Presentation
Eco – Tourism: Steps Towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Nepal 2004
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Eco – Tourism: Steps Towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Nepal
Eco-tourism is a logical component of eco-development. It is a complex and multidisciplinary phenomenon and has a tremendous role to play in the interpretation of nature and natural resources, as well as in the understanding of human history and its interaction with the rural environment, and the diffusion of environmental knowledge and awareness. It can serve as an important tool for environmental education and for raising ecological awareness, both in tourists and local people, and government officials: Eco-tourism has been defined by the World Conservation Union as environmentally responsible travel and visits to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features – both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations. Eco-tourism respects the environment and encourages and promotes the well being of local people. Nature tourism may or may not do this. Eco-tourism is also not to be confused with adventure sports or even snow skiing, amusement parks etc., which in fact might have a negative impact on the environment. Ecotourists likes to go around in a ‘ low impact way ’. Adventure tourists are not necessarily eco-tourists. However, eco-tourism certainly needs a spirit of an adventure, especially when negotiating bad roads. The World Heritage Convention of UNESCO has declared world heritage sites to preserve and protect our natural and cultural heritage. When both nature and culture are present together, it is an attractive combination, which we call it as Eco-tourism. Eco-tourism development is visualized as a development tool – not just in promoting tourism growth but also in reducing poverty particularly in the rural areas. In Nepal, though
1
Eco – Tourism: Steps Towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Nepal
Eco-tourism is a logical component of eco-development. It is a complex and multidisciplinary phenomenon and has a tremendous role to play in the interpretation of nature and natural resources, as well as in the understanding of human history and its interaction with the rural environment, and the diffusion of environmental knowledge and awareness. It can serve as an important tool for environmental education and for raising ecological awareness, both in tourists and local people, and government officials: Eco-tourism has been defined by the World Conservation Union as environmentally responsible travel and visits to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features – both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations. Eco-tourism respects the environment and encourages and promotes the well being of local people. Nature tourism may or may not do this. Eco-tourism is also not to be confused with adventure sports or even snow skiing, amusement parks etc., which in fact might have a negative impact on the environment. Ecotourists likes to go around in a ‘ low impact way ’. Adventure tourists are not necessarily eco-tourists. However, eco-tourism certainly needs a spirit of an adventure, especially when negotiating bad roads. The World Heritage Convention of UNESCO has declared world heritage sites to preserve and protect our natural and cultural heritage. When both nature and culture are present together, it is an attractive combination, which we call it as Eco-tourism. Eco-tourism development is visualized as a development tool – not just in promoting tourism growth but also in reducing poverty particularly in the rural areas. In Nepal, though
References: The International Eco-tourism Society (TIES) Research Papers. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Paper Report of Forum for Sustainable Develoment (FSD) Nepal Tourism Board - Information Manag ement & Planning Section HMG - Ministry of Population and Environment (MOPE) 64