Indigenous perspectives on ecotourism in Nepal: the Ghale Kharka-Sikles and Sirubari experience Sanjay K. Nepal C H A P T E R • • • • 17 Buy

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Indigenous perspectives
on ecotourism in Nepal:
the Ghale Kharka-Sikles
and Sirubari experience
Sanjay K. Nepal
C H A P T E R
• • • • 17
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Introduction
Declining economic activity, restructuring of the agriculture
sector, dwindling rural industrialization, and out-migration of
higher educated youth, has led to the adoption, in many countries,
of tourism as an alternative development strategy for the
economic and social regeneration of rural areas (Jenkins et al.,
1998; Briedenhann and Wickens, 2004). In the developing
world, such as in Nepal, ecotourism and other forms of sustainable
tourism have been used as a pro-poor strategy in rural
regions lacking in other economic development potential
(Nepal et al., 2002; His Majesty’s Government of Nepal
(HMG), 2003).
Ecotourism development has become a priority for many
national governments (World Tourism Organization (WTO),
2002; Buckley, 2003). Despite its many criticisms (Wall, 1997),
there are several reasons why governments in these and other
developing countries view the development of ecotourism favorably.
First, are the economic reasons like growth, diversification,
and stabilization through employment in both new (ecotourism
related) and existing businesses, trades, and crafts (Page and
Dowling, 2002). Second, it offers opportunities for socio-cultural
development, revitalization of local crafts, customs and
cultural identities, and increased opportunities for social interactions
between hosts and the guests (Zeppel, 2002; Nepal,
2003). Third, ecotourism projects are often suitable, from the
point of views of scope and scale of operations, for experimenting
with community ownership and empowerment issues
(Gurung and Coursey, 1994; Lama, 2000). Fourth, many non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) have shown interests in conservation
and have developed high-level expertise in implementing
ecotourism projects (e.g. the World Wildlife Fund and Conservation
International, both based in USA, and the King
Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation in Nepal (KMTNC)).
Also, many multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have shown
interests in funding ecotourism type projects in areas critical
from a conservation standpoint (Lai and Nepal (in press)).
Finally, ecotourism has also been considered a viable strategy
for alleviating rural poverty (HMG, 2003).
One of the characteristics of ecotourism projects in countries
like Nepal is the involvement of indigenous communities in the
planning and decision-making processes. However, conflicting
reports exist about whether the development of tourism and
ecotourism in indigenous-controlled areas is an essential element
Critical Issues in Ecotourism: Understanding a complex tourism phenomenon
● ● ● 350
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of self-determination, or a process to assimilate indigenous
societies into the mainstream culture (Smith and Ward, 2000).
Those in favor of indigenous involvement in tourism argue that
through the provision of economic stability and the reinstatement
of traditional cultural practices, indigenous people can
achieve self-determination and self-reliance. It is believed that
‘showcasing’ native culture and values, especially through the
art of native storytelling and interpretation, in non-indigenous
society will gain a fuller understanding and insight of their
views, whilst providing indigenous peoples opportunities to
assert their rights and autonomy through economic empowerment
(Pfister, 2000; Smith and Ward, 2000). Development of
indigenous-controlled tourism is expected to bring positive
social and economic changes too (Butler and Hinch, 1996;
Beltran, 2000; Nepal, 2002). In contrast, critics have argued that
indigenous tourism is yet another form of cultural imperialism
(Nash, 1989), and an example of Westernized attempts to assimilate
indigenous peoples into mainstream societies (Francis,
1992; MacCannell, 1999). Tourism has often proved to be disastrous
to the indigenous communities, resulting in their displacement,
conflict, and violence within the community, and
disruptions of social and cultural practices (Colchester, 2004).
Nevertheless, given that indigenous peoples have lagged
behind in economic development and face many social challenges,
ecotourism appears to be a viable alternative. Ecotourism
development is seen not just as an economic strategy, but also
as a means to strengthening indigenous positions in regional
and national development policies. The development of ecotourism
is seen as an integral aspect of this process toward
indigenous control, self-reliance, and improvement of social
and economic conditions.
This chapter examines the involvement of indigenous people
in two ecotourism projects implemented in rural Nepal and
provides their perspectives on the opportunities and uncertainties
associated with ecotourism development. The two project
sites, or villages, are the Ghale Kharka–Sikles (GKS) trekking
corridor and Sirubari (SBR), both located in the central hills of
Nepal. Both villages are inhabited mainly by the Gurung, an
ethnic group that resides mainly in the central hills of Nepal.
The primary focus of ecotourism is village festivities and culture,
and some trekking. Diversifying the local economy and
making village-level economic activities sustainable are the
main long-term goals. The two case studies are examined to
determine local responses and key processes that determine the
success of ecotourism in rural areas.
Indigenous perspectives on ecotourism in Nepal
351 ● ● ●
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