also has some negative aspects. The influx of a large number of tourists to the country's beautiful places has resulted in unwanted consequences, such as environmental pollution and a negative impact on the local culture. The environment, in particular, has become a significant victim of tourism.

Since most of the world's highest peaks, with eight out of fourteen over 8000 m, are located in Nepal, the country is one of the best destinations for those seeking adventure and wanting to test their fear threshold. People from around the world visit here for adventure purposes, including trekking, mountaineering, rafting, etc., so that they can experience the adrenaline rush.

Image Source: UN Tourism

Unfortunately, during this process, they leave waste along their path, which has recently become a major issue in Nepal. Consequently, the only solution to these issues is sustainable tourism.

Sustainable tourism is the idea of protecting the cultural heritage, communities, and environment of places from the negative impacts that could accompany tourist visits. It aims to maximize the positive aspects of tourism and ensure that travel and tours can be conducted without harming the resources of the visited destination.

Causes Of Negative Impact Of Tourism In Nepal

Both domestic and international tourists, whenever they visit cultural heritage sites in Nepal, such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhu, etc., or go for a trek on a specific trail, often leave waste such as snack packets, plastic bottles, used tissue paper, etc. Not all of them do so intentionally or carelessly; sometimes, it happens unintentionally.

Everest Base Camp (EBC) has become a perfect example of a dumping site in recent times. Empty cylinders, food cans, water bottles, pieces of tents, etc., can be found at the base camp and along the way. Such activities have had a significant impact on the environment, contributing to global warming.

Nowadays, the climate in the Himalayan region has also changed, and even in winter, mountains appear bare. They are supposed to be covered with a thick layer of snow in winter. However, it is not so.

Image Source: Wildlife SOS

The influx of tourists is not the only reason for the negative impact on Nepal and its environment. Local entrepreneurs and hotels are also equally responsible for this.

Several hotels at tourist sites use a significant amount of fuel and energy, including electricity, water, and other natural resources, to run their businesses. For instance, air conditioning, wood, gas, etc. In addition, they generate waste, and the dumping sites are not well-managed, especially along trekking trails.

Awareness Regarding Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is also about having quality tourists in the country rather than quantity. However, since Nepal is the best place for adventurers, we cannot hold back a large number of tourists. We have to welcome all types of tourists who desire to examine their fear threshold. Nevertheless, we can make them aware of sustainable tourism and also encourage local hospitality firms to do the same.

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Image Source: smartvel

The following are a few ways to make both tourists and local hospitality firms aware of sustainable tourism:

  • Use of signboards at the airport, in most parts of the city, on trekking trails, and at base camps with a short message about a clean city and environment.
  • Organize a session regarding waste and a clean environment for tourists before leaving for an expedition.
  • Run a campaign to help local people and hotel owners understand the importance of limiting the use of fuel and energy, such as electricity, wood, gas, etc.
  • Educating the locals and hotel owners about managing waste and the consequences of being careless with nature.
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