SEE Social Studies Notes (Unit 7: Economic Activities: Tourism and Foreign Employment)

Unit 7: Economic Activities: Tourism and Foreign Employment

50. Highlight the Importance of Tourism in Nepal

Ans. Tourism industry is very important in the contest of Nepal. In fact, it is the backbone for Nepalese economy. It is important because of the following reasons:

a) Source of Foreign Currency:

When tourists visit the country, they spend foreign currencies in the country. They visit various place and buy several goods and foods. For all this things, they spend foreign currencies. In this way, we can earn foreign currencies.

b) Employment Opportunities:

Due to the growth of in tourism, different people get employment opportunities in different sectors of tourism like trekking guide, tour guide, hotel, restaurants etc. Thus, the problem of unemployment will be decrease.

c) Contributes to National Income:

When the tourists visit the country they spend money for hotel, restaurants, trekking, mountaineering etc. which help to increase the national income.

d) Development of Cottage Industry:

Cottage industries produce the artistic and curious goods. The products of these industries attract the tourists. They like them and buy them. In this way, the demand of product of cottage industries goes on increasing and goes on developing.

e) Advertise the Country in the World:

When tourist come to visit the country, they would write the article, take photos and tells others about the country which help to advertise the country in the world.

f) Conserves our Art and Culture:

Tourist likes to see our ancient art and culture. Hence it enhances to converse our art and culture.

g) Development of Physical Infrastructures:

The flow of tourists helps to develop physical infrastructure of the country. Means of road transportation, hotels, air transportation etc. will be developed.

51. Although Nepal has a great possibility of tourism development, it has not developed satisfactorily because of several problems. Some major problems in tourism are discussed below:

a) Lack of Transport and Communication Facility:

There is lack of proper transport and communication facilities in Nepal. As a result, tourists cannot travel to those areas where they want and cannot talk and send their messages to their family and friends. So, tourists are not attracted here.

b) Lack of Conservation of Cultural and Religious Places:

Nepal is very rich in culture and religion. There are many religious and cultural heritage sites in Nepal but they lack maintenance, conservation and promotion.

c) Lack of Entertainment:

Another important facility that tourists want is entertainment. Such facilities are not enough due to lack of development of physical infrastructures. Tourists who come with their families do not get entertainment facilities. For these reasons tourists do not stay for a long time.

d) Lack of Security:

Everybody likes and prefers security. Tourists wanted to go to such places where there is security. But there is lack of security in Nepal. As a result, very few tourists visit to Nepal.

e) Lack of Tourism Related Goods:

Tourists are not attracted to visit Nepal due to lack of production of goods needed for them. Such goods need to be imported from other countries and are expensive. At the same time, import of goods leads to loss of wealth of our country.

f) Lack of Publicity:

Many countries of the world and its people do not have much information about Nepal, its natural beauty and places to visit due to lack of advertisement and communication.

g) Lack of Hotel, Lodges and Restaurants:

Most of the hotels, lodges and restaurants are located in urban areas and Kathmandu valley. So, the tourists have to face difficulties of fooding and lodging in remote areas.

h) Lack of Sanitation:

Most of the places of tourist attractions in Nepal are dirty and polluted due to garbage thrown everywhere. So, they cannot walk freely and enjoy the beauty due to bad odour and dirty surroundings. This is causing the number of tourists deceasing day by day.

52. Possibilities of Tourism Industry

Although Nepal is small country, it is rich in natural beauty. The highest mountain peak in the world, Sagarmatha, moderate climate, geographical diversity etc. are the main attractions of Nepal. Many people of the world visit Nepal to view hills, mountains, terai, rivers, lakes, gorges etc. there is great possibilities of tourism development if infrastructures for tourism is developed in Nepal. Such possibilities are:

a) The Highest Mountain of the World:

Every year many tourists from different countries of the world come to view the highest mountain peak of the world, Sagarmatha. They can view it by the mountain flight. Many individual and groups also come to climb this mountain. There are 14 mountain peaks in the world having the height above 8000 meter. Among them 8 mountain peaks are in Nepal.

b) Adventurous Tourism:

Nepal is suitable for adventurous tourism. There are many fast flowing rivers which are suitable for rafting. Bungee jumping is another attraction for tourist in Nepal. Beside this trekking, mountaineering, cycling, rock climbing, paragliding etc. are major areas of adventure tourism in Nepal.

c) Famous as Religious Place:

Nepal is a holy land for both Hindus and Buddhists from all over the world. Lumbini, where Lord Buddha was born, is the most sacred place for Buddhists, and followers of Buddhism from many countries come here on pilgrimage. Hindus visit holy places such as Pashupatinath, Muktinath and Manakamana.

d) Less Expensive:

Nepal lies in the less expensive region of the world. The tourist having low and medium income may travel and live in Nepal in less expenditure. Since cost of living and travelling is low in Nepal, it attracts the tourists in Nepal.

e) Rich in Natural Beauty:

Nepal has diversified topography. Though it is small in size but all type of climate, vegetation and topography are found here. Tilicho Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world, is located in Nepal. Many beautiful Himalayan, deep gorges, valleys, plains, hills, fast flowing rivers, etc make Nepal rich in natural beauty.

f) Trekking Facility:

There are various recreational foot paths for the trekkers in Nepal. These paths pass through different places like beautiful palaces, mountain, rivers banks, and lake side's etc. which provide heavenly entertainment to the trekkers.

g) Diversity in Culture and Climate:

The structure of Nepalese society is of multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural. Every ethnic group has their own distinct culture, festivals and way of life. Similarly, the climate is also differ when one travel from south to north. The climate of the Nepal is neither too hot nor too cold.

53. Measure to Solve Problems of Tourism Industry

Tourism industry is important for socio-economic and human development. There are various problems in its development which are necessary to remove for human welfare and development. The remedial measures to solve these problems are outlined below:

a) To Promote Transport and Communication:

Transport and communication facilities should be made accessible all over the country by the effort of government, international organizations and the aid of neighboring countries to extend tourism industry.

b) Publicity and Advertisement:

Information centers should be established and publicity and advertisement should be accelerated through mass media to provide information to the tourists.

c) Security Management:

The arrangement of security should be made in tourist's destinations by the efforts of individuals, social workers and government.

d) Conservation of Tourist Spots:

The tourist spots must be conserved and rehabilitated by the effort of local people and tourists related agencies such that they will be clean and attractive for tourists.

e) Development of Cottage Industries:

The cottage industries which provide the attractive materials like goods of handicrafts, curio goods of sculpture etc. should be promoted such that the tourists may be attracted to Nepal.

f) Management of Trained Guides:

The training centers should be enlarged to provide necessary training to the guides and the proper training should be provided such that they will be able to provide detailed information to the tourists.

g) Recreational Centers:

Recreational centers should be managed in tourist centers and their ways should be improved to provide entertainment to tourists. The cultural house, night clubs, dance clubs, radio facilities should be available for the tourists.

h) Provision of Quality Hotel:

Quality hotel should be established in various parts of the country by the involvement of private and social sectors.

54. Importance of foreign employment

a) It provides employment to unemployed people of Nepal.

b) It generates the income for Nepal and increases national income.

c) The income from this sector is increasing living standard of this income.

d) Various development activities are promoted by this income.

e) It is helping to reduce the poverty of Nepal.

f) It is helpful to learn foreign skill and technology.

55. Possibilities of foreign employment

a) Knowledge of foreign employment:

Many people are getting the knowledge about foreign employment and its situation. This has promoted the foreign employment and made it possible to all.

b) Employment companies:

Many foreign employment companies are opened in the country. These companies have provided the knowledge of foreign employment. Moreover, they are making contact for foreign employment. It has increased the possibility of foreign employment.

c) Increasing industries:

The countries of the world are increasing the producing industries. This process has increased the chance of foreign employment. So, industrial development has made it possible for Nepalese people.

d) Job-oriented training:

Many training centers and institutions are providing job-oriented training in the country. These training have increased the skill and efficiency of the worker and made the employment possible.

e) Government effort:

At present, Nepal government has the relationship with other countries. It is helping to increase the employment in foreign sector. It has made foreign employment possible.

56. Challenges of foreign employment

a) Lack of systematic arrangement:

There are no systematic employment companies from government sector in Nepal. Private companies are not in the control and supervision of the government. So, the foreign employment has not been made systematic.

b) Unskilled manpower:

Nepalese workers are not trained for any special work. They cannot be able to work in foreign market. It has created the obstacle in foreign employment.

c) Illegal process:

There is a clear provision of sending the people in foreign employment as per the foreign employment act, 2064. But the brokers send them in their own way without any permission of the government. Such job cannot be respected and does not provide reasonable price of labour.

d) Inapplicable agreement:

Nepal's Foreign Employment Act requires labour agreements to be signed with the destination countries. But this agreement is not applied strictly and creating the problem for employed.

e) Illegal emigration:

Most of the Nepalese people are fled to other countries without legal permission of the government. Such types of employed cannot be managed by any provision. It is also a challenge in Nepal's foreign employment.

57. The remittance obtained from foreign employment is mostly spent on unproductive sector. How? Mention the ways to promote the investment of remittance in productive sectors.

A big amount comes as remittance from foreign employment, but this amount is mostly spent on unproductive sectors. Mostly these amounts are spent on household expenses, buying luxurious goods, shopping, buying land or homes etc. so, such expenses cannot provide jobs to youths, nor the contribute to raise the economy of the country. So, these amounts should be invested in some productive sectors. They can be invested in:

a) Health sector:

Nepal lacks skilled persons (i.e. doctors, nurses) and medicines. So, institutions related to train persons in medical sectors and factories to manufacture medicines can be established with this amount.

b) Replace import:

Many factories can be established with this amount which can replace imports. This helps to save our national income.

c) Education sector:

There is lack of education institutions in hilly region. The remittances can be used to establish school or college to train children in learning skill.

d) Job opportunities:

We need skill to earn our livelihood. So, such institution can be established to train person to carry cottage industries like bee keeping, fisheries poultry farming pasturing etc. These works will provide work to the people.

e) Transport and communication:

The remittance can be used to promote transport and communication which help in overall development of the country.