Nepal, 28th May 2024 – Have you heard of Nepal? It doesn’t matter if the answer is “Yes” or “No” because you have definitely heard of the majestic Everest. Nepal is a beautiful nation that is home to Everest as well as other great mountains. This Himalaya range makes it one of the world’s most beautiful trekking and tourism destinations. Nepal’s old and traditional villages, living right before these majestic mountains, are very interesting.
The traditional village of Nepal, which has long lived in remoteness and poverty, is dazzling in the new source of economy. Although this source has not reached all villages of Nepal, some of them are experiencing a great uplift in the living standard and economy with the influx of tourism in Nepal, so the question is, is this change here to stay?
Before that, let’s see some facts.
The overall tourism industry contributes more than 6.7 percent of Nepal’s GDP. Earning almost US$33 billion from tourism alone is not easy. Research claims that the tourism sector alone generates 6.7 percent of total employment. This means that a lot of people in this tiny, landlocked South Asian nation depend on tourism.
Change in Employment
The pre-request for the change in the economy is the availability of employment, and the influx of tourism has opened many gates of employment for local people. The hotels are owned by the locals of the same village (the government ensures that), and many villagers work inside these hotels/ tea houses as waiters, chefs, and other service providers. Other jobs, such as tourist guides, porters, mule providers, and some other employment, have also opened. For instance, all the people of Langtang Valley, Nepal, are now engaged in tourism.
Change in Infrastructure
With the increase in employment opportunities, more villages are living within the villagers. As a result of an increase in population and local activities, new infrastructure is being built for these villagers. It’s unbelievable that there are villages in Nepal where you need to walk for 4/5 days, with no other mode of transportation available. A lot of these situations are changing when the interest in tourism is also causing the development of infrastructure in this region.
Change in Education
Education in Langtang Valley has seen significant changes due to the growing influence of tourism. Thanks to the increased income from tourism, schools have been built or renovated, and educational programs have improved. Many children now have access to better learning facilities and previously unavailable opportunities. This shift in the local economy has also led to more job opportunities in tourism-related sectors, further supporting the community’s development. So, tourism at its Peak has brought about a positive transformation in the educational area of Langtang Valley.
Change in Food habit
People in the Himalayas of Nepal’s food was quite limited to locally grown cereals like Buckwheat and staples like potatoes. But with more tourists visiting the area, the import of food products has also increased. They now know a balanced diet and have access to such quality food. Most of these foods come to feed tourists, but the locals also eat them. Fruits, Rice, wheat, cheese, meat, drinks, and other foods are now available in these tourist spots of Langtang Valley.
Change in Income
We have already mentioned that tourism affects the Langtang area a lot. The good thing is that tourism has positively affected the income of the people of Langtang village. Before the modernization of tourism in the area, the people’s only source of income was raising cattle and growing barley, paddy, and vegetables. But this has changed. Now, the people are engaged in tourism activities; they run several teahouses and lodges along the Langtang Valley Trek. People have started working as a guide and porter, which has helped to maintain financial stability.
How do we maintain the positive changes without hampering them?
In order to continue the positive changes that have been initiated in Langtang Valley regarding education, livelihoods, habits and income, an integrated approach is needed. Promoting sustainable tourism practices will assist in conserving the environment, thus supporting the tourism sector on which many people depend on. Sustainable tourism supports the conservation of inadequate natural assets and entertains tourists while generating consistent profitability for the citizens. Moreover, investing in infrastructure improvements, including roads, waste disposal, and the Internet, positively impacts the tourists and those in the community, improving the quality of life and access to services offered.
However, the community must be involved in sustaining these changes since they are essential in our daily lives. The involvement of the residents in the development initiatives ensures that they get the desired developments to meet their needs and embrace their cultural values. Training and employment opportunities in tourism and other fields enhance the community’s sources of income, thus making it less vulnerable. Local and international NGOs and government bodies can provide support, funding, and advice to education, health, community development programs, etc.
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Organization: Shobita Neupane
Contact Person: Himalayan Masters
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Address: Bhaktapur,Nepal
Country: Nepal
Release Id: 28052412617