Impact of Tourism on Economic Growth of Nepal: Is Tourism-Led Growth Hypothesis Valid for Nepal?

A voluminous study is available on tourism-growth nexus as tourism industry received considerable attention as a potential source of economic growth. This paper empirically examines the impact of tourism on economic growth of Nepal by using time series data of 1976-2020 and applying autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach. Real GDP was used as proxy measure of economic growth, which was the outcome variable whereas the variable of interest was tourism receipts. Foreign aid, total volume of trade and ratio of government consumption expenditure to GDP were taken as control variables. The result of ARDL model shows that tourism has no significant impact on economic growth of Nepal in both short-run and long-run. However, total volume of trade has positive and significant effect on economic growth in short-run whereas foreign aid, total volume of trade and ratio of government consumption expenditure to GDP have positive and significant effect on economic growth in the long-run. In such context of tourism and growth relationship, tourism-led growth hypothesis is rejected for Nepal.

Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism in Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal

Tourism destinations in the world are facing different challenges like natural disasters, conflicts, terrorism, economic crisis, and pandemic affecting the various aspect of international tourism needs. The coronavirus was emerged in Hubai, China at the end of 2019, remained a life-threatening outbreak and a major public health issue. In Nepal, the first case of COVID-19 was seen on January 23, 2020, and as part of the containment strategy suggested by WHO, the Government of Nepal imposed lockdown from March 24, 2020, made policies and regulations to control the national and international border (land & air). The Government also requested its citizens to maintain social distance and restrict the movement of people that has affected the Nepalese tourism sector severely. Chitwan is one of the most important wildlife-based tourism destinations of Nepal after the establishment of Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Sauraha is the main point to enter and visit Chitwan National Park. The tourism sector in Sauraha is also pretentious due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What is the status of tourism in Sauraha before and during the Pandemic? The objective of this study is to know how has COVID-19 impacted on tourism in Sauraha in particular and Chitwan National Park in general. For the research, researchers have adopted a qualitative research approach. Primary and secondary data were collected and interviewed 30 respondents representing various sectors of tourism and hospitality in Sauraha. Findings reveal that the outbreak of pandemic has brought huge negative impact by a rapid shutdown on the tourism industry in Sauraha and this has resulted in the loss of revenue, increase unemployment, frustration, and poverty among local people as well as gave positive things like health awareness, consensus on business, time for training and maintenance of infrastructures, etc.

Prospect of Pilgrimage Tourism in Namo Buddha Area, Kavre

This paper tries to find out the prospect of pilgrimage tourism at Namo Buddha, Kavre, Nepal. There is found limited academic work on pilgrimage tourism in Nepal; however, no evidence of study could be traced on Namo Buddha that is based on pilgrimage tourism perspective. A pilgrimage is an ancient form of religious travel where people make a journey to the place of their belief for experiencing spirituality. Namo Buddha is one of the sacred Buddhist shrines and important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists as they believe the relics of the previous life of Lord Buddha are kept at Namo Buddha Stūpa. Namo Buddha stūpa is also considered to be one of the holiest stūpas in Nepal including Svayambhu Stūpa (Svayambhu Mahachaitya) and the Bodhnath Stūpa (Khasti Mahachaitya). This stūpa commemorates the Buddha Śakyamuni’s sacrifice of his body to a starving tigress and her cubs in his previous life. Nepali people call this site Namo Buddha, Newars call Namo Buddha as Namura and Tibetans call it as Takmo Lu Jin. The place has a huge potential to attract both Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims including international tourists from all over the world. This place offers other attractions and activities besides pilgrimage-based elements such as sightseeing of heritage town; spectacular Himalayan ranges; paddy field terrains; hilly forests; soft adventures experience; and so on. Religious tourism and pilgrimage tourism are interchangeably used in this study and the paper is based on both the primary and secondary data. Exploratory research has been carried out to examine the religious and economic benefits of pilgrims at this site. It also tried to investigate locals’ perspectives on pilgrimage tourism development. Meanwhile, this paper not only studied prospects of pilgrimage tourism in Namo Buddha but also attempted to find out and highlight how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the destination.

