Antu Danda and Adjoining Areas

This area (1,703km2), lies in eastern part of Nepal,
has an abundant of spectacular natural, cultural and historical sites and also vast repository of
biodiversity due to geographical and climatic diversification (MOPE, 2004). The area has
also spellbinding scenic vista of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Makalu with sunrise and
sunset views. Therefore, concerned authorities should plan to develop the area as an
ecotourism destination that should not to suffer of any negative impacts for long time
(MOPE, 2004).

Some Potential Ecotourism Sites in Nepal

There are so many areas which can be developed as ecotourism destinations but due to lack of
strategic ecotourism policy and scientific research, political instability and feeble economic
and social integration, they are lagging behind. As Ninth Five Year Plan (1997- 2002)
recognized the importance and need of ecotourism, since then ecotourism has been influential
issue in Nepalese tourism industry. After realizing the negative impacts of conventional
tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Nepal Tourism Board also focused on the application
ecotourism in other regions apart from major touristic sites like Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan
National Park, Pokhara and other major trekking routes. In collaboration with various
international organizations especially with ADB, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) conducted
research and feasibility study for the criteria of ecotourism practice in various potential sites
in the country. Some major of them are listed as potential sites which, it can be hoped, will be
developed very soon in the year to come by the government with efficient action plan.
According to report published by NTB and organizations working in ecotourism field, some
major sites have been highlighted as potential ecotourism in the paper bellow:

Some Potential Ecotourism Sites in Nepal

There are so many areas which can be developed as ecotourism destinations but due to lack of
strategic ecotourism policy and scientific research, political instability and feeble economic
and social integration, they are lagging behind. As Ninth Five Year Plan (1997- 2002)
recognized the importance and need of ecotourism, since then ecotourism has been influential
issue in Nepalese tourism industry. After realizing the negative impacts of conventional
tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Nepal Tourism Board also focused on the application
ecotourism in other regions apart from major touristic sites like Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan
National Park, Pokhara and other major trekking routes. In collaboration with various
international organizations especially with ADB, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) conducted
research and feasibility study for the criteria of ecotourism practice in various potential sites
in the country. Some major of them are listed as potential sites which, it can be hoped, will be
developed very soon in the year to come by the government with efficient action plan.
According to report published by NTB and organizations working in ecotourism field, some
major sites have been highlighted as potential ecotourism in the paper bellow:

Some Potential Ecotourism Sites in Nepal

There are so many areas which can be developed as ecotourism destinations but due to lack of
strategic ecotourism policy and scientific research, political instability and feeble economic
and social integration, they are lagging behind. As Ninth Five Year Plan (1997- 2002)
recognized the importance and need of ecotourism, since then ecotourism has been influential
issue in Nepalese tourism industry. After realizing the negative impacts of conventional
tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Nepal Tourism Board also focused on the application
ecotourism in other regions apart from major touristic sites like Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan
National Park, Pokhara and other major trekking routes. In collaboration with various
international organizations especially with ADB, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) conducted
research and feasibility study for the criteria of ecotourism practice in various potential sites
in the country. Some major of them are listed as potential sites which, it can be hoped, will be
developed very soon in the year to come by the government with efficient action plan.
According to report published by NTB and organizations working in ecotourism field, some
major sites have been highlighted as potential ecotourism in the paper bellow:

Other Threats

Tourism is a process through which very remote communities of the
world are linked and exposed to a fast growing global economy. If the economy of the
communities is entirely depending on tourism it is a problem since it is a notoriously volatile
economic activity (Buchsbaum, 2004; Honey, 2009). Ecotourism is much more sensitive than
conventional tourism. In Nepal, all types of tourism is also seasonal, ever fluctuating, and
fund based which can anytime affect the tourism. Tourism of Nepal is massively affected by
internal political instability that causes lack of national political commitment for proper
tourism policy. Nepal also has been facing several political strikes which directly affect
Nepalese tourism. Nepal tourism was also badly dropped during Maoist civil war. And the
bad image still has not been repaired. Tourism is very sensitive industry which affected by
various natural and manmade factors such as security issues, natural disasters, terrorism,
political situations, and economic depression. Thus there are always threats to local
communities which are primarily depending on any kind of tourism.

Marketing and Green Washing

Effective and sufficient marketing is the backbone of
any business and especially in the tourism industry. “The tourism industry has come to view
eco-travel as a marketing tool to attract the growing number of environmentally and socially
conscious travellers (Honey, 1999, quoted in Buchsbaum, 2004).” In recent years many
tourists prefer to support environmentally friendly tourism companies which accept the need
to practise eco-friendly business and attempt to conserve the environment. So Honey also
agrees in these ideas that in recent years, webs of community- based ecotourism projects have
become increasingly important tools for marketing small ecotourism businesses, which are
feasible in every aspect (Honey, 2009). Nepal has potential for many such small scale
ecotourism businesses that can truly help to enhance the overall status of local communities.
Family home-stays, local business, locally- based industry, indigenous products etc., are key
components of ecotourism industry, which can be viable sources of income of local
community. However, there is a lack of a proper marketing strategy to promote such
41
important components of ecotourism development and also they are unable to compete with
intruders from outside markets. Honey also has the similar ideas:
“Although ecotourism strives to empower and benefit local residents and rural communities,
community and rural projects tend to lack the knowledge, business skills, and resources
required to market their products, and thus often required outside support from either
government or intermediaries in order to be success” (Honey, 2009).
In addition, “exploitive ecotourism marketing” and “green washing” are also the major
problems in the Nepalese ecotourism industry. So ecotourism in Nepal is becoming more
capitalistic regardless of the core principles of ecotourism. Many companies involved in it
seem only superficially interested in its genuine practice. The tourists who truly desire to
promote ecotourism are easily misled by half - truths and exaggerations about ecotourism.
Thus in this case, Nepalese local ecotourism projects are always at risk.

Regional and Community Development

According to Honey (2009), “ecotourism
had become a significant economic activity, especially in developing countries, and was
being used as a tool for conservation and community development.” Ecotourism, in case of
Nepal, can be used as a tool for regional and community development which is very essential
for the sustainable development of the country where there has always been problem with
regional variation and discrimination. Proper practice of ecotourism can contribute to fill the
gap between different regions of the country and all people will experience development
equally. And dynamic promotion of ecotourism, rural community development can be easily
facilitated by encouraging local investment, enhancing agriculture and empowering socioeconomy
(MOPE, 2004). For example the impressive economic growth of Pokhara, the
development of Annapurna region and fast developing communities around the trekking and
protected areas are the precise examples of how ecotourism play a vital role for fast
community development. However there is always a risk for rapidly developing communities
on the basis of tourism since tourism is not year-round business – it is very seasonal and
susceptibly volatile in relation with national and international situations and scenarios. There
are many factors that determine sustainable tourism development such as security issues,
natural disasters, terrorism, political situations, and economic depression.