MOUNTAIN TOURISM

MOUNTAIN TOURISM

The Himalayas are not just a perennial source of water but part of our cultural activities as we worship mountain deities and they are a great tourism product too.

The lofty Himalayas from time immemorial have captivated tourists from all over. Some come to take a glimpse of this majestic snow clad mountain range, some to conquer its challenging heights and some visit to pay obeisance, for they believe it to be the holy abode of Lord Shiva. The perennial snow covering the Himalayas feed the rivers of this region through out the year. Boasting of eight of the world's 14 highest mountain peaks, Nepal is a true Himalayan country.

Mountains are crucial to life. In addition to hosting more biodiversity than any other eco-region on earth, mountains provide most of the world's freshwater and are often called, nature's water towers. More than 3 billion people rely on mountain watersheds for their supplies of fresh water. Mountains are a source of key resources such as minerals, forest products and agricultural products and of recreation. As a major ecosystem representing the complex and interrelated ecology of our planet, mountain environments are essential to the survival of the global ecosystem.

The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal is a breathtaking destination with stunning mountain views, which includes the world's highest peak, the Mount Everest (Everest Region). Nepal is also known for its ancient and glorious culture with various fine exemplifications of Buddhist art and architecture. Besides these, this beautiful Himalayan Kingdom captivates tourists for fantastic adventure sports like - hiking, mountaineering and white water rafting which offers immense opportunities for the adventure lovers. Nepal is a dream destination with its beautiful cities, lush surroundings, abundant flora & fauna, inviting people, all cradled amidst the awesome snow capped peaks, a travel to which will change your life in more ways than you can imagine.

Nepal is famous the world over as the Himalayan Kingdom. Therefore it is important to analyze mountain tourism. The mighty Himalaya Mountains -- separated by some of the deepest gorges -- offer tourists picturesque scenes. Snowcapped mountains, beautiful lakes, endangered wildlife species like the red panda, the snow leopard, and the musk deer, historical sites, and traditional village culture and architecture are major tourist attractions.

Religious places like Mukti Kshetra, Pashupati Kshetra, and Baraha Kshetra are sources of inspiration for people around the world. The most important regions for mountain tourism are Annapurna, Khumbu, Sagarmatha, and Langtang-Helambhu. The mountains, endowed with a rich variety of living things, have provided an excellent source of revenue through eco-tourism.

Realizing the value of tourism, the government first opened its border to foreigners in the 1950s. In the Everest region of Nepal, visitors increased from 20 trekkers in 1964 to over 17,000 in 1996 and 27,000 in 2000. Today, 80 per cent of households derive income from tourism.

Mountains have become a magnet for tourism, which is the most rapidly growing industry in the world. Tourism is vital to the conservation and development of mountain regions. Mountain tourism accounts for 15 - 20% of worldwide tourism, or US$ 70 - 90 billion per year. By the year 2010, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) predicts that there will be one billion international tourists and more than US$1,500 billion generated in revenue. As tourism increases in mountain regions around the world, environmental, social and economic impacts can also be expected to increase. Mountain tourism plays a significant role in national economies, relative to mountain economies' generally small contributions. The impacts of tourism on mountain ecosystems and biological resources are of great concern, however, both at the local and global scales, because of the high degree of biodiversity and environmental sensitivity of mountain areas. Immense altitude changes and associated climatic conditions result in great variations in temperatures, precipitation, soils and vegetation, breeding a rich diversity of ecosystems.

Increasing tourism has had a negative impact in only a few areas. However, the unequal distribution of the benefits of tourism has caused conflicts between the haves and have-nots, creating problems within the whole nation and especially in the mountain regions. Because development occurs only within the valleys, the people of the mountains rely heavily on tourism. The political instability of the past few years had adversely affected this major contribution to the local economy, as well as the national economy.

Cultural identities and diversity in mountain regions are also under threat by the economic, social and environmental forces associated with mountain tourism. The knowledge and skills refined over generations by mountain peoples lose value in the face of the latest developments of sports, infrastructure and the demand for luxurious hotels. A loss of cultural identity leads to an increase of social problems of crime, drugs, and the degradation of community values and religious practices that once held the society together. Due to isolation and limited access, many people living in mountain areas lack sufficient skills and the resources to invest in and benefit from tourism.

To maximize the benefits of tourism to the mountain people, and to safeguard the fragile mountain environment, the government should undertake various activities in a planned way as the situation in the country improves.