Transformations of Women in Tourism Work: A Case Study of Emancipation in Rural Nepal

A key challenge still exists for emancipation of women in the tourism industry in Nepal. The research addresses how females in Nepal transform themselves through engagement with trekking in remote areas. The authors investigated a female only tourism enterprise to determine how women can encounter avenues to reliable income support. Interviewees were members of Empowering Women Nepal (EWN), a Nepali Non-Government Organisation (NGO), and their interviews were used as a case study regarding women’s training. Open ended questions focused on the background of women who are likely to engage with tourism, barriers preventing engagement in tourism, the positive and negative side to tourism, avenues of support, and specific outcomes to date. The research found that rural and remote Nepali women are being emancipated via engagement with tourism.

Domestic Tourism in COVID-19 Era: Travel Choice in Himalayas Correlates to Geographic Origin and Age

COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent has created recession in the tourism industry on the global scale impacting the livelihood of the millions of people worldwide. Speedy recovery of the tourism industry is essential to ensure the development progress do not retard drastically due to this pandemic. As the world is severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and international tourism will take quite a bit longer time to recover, domestic tourism could be a way forward for the recuperation of the industry. Therefore, this article aims to understand the potential of domestic tourism to keep the momentum of tourism development, after the pandemic situation gets over. Data on general characteristics of the respondents and their attitude towards travel after restrictions are over were collected using online survey. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to understand the relationship between travel decisions and respondents’ attributes. The travel decision was found significantly related to the age and geographic origin of the respondents indicating those who are less susceptible to infection are willing to travel sooner than other. Study indicates the expansion of tourism demand in relatively less popular destinations and diversified tourism products which might pose both the challenges and opportunities for tourism industry in post-COVID-19 situation. The findings of our study are expected to help in planning the post-pandemic recovery of the tourism industry in the country.

Tourism Entrepreneurial Prospects in Bardiya, Nepal: Challenges and Way-forwards

In the present context of Nepal, tourism is a new cultural expression and performance of national formation. Nepal is ready to deliberately utilize in a modern world as a means of creating a sense of identity and solidarity. The country has developed policies that directly influence and continue to shape tourism activities in Nepal. Despite plethora of literature available in Nepalese tourism sector still less has been paid attention on tourism entrepreneurial prospects and not much talked about regional and sectorial tourism prospects including Bardiya District, which is potential destination for national and international tourist for many causes. Thus, this study aims to identify tourism entrepreneurial prospects along with its challenges and potential recommendation for tourism entrepreneurial development in Bardiya District. This study is based on explanatory research design where local residents residing in Thakurbaba Municipality have been interviewed using structured questionnaire. Primary data were collected with 290 respondents selected using convenience sampling methods. Result indicates that 40% of the local people want to participate on tourism activities and want to get involved in accommodation services (31%), travel guide (26%), service foods (22%), transportation sector (18%), and other services (3%). It also finds that the major challenges in development of tourism entrepreneurship in Bardiya is lack of efficient management of transportation within the municipality and security of tourists. Hence, more investment on infrastructure will help to promote tourism entrepreneurial prospects in Bardiya.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism: A Case Study of Lumbini, Nepal

This research aims to discover and present the impacts of COVID-19 in tourism in the context of Lumbini and its premises. As COVID-19 spread globally, it has created many challenges in health and security, daily lives, the national economy, and the global tourism industry. The COVID-19 outbreak has been considered as the most challenging tragedy that occurred in the world after the 2nd world war. The World Health Organization (WHO) had listed Nepal also as a country with a high-risk zone of COVID-19.The travel restriction and nationwide lock-down implemented by many countries including Nepal have resulted in a stranded traveler’s movement. As the consequences ticket reservation, flight services, transportation, hotel, and restaurants were closed and several job losses were registered in the tourism sector. The negative effects like fear, threat, frustration, and losing the confidence of tourism entrepreneurs appeared. This has brought changes in the tourists’ behavior and their motivation to travel for the next few years. In Lumbini businesses like lodges, hotels, restaurants, and travel offices were also severely affected by the pandemic. Thus, the tourism sector has been facing serious threats due to the prolonged lockdown and closing of tourism activities than the terror of COVID-19 itself.

Conveying Impetus for Fostering Tourism and Hospitality Entrepreneurship in Touristic Destination: Lessons Learnt from Pokhara, Nepal

This research explores the inter connectedness in entrepreneurs’ and tourists’ perception about western influence in business culture of touristic city – Pokhara, Nepal and provides suggestions for fostering sustainable tourism development of the destination. Primary data results are drawn in which researchers have collected 249 data from tourists’ viewpoint, 395 from determining provincial government roles and 395 from hospitality entrepreneurship along with key informants interview with experts’ viewpoints for generating practical solutions of the existing problems in order to enhance hospitality and tourism business for progress and sustainability. Based on this triangular data results and secondary resources’ analysis, this research concludes that, for the sustainable tourism business in Pokhara, the entrepreneurs in the area should recognize, preserve, promote and sustain local socio-cultural practices; tourists’ viewpoints should be addressed and Gandaki provincial government roles must be constructive.

Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism in Nepal

Tourism is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries. It acts as an engine for development through foreign exchange earnings and the creation of direct and indirect employment. Tourism plays a vital role to uplift the living status of people in specific areas worldwide. Tourism has potential for creating jobs and encourages income-generating activities and it also leads to infrastructure development. In Nepal, tourism has uplifted the socio-economical condition of the locals and given them ample opportunity to better their lives. It has created path towards the elimination of poverty and has significantly contributed to overall development of the nation. It is also one of the major sources of foreign exchange earning of the country. However, due to the impact of COVID-19, tourism has suffered unprecedented setback and its effect can be seen on global economy. It has rendered millions of people unemployed and huge investments have frozen and unable to generate business and move the economy. This study will analyze and study the challenges faced by tourism industry post COVID-19 in Nepal and try to provide answers for the recovery of tourism in Nepal. This study follows the qualitative methodology and the data is obtained through primary and secondary sources. As we move into the new era of travelling, tourism industry needs to adopt and focus on safety, personal hygiene and social distancing. Nepal is capable to adapt to the “new normal” and bounce back as it did post 2015 earthquake. But Nepal’s poor infrastructure, lack of implementation of rules and people’s laidback attitude could prove to be a hurdle and deter tourists and usher them to a more organized destination.

COVID-19 Global Pandemic Lockdown Impact on Visit Nepal Year 2020: A Review

Tourism sector, a major backbone in revenue generation in Nepal having an immense potentiality is hardly hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has suspended Visit Nepal Year 2020, with a theme, an experience of a life-time. This remarkable campaign is also a national development strategy in the tourism history of Nepal which aimed at attracting around 2 million foreigners from all over the world. This article is designed to explore about COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown impacts on tourism industries and Visit Nepal year 2020 Campaign. For these, secondary literature available in Google Scholar, Research Gate and, recently published newspapers were accessed. The result shows that the unprecedented and uncertain lockdown stuck millions of people in their home, lower the economic activities of different sectors of the tourism industry including hotels, homestays, travel and tours, impact on remittance, a collapse of small industries and suspension of mega projects and many more. In addition to this, this paper aims at showcasing a strong correlation between lockdown and tourism industry with perspective from Nepal Tourism Board, Academic practitioner, Tourism Entrepreneurs, Nepal government, ministries, Economist and Analyst to revise the protocols and safety standard of the tourism industry to massively flourish and revive amidst the pandemic and even in the post-pandemic environment.