Building Community of Common Destiny between China and Its Neighbors. Tourism: Economic and Cultural Bond between China and Nepal

Transcription

1 Building Community of Common Destiny between China and Its Neighbors Tourism: Economic and Cultural Bond between China and Nepal Bishnu B. Khatri Assistant Professor Central Department of Rural Development Studies Tribhuvan University Kathmandu Nepal

2 Introduction: Global Context Tourism is recognized as a world s largest industry and its growth seems likely to be mounting in the days ahead. Tourism today moves more than one billion people across international borders each year and positioned as one of the world s leading growth engines. It accounts for almost 10 percent of global GDP, generate more than 1.5 trillion (US$) in trade income and provides one in eleven jobs worldwide. Therefore, it is one of the most dynamic economic sectors with significant global reach and an important contributor to the achievement of the SDGs. Major contributor to alleviate poverty epically in developing nations and LDCs.

3 Nepal and Its Neighbors

4 Tourism Development in the Context of OBOR Considering the importance of tourism in the sector of economic development and poverty alleviation China has already determined to promote rural tourism. - China has enormous contribution in regional development and make a connectivity through more than 100 million outbound tourists every year. One belt one road concept will flourished the tourism worldwide. China s One Belt One Road project as an opportunity to enhance connectivity across the Himalayas.

5 Country Context and Tourism in Nepal

6 Trends of Tourist Arrival in Nepal Trend of tourist arrival was in increased order up to 2012 which declined thereafter. Around 78 present tourist arrive by air and rest 22 percent from land surface. After devastating earthquake the tourist v i s i t re d u c e d b y 3 2 p e r c e n t i n y e a r a s compared The devastating earthquake of 25 April and 12, 2015 may severally have impacted in the sector of tourism. Source: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2016

7 Tourist Arrival in by Months Best months are January- March and Sept-November. Source: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2016

8 Year 2015 shows the h i g h e r p r o p o r t i o n ( 7 2 % ) v i s i t e d f o r holiday and pleasure followed by trade (4%), official purpose (4%), pilgrimage (3%) and conference/meeting (1.7%). Pilgrimage and trekking/mountaineeri n g s h o w e d h i g h declines. Purpose of the visit Source: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, 2016

9 Tourist Arrival from China Second position around 15%. After the devastating earthquake tourist arrival decrease by 49 % Of the total number of tourists visiting Nepal between the periods of January 2014 and January 2015, Top five countries with largest number of tourist arrival have been India (17%), China (16%), USA (6%), Sri Lanka (4.8 percent), and United Kingdom (4.7 percent) respectively. Source: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Lumbini-Buddha birth place could the main Civil Aviation, 2016 purpose of the visit from Chinese nationals. (

10 Employment and Foreign Currency Earning About 2 percent in the national GDP and employment generation to about half million people in the country.

11 Nepal- China Relation and Cultural Ties: Nepal -China have win - win ties China and Nepal are close neighbors on the two sides of the Himalayan Mountains and have a long history of friendly ties. More than two thousand years ago, Manjushri came all the way from the Wutai Mountains in China to Nepal. The friendly exchanges of China and Nepal date back to as early as the mid-7th century. Songtsen Gompo, King of the Tubo Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty married a Nepalese princess Bhrikuti. The Nepalese artisan Arniko built a Buddhist pagoda in Lhasa in the Yuan Dynasty. In this ground, China-Nepal traditional friendship is solidly based. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1955, the friendship and cooperation between China and Nepal has opened a new chapter. Nepal and China have signed an agreement on Cultural Exchange in 1964 which was revised again in December 1999 to include tourism as one of the components. In recent years, the relations between China and Nepal have developed more rapidly. The top leaders exchanged visits frequently and the two countries carried out cooperation smoothly.

12 Prospects of Tourism in Nepal

13 Mountain tourism: 80% concentrated in Mountain region

14 Religious Tourism Lumbini -Birthplace of The Buddha

15 Religious Tourism Pashupatinath Temple

16 Home To Adventure Mountaineering Mountain Biking

17 Adventure and Sports Tourism Paragliding Ultralight

18 Trekking in Himalayas Mountain Tourism

19 Adventure Tourism Bungee Jump Rafting

20 Adventure and Sports Tourism

21 Nature Tourism Mirror Image of Mt. Makalu at Guphapokari, Eastern Nepal

22 Pokhara : Paradise on Earth

23 Nature Tourism One Horned Rhino

24

25 As Seen By The World Nepal was voted Number 1 Destination to Visit in 2016 by Rough Guides based in UK. Nepal ranked 6th in National Geographic Traveller magazine s Cool List 2016 Fodor s Go List 2016 Forbes 14 Coolest Places to visit in 2016 Kathmandu, Nepal, is in 19th position in TripAdvisor s Travellers Choice Destinations 2015 Lonely Planet: Nepal Best Value Destination in 2013 Nepal- Lonely Planet's No. 1 Best Value Destination of th among Top Ten Destinations

26 Conclusion Tourism is valued as major contributor to a sustainable economy and source of foreign currency including income generation in Nepal. China as a main source of tourist in Nepal as well. One belt and one road will flourish the tourism business through linking the globe. Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, It will be bridging the cultural and economic connectivity between Nepal and China. Fostering Tourism: Bridging a Community of Common Destiny Tourism for All: Promoting Universal Accessibility

27 Tribhuvan University: Welcome you!

28