Agro-tourism: Prospects, importance, destinations and challenges in Nepal

Abstract

Nepal, being an agrarian country and having diverse geography, has tremendous potential for both agricultural and tourism development. In addition, the synergistic effect on national income would have resulted if both agriculture and tourism is practiced in an integrated approach. Keeping this point in view, a study was undertaken to realize agro-biological aspects of Tourism, prospects, importance, destinations, challenges, and suggestion for the improvement in the present chaos of agro-tourism in Nepal. Pieces of Literature were collected from different Journal articles, Government institutes and other relevant reports were studied and the major findings were summarized. Nepal has innumerous tourists destination hubs like majestic and ancient Hindu architect of Kathmandu valley, the serene and tranquil natural beauty of Pokhara, high mountainous emblazoned with snow and diverse flora and fauna; in addition, Ghandruk, Illam, National parks and conservation areas across various ecological zone, Mustang, Dolakha, Solukhumbu, traditional communities, and so on add natural beauty. Agro-tourism in Nepal is in its very beginning and there are many weaknesses, challenges, and threats that retard the successfulness of Agro-tourism which need to be solved soon as “Nepal Tourism vision-2020” is near to mouth. The contribution of the tourism part on Gross Domestic Product has remained mediocre despite regardless of prodigious potentiality. In later days, the homestay and agro-tourism activities have started in different parts of the country in pursuit of noteworthy progress in the tourism sector. After analyzing the relevance of Agro-tourism in Nepal, the possible promotional strategies have been suggested.