Tourism and Hospitality Operations Management: A Case Study of Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale Conservation Area in Nepal

This report analyses the tourist visitation patterns and the USP of Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale Conservation Area in Nepal. It also discusses the issues related to the development of the destination and tourism in the area, impact on the host community, and policy implications for sustainable tourism outcomes.

Tourism and hospitality operations management

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Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................2
Tourist visitation analysis.................................................................................................2
Destination attractiveness.................................................................................................3
Issue analysis..................................................................................................................4
Impact on the host community..........................................................................................7
Policy implications for sustainable tourism outcomes.........................................................9
References....................................................................................................................10
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Introduction
This assignment includes the development of a case study for the Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale
(TMJ) conservation area in Nepal. The information about this tourist destination is gathered
through various secondary sources and the relevant academic literature for analysing the
tourist visitation patterns and for understanding the USP of this conservation area that makes
it attractive for the tourists. Some of the issues related to the development of the destination
and tourism in the area are discussed and analyse along with the impact that the tourist
activity has on the host community of this region. The policy implications which will allow
TMJ to achieve sustainable tourism outcomes are also included in this report. This report
includes a detailed analysis of TMJ as an international tourism destination and the various
factors and issues faced by it by contrasting them to the relevant theories and academic
frameworks (Shrestha, 2009).
Tourist visitation analysis
TMJ Rhododendron Conservation area of the Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, and Tehrathum
districts, has more than 25 species of rhododendron and is located in the Eastern part of
Nepal. It has extensive rhododendron forests and is spread over an area of about 525 Km sq.
in the Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, and Taplejung districts. Every year TMJ records about
5000 visitors from all parts of the country and even from the various International locations.
It is a popular tourist destination which is common amongst the people coming for
mountaineering, rafting and trekking. The various trails across the area help in connecting
TMJ to various other tourist sites in Nepal. The Spectacular natural landscape of TMJ also
attracts ecotourism and people having interest in the study of physical and biodiversity also
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constitute a major part of the total tourists visiting this region (Tourism, 2018). Some of the
major international locations from where the people come to visit CMJ include Europe, India,
America and Australia. The local tourists are also among the common visitors and some other
domestic locations from where people regularly visit TMJ are Jhapa, Biratnagar and Dharan.
In addition to the rhododendron forest, TMJ is also the house for various endangered species
of birds and other wildlife. People interested in the study of the wild life are also among the
regular visitor of TMJ. This place also invites the tourists because of the numerous medicinal
and aromatic plants found in the forest and the leisure travelers visit TMJ to see the
panoramic views of the mountain ranges of Himalayas. Kumbakarna, Makalu and the
Kanchenjunga can be viewed in their full glory from TMJ and it also acts as a connecting
corridor for the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and the Makalu-Barun National Park
which are also very popular tourist destinations.
Destination attractiveness
The TMJ area is an attractive tourist destination since it is strategically located between the
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and the Makalu-Barun National Park. Both of these are
fairly popular among the tourists coming to Nepal for trekking, mountaineering and river
rafting. It is also one of the most popular eco-regions of the world located in the Eastern
Himalayan Alpine Grasslands having a dense and diverse broadleaf and shrubs forest. Having
more than 250 plant species which includes 9 endangered species, 14 species under the threat
of extinction and 17 endemic species, it is of much interest to the people interested in
studying biodiversity (Bhandari, et al., 2013). The rhododendron conservation area houses
more than 25 species of rhododendron and provides opportunities to the scientists carrying
out research on the rhododendron watersheds, link between the lowlands and highlands,
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climate change and global warming, rural livelihood and the socio-cultural environment of
the area. TMJ also houses numerous endangered and threatened species of animals and some
of the rare species including snow leopard cat, musk deer, pangolin and the clouded leopard.
The forest of TMJ mostly belongs to the community groups and more than 49 of these forests
have been handed over to the local communities of the area.
TMJ was declared a conservation area in the year 1997 and the Arun and Tamor rivers form
the boundary for it. The middle mountains and the high Himalayan form the major
geophysical characters of TMJ and it includes the Jaljala Pokhari, Sabha Pokhari, Panch
Pