Eco-tourism Promotion

Protected areas in Nepal are major tourists destinations. Protected areas alone attract more than 50% of the total foreign tourists in Nepal. Nepal's protected areas have continued to attract increasing number of visitors (more than 300,000 in F/Y 20065/066). Eco tourism is a major contributor to the income of protected areas. Considering the great potentials of eco tourism in protected areas, domestic elephants riding, visitor information center, information corners, flyers, jungle drive, camping, boating etc have been provisioning. Some regular activities like construction and maintenance of road, bridge and watchtower are being carried out in parks/reserves. Local people are benefiting from cultural tourism in buffer zone villages. Protected areas are imparted nature guide, trekking, cooking, hotel management, handicraft production training to local people jointly with other like minded Government, Non Governmental and Community based organizations. There is an inbuilt eco tourism theme plan in protected area management plan that aimed at promoting and concurrently regulating tourism in protected areas. The promotional activities are convened in coordination with other relevant organizations both at national and international arena