Concept of Sustainable International Tourism Industry-Free-Samples

Introduction

The tourism industry has emerged as one of the most industries of the world in the present times and it is a reflection of this particular fact that the majority of the nations of the world in the present times are focusing on this particular industry for the revival of their economy (Hall, Timothy and Duval 2012). According to an estimate the tourism industry is a trillion dollar industry and this particular industry entails with itself the growth of the other industries related to the particular nation as well (Hall, Timothy and Duval 2012). This paper will discuss about the tourism industry of the nation of Nepal and will also discuss the main factors which are affecting the tourism industry of this particular nation in the present day context. The nation of Nepal is located in the mountain valley of the Himalayan Mountain range and has been a place of attraction to the people since the ancient times (Nepal 2018). This paper will discuss about the tourist destination of “Annapurna base camp” in the nation of Nepal which forms a major attraction to the tourists from the different parts of the world. This paper will discuss about the factors which has made the destination one of the most popular ones in the nation of Nepal, the issues which the location is facing in the current times, the positive as well as the negative impacts of the development of the tourism industry in this particular location and the ways by means of which sustainable tourism outcomes could be achieved for this particular location.

Tourist visitation and “Annapurna base camp”

The tourism industry is one of the major ones of the nation of Nepal and contributes in a significant manner towards the economy of the nation (Nyaupane, Morais and Dowler 2006). According to a statistics provided by the “Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the “Annapurna Base Camp” and the nation of Nepal in particular received around 598,204 visitors for the year 2012 from the d

The major attractions of the “Annapurna Base camp”

In the opinion of many people the picturesque location of the place has contributed significantly towards the growth of the tourism industry in this particular location (Cook, Hsu and Marqua 2014). The tourist destination under consideration here is located in the lap of the Himalayan mountain range and covers an area of approximately about “7629 sq. km” (Nepal 2018). The number of residents in this particular area is also very less approximately about 100000 belonging to different cultural as well as linguistic orientations (Nepal 2018). Furthermore, the area is very rich in terms of the natural flora as well as fauna, for example the region boosts of approximately around “1226 species of flowering plants, 102 mammals, 474 birds, 39 reptiles and 22 amphibians” (Nepal 2018). Moreover, the development of various kinds of sports as well as adventurous activities in this particular region has also contributed in a significant manner towards the overall growth of this particular tourist destination (Cook, Hsu and Marqua 2014). The popularity which this particular tourist destination has attained in the recent times can be traced back to the recent change in the psychology of the people who like to indulge in various kinds of tourism as well as travel activities (Cook, Hsu and Marqua 2014). For example, in the present times it is seen that the various tourists like to get away from their busy as well as hectic daily schedules and go to some peaceful destination for a few days for recreational purposes (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). It is significant to note that in this particular context this tourist destination can be seen as an ideal location for the tourists who like to get away from the squabbles of the city life (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). Furthermore, in the present times among the city dwellers it is commonly seen that they tend to explore the hitherto unexplored side of nature and in this particular context as well this particular location serves as an idea location to these kinds of people (Cook, Hsu and Marqua 2014).

Issues related to “Annapurna Base Camp”

It is true that the tourism industry of this particular tourist destination and of the entire nation in general has contributed in a significant manner towards the economic growth of the nation of Nepal (Musa, Hall and Higham 2004). However, it is significant to note that this particular tourism destination and the entire tourism industry of the nation in general have been facing some issues in the recent times (Musa, Hall and Higham 2004). The nation of Nepal is a developing one and as such the transportation system as well other important factors which help in the development of the tourism system are still in rudimentary state in this particular nation (Musa, Hall and Higham 2004). Most of the tourists who visit the nation of Nepal had to take the help of the aerial means of transport in a bid to reach the nation (Musa, Hall and Higham 2004). The lack of development of the transport system of the nation can be seen as a reflection of the fact that the nation is a mountainous one and therefore it is very hard to develop roads and railways in the nation (Chaplin and Brabyn 2013). In the opinion of Chaplin and Brabyn (2013) the development of the tourism industry at the “Annapurna Base Camp” has significantly impacted the ecology as well as the forest system of this particular location. In the opinion of these authors the use of the “remote sensing and GIS technology which provides a Landsat imaging” at this particular location has adversely affected the ecology of this particular area (Chaplin and Brabyn 2013). It is significant to note that some of the forests of this particular area were cleared way to make room for the construction of the various hotels as well as lodging houses which form an important part of the tourism industry (Anup and Parajuli 2014). According to a statistics of the year 2013 around 8% of the forest belonging to this particular area have been cleared away in order to make room for the various hotels as well as the lodging facilities which form an important part of the tourism industry (Anup and Parajuli 2014). Furthermore, the health risks as well as the hazards which the various tourists face at this particular location are considerable (Nyaupane, Morais and Dowler 2006). According to a research conducted by the authors Musa, Hall and Higham (2004), around 89.4% of the tourists from the various parts of the world who visit this particular location on an annual basis had to face one kind of health hazard or the other. It is significant to note that the researchers took the help of around “755 questionnaires to collect the data during different seasons in the area” to arrive at the results. The nation of Nepal on the score of belonging to the genre of the developing countries of the world had inadequate sewage system, medical facilities and even the hygiene level of the nation is not on par with the other leading nations of the world (Nyaupane, Morais and Dowler 2006). Furthermore, the various natural calamities as well as natural disasters which the nation faces frequently like the massive earthquake which the nation faced in the year 2015 and others also forms an area of concern for the tourism industry of this particular nation (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). These in short are some of the major issues which the tourism industry of the nation and the “Annapurna Base Camp” in particular is facing at the current moment.

Negative and positive impacts of tourism

In the opinion of many people it is true that the tourism industry provides many benefits to the nation concerned however there are many negative aspects of the process of tourism industry as well particularly the ones which it has on the native people or the host community of that particular location (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). The same thing can be said in the particular context of the tourism industry of the nation of Nepal as well. As per an article by the authors Anup and Parajuli (2014) the development of the tourism industry at the “Annapurna Base Camp” has significantly impacted the livelihood of the native people in that particular region not only in terms of the economic factor but other factors as well. The authors after interviewing 76 different households of this particular location came to the conclusion that the development of the tourism industry at this particular location has impacted the social-economic status quo of the region in a positive manner (Anup and Parajuli 2014). The insistence of the governmental authorities on the development of the tourism industry at this particular location has significantly enhanced the level of educational as well as financial opportunities which the native people in the present times have in comparison to the ones which they used to have in the earlier times (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). Another important aspect of the development of the tourism industry at this particular location is that the native people in this particular location are getting access to better quality electricity and other facilities on the score of the development of the tourism industry (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). It is significant to note that the nation of Nepal for a very long time had depended on the various kinds of fossil fuels and other traditional means for the generation of electricity and other related aspects (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). However, the development of the tourism industry has made it imperative for the government of the nation to provide facilities to these areas as the tourists from the different parts of the nations also use the same means and if they do not find the resources satisfactory then many of them prefer to return to the same location again (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). Therefore, it can be said that on the score of the tourism industry the native communities are getting the access to better facilities.

The tourism industry at the nation of Nepal of more precisely the development of the tourism industry at the “Annapurna Base Camp” has impacted the native communities of the place in a significant manner (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). The primary negative impact as already mentioned is the impact which it had on the forest or the ecology of the place. In the present times it is seen that the forests are being cleared for the construction of the hotels and other important entities of the tourism industry (Han and Hyun 2015). In addition to this, the consumption rate of the fossil fuels of the nation has also increased in a significant manner on the score of the various kinds of tourism activities and this also acts a significant cause of concern for the nation (Fang, Ye and Law 2016).

Policy implications

In the year 1993 the “World Tourism Organization (WTO)”gave several guidelines for the development of the sustainable tourism practises at the various tourist locations of the world (Musa, Hall and Higham 2004). The nation of Nepal in general and the “Annapurna Base Camp” in particular can take the help of these precepts for the development of sustainable tourism at this particular location. Firstly, the nation can enhance the quality of the services which it provides to the tourists from the various parts of the world who visit the “Annapurna Base Camp” (Musa, Hall and Higham 2004). This particular policy will enhance the satisfaction level of the tourists and will increase the chances of their coming back to this particular location (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). Secondly, the elongation or the extension of the tourist season is also likely to help the location in a significant manner (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). Thirdly, the incorporation of the various cultural activities as well as events within the tourism season is also likely to entertain the tourists in a significant manner (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). Fourthly, effective management of the tourism industry and the adequate interventions as well as the support of the government is likely to impact the tourism industry in a significant manner (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013).

Conclusion

To conclude, the tourism industry has emerged as one of the most important ones in the present times and many nations take the help of this particular industry to stabilise their dwindling economies. However, there are many positive as well as negative aspects of the process of the development of the tourism industry at a particular location but the positive aspects of the process of the development of the tourism industry at a particular location far outweigh the negative impacts involved in the process. There are certain factors which the various nations need to take into consideration for the development of the tourism industry at a particular industry like the focus on the concept of sustainable tourism industry, the insistence on the high quality services and others.

References

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