Environmental aspects of tourism in Pokhara

Understanding environment and tourism

For any holiday planner, the environment of interested tourist destination becomes a matter of basic concern. At the beginning, a traveler gathers information about the physical environment [climate, altitude and geographical location] of his holiday destination.   Then, he or she will be engaged on searching and making analysis of corporate, social, and political environment  -whether the region is peaceful or is a conflict zone. That is why tourism and environment are closely associated with one another.  Various research articles, journals, magazines, books and newspaper reports are published with different views concerning the requirement of appropriate environment in the tourist destination.

In this age of globalization, attractive destinations deserve universal significance for the tourists. Pokhara and its very surrounding area, Annapurna trekking region of central Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , have undoubtedly succeeded to include in such lists of attractive tourist destinations. However, a big question has emerged as how the environmental beauty of Pokhara can be preserved for long term against the growing environmental pollution that this exotic city has been facing due to the continuous migration of people from the western surrounding area. The rapid increment of the migrated population and the accelerating constructions are not only deteriorating the natural beauty but also disturbing and contaminating the peaceful environment of this city which was labeled as ‘exotic’ and

‘paradise.’ Similarly, the tranquility and natural beauty of Fewa Lake have also approached to a risky moment due to human encroachments and the lack of proper conservation. Though a dozens of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) and local committees are found working at the community level to protect Fewa Lake, there is no indication of success.

In this context, this chapter first explores the interface of complex relationships between tourism and environment in Pokhara. In milieu of the various environmental degrading factors that have made negative impacts on the sustainability of tourism in Pokhara, it recommends some damage-preventing plans of action, which concerned agencies should implement responsibly in order to bring pro-environmental consciousness among the people as well as stopping further environmental damages in Pokhara. This chapter is written on the basis of the review of various published and unpublished literature, observation of some specific sites and relevant interaction with tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara and its surrounding.