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Community Based Tourism: Regional Experience and Our Destination-Subash Nirola

Sunday - 02nd January 2005

A new concept about rural tourism (or community based tourism) has surged worldwide in the field of tourism at present. This concept has brought change in the traditional concepts and views on tourism apart from adding new dimension in the sustainable development of tourism. It has been realized that community based tourism can play a vital role in the reduction of poverty in countries like Nepal that are unable to utilize their tourist heritage for economic reasons despite of ample possibilities. These countries have different patterns of rural tourism or community based tourism.

This concept has been gaining concrete shape in Nepal for the last few years resulting in positive realization. The government has emphasized on rural tourism in order to achieve the goals of alleviating poverty in its tenth five-year plan. Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP), which has been in operation for the last three years in assistance with different donor agencies, can be taken as an illustration.

This concept has been implemented in some of our neighboring countries too. A high-level delegation, with the support from TRPAP, led by Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Dr. Bhoj Raj Ghimire made an observation study tour of different urban and rural settlements in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand from 11-22 December, 2004 with the view to study community based tourism activities in the countries. The team comprised the Member Secretary of National Planning Commission Lava Kumar Devacota, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Shanker Prasad Koirala, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Hari Regmi, National Programme Manager of TRPAP Rabi Jung Pandey and this scribe.

It is observed that Vietnam has exercised the concept of rural tourism in well-managed and balanced way vis-?-vis its regional diversities. Initiated by the government of Vietnam, the community based tourism program has been assisted by SNV-Vietnam, and the participation of private sectors is gradually increasing. The rural tourism has been run in Mai Chau village for the last ten years, which has been a model for home-stay. Local tour operators offer a package of one-night stay in the village to majority of tourists going to capital Hanoi. The local people have made good profit by selling handicraft products.

Nearly all the infrastructures needed to tourists have been constructed in the village. There is good management of drinking water, sanitation, lodging, toilets, local and foreign foods, transport etc. Home-stay program has been run in 40 houses having a capacity to serve 20 tourists each at a time.

Engulfed by the civil war for a long time, Cambodia is slowly accelerating towards tourism. Mainly, capital Phnom Penh and Seim-Rip are famous for tourism. About 1.5 million tourists annually visit Seim-Rip, which lies nearby the west-north border of Thailand. Angkorwat temple is famous for its religious and archaeological importance. The temple, which has been enlisted in the world heritage inventory, is one of the holy shrines for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. Incidents mentioned in the Mahabharata, the Hindu Scripture, have been inscribed artistically in stones at the temple.

Nepali delegation had a talk with the minister for tourism and high-level officials of Cambodia on initiating direct Kathmandu- Seim Rip flights, which is expected to open avenues for bringing tourists visiting Cambodia to Nepal.

'Floating Village' in Seim Rip is no less attractive to the tourists. Tourists are interested to visit the village, which has 300 households, by floating on boats. The village can be reached in 3/4 hours by roadways whereas it takes about half an hour to fly from the capital.

Thailand is the country that has earned a name and fame in the world tourism market. However, the concept of community- based tourism has started to take concrete shape quite lately. Rural tourism programs have been launched at the peripheral villages to Chiang Mai, the second largest city of Thailand. These rural domiciles are famous for the production of paper-made handicrafts. Thousands of tourists throng 'Macro-Elephant Camp' in the city, where elephants paint portraits and perform different shows.

Thailand has initiated 'One Village - One Product' campaign throughout the country. The move stresses on the specialization and promotion of local products. This has not only promoted employment in local areas by specializing the tourist products, but also extended its access to international markets. It's believed that this attempt directly contributes in rural poverty alleviation. It is realized that Nepal too should emphasize on the tourist products specific to certain places. Special attention has not been paid on the production of handicrafts and other materials typical to certain villages in Nepal though the community-based tourism has been developed for the last few years. Production of such materials promotes skill and capabilities of the local people on one hand, and helps extend international market for Nepalese products on the other. This needs appropriate policies and facilitating managements.

Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand have forwarded the concept of 'Greater Mekong Valley' these days. The countries have started to take tourism as a major means to poverty alleviation and economic development.

The interactions and other feedback among the delegation members and concerned people and officials in the countries in course of our observation tour have provided opportunity to share views and learn from each other. The visit can be an important guide while formulating policies and practical strategies in Nepal.


Source NTB