20th Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference

Cairns, Australia 15-17 October 2012

Wondering the Nepal Himalayas

Hum Gurung, PhD

Former CEO, BCN

Chief Executive Officer

Himalayan Sustainable Future Foundation

Agenda

• Tourism in the Nepal Himalayas

• New Ecotourism Destinations

• Tourism for Development

• The Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism in the Himalayas

• Opportunities and Challenges

The Asia Region

•The largest continent with 60% of the earth's population. •Covers 29.9% of the land area of the earth •There are approx 4 billion people who live in Asia •There are 48 countries in Asia

Nepal in Asia

Why the Nepal Himalayas is a

unique tourist destination?

• Unique landscape and natural beauty.

• Plain Terai Tropical Environment to High Himalayas pristine wilderness.

• Bisects Eastern and Western Himalayas- rich biodiversity

• Cultural diversity- over 100 ethnic groups.

Tourism Scenario in 2011

Total Visitors

602, 867 (2010) 736,215

Average Length of Stay

12.67 days (2010) 13.12 days

Revenue from Tourism

Total earning: (US $ ‘000)

329,982 (2010)

368,773

Average Income per visitor

US $ 43.2 per day (2010)

US $ 38.2 per day

(Source: MOCTCA, 2012)

Who wonders the Nepal Himalayas?

Tourist Arrivals by top 10

Nationalities 1. India 2. China 3. Sri Lanka 4. USA 5. UK 6. Germany 7. France 8. Japan 9. Australia 10. Netherlands

(Source: MOCTCA, 2012)

Who wonders the Nepal

Himalayas?

Tourist Arrivals by Age Groups (Source: MOCTCA, 2012)

32,975 5%

171,081 23%

212,197 29%

177,983 24%

82,726 11%

59,485 8%

0-15 years

16-30 years

31-45 years

46-60 years

61 and over

Not specified

Protected Areas and Ecotourism

Local Development Vs Ecotourism

• Seasonal local roads-

more landslides

during monsoon

season

• Quality tourism

experience?

• More Visitors

Local Development Vs Ecotourism

More Tourism Opportunities

Trekking Trekking & Birding

More Tourism Opportunities

Vulture Conservation

Vulture Restaurants

More Tourism Opportunities

Exploration of New Tourist Destinations:

The Great Himalaya Trail

The Great Himalaya Trail

• Nepal’s Lower GHT – also called the cultural route – goes mostly through the country’s mid hills with an average altitude of 2000m.

• Trekking along the Lower GHT means walking through beautiful lush forests, pastures, green rice terraces and fertile agricultural land, providing the basis for Nepal’s rich culture and civilization.

The Great Himalaya Trail

• Nepal’s Upper GHT - makes for an unforgettable adventure.

• The trail stretches over a distance of about 1,700 km and passes through spectacular, high altitude mountain landscapes.

• Trekking along the Upper Trail requires to cross high passes with altitudes up to 6,200 m and the whole trek takes about 150 days on average.

The Guerrilla Trek

Divided into three sections in western Nepal over rugged

mountains, caves, villages, rivers and paddy fields along

the route where thousands of Maoist guerrillas once dug

trenches and ambushed the army.

The Guerrilla Trek

“As war tourism has been promoted worldwide for

economic benefit, Nepal's Guerrilla Trek also holds the

potential to grab the world's attention”.

P. K. Dahal “Prachanda”, Former Prime Minister, in BBC Asia

Tourism for Development

• Nature-based/Eco tourism is an important ecosystem service

• The country’s rich biodiversity and spectacular landscapes, protected areas are major destinations for adventure and wildlife tourism, trekking and water-based recreation.

• The economic benefits from tourism and recreation are crucial for many local communities, as well as an important source of foreign currency for the Government.

Tourism for Development SANGAM PRASAIN 30 January 2012

Millennium Development Goals

From 2000 to 2015 1.Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty 2.Universal primary education 3.Promote gender equality and promote women 4.Reduce child mortality 5.Improve maternal health 6.Combat disease (HIV/Aids; malaria...) 7.Ensure environmental sustainability 8.Develop a global partnerships for development

Tourism and MDGs

For Nepal tourism generated 5 % of foreign exchange (1.8 % GDP) earnings in 2010/11 <736,215 visitors in 2011>. Source: Ministry of Culture,

Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2012).

Home stay for Development

Guests Home stay Communities/

Families

Family Environment

Income

Local food

The Impacts of Climate Change

on Adventure Tourism

The lives of all Himalayans are affected as their farms are decimated and crops are lost. Climate change is altering the face of the Himalayas, devastating farming communities and making Mount Everest increasingly treacherous to climb. (Source: Discovery News, 27 February 2012)

The Impacts of Climate Change

on Birds

Point locality bird records in the Eastern Himalaya

In total, 39,153 point locality records were collected of the 299 project species that occur in the Eastern Himalaya

Projected impact of climate change

on Important Bird Areas in 2025

This preliminary analysis projects that the IBA networks in the Eastern Himalaya region will experience a large turnover of their priority species due to climate change

0-20

21-40

41-60

61-80

81-100

Species Turnover (%)

Projected impact of climate change

on Important Bird Areas in 2055

This preliminary analysis projects that the IBA networks in the Eastern Himalaya region will experience a large turnover of their priority species due to climate change

0-20

21-40

41-60

61-80

81-100

Species Turnover (%)

Projected impact of climate change

on Important Bird Areas in 2085

This preliminary analysis projects that the IBA networks in the Eastern Himalaya region will experience a large turnover of their priority species due to climate change

0-20

21-40

41-60

61-80

81-100

Species Turnover (%)

Impacts of Climate Change on

Birdwatching Tourism

Nepal: A Paradise for Birdwatching By Hum Gurung Nepal is of great value for birds mainly because of its wide variety of forest and wetland habitats. It is therefore a fascinating country for most birdwatchers. For its size, Nepal is remarkably rich in birdlife, with 871 species recorded to date (nearly 9 per cent of the world’s total). Among them is the Spiny Babbler, a species endemic to Nepal. Bird watching in Nepal can be a very rewarding experience, since our colourful variety of birds live within one of the most scenic regions on earth.

Opportunities and Challenges

• Nepal has tremendous opportunities for high quality tourism experience.

• Poor linkages of the Tourism System hamper the development of tourism in the Himalayas.

• Climate change will impact on tourism in various ways.

Opportunities and Challenges

Innovation in Ecotourism

Ad hoc Development

Innovation in Ecotourism: Think Globally Act Locally

• Sustainability… if there is no conservation today, there will be no ecotourism tomorrow.

• First Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre in Nepal.

School of Sustainable Living

School of Sustainable Living 1+1= 11 (Synergy)

School of Sustainable Living hum.gurung@hsff.org

The Way Forward for Himalayan

Ecotourism • Conservation tourism is a

must in development agenda.

• Community engagement is a prerequisite for destination area management.

• Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is key to sustainability of tourism industry.

• Tourism should support community development

Happy Ecotourism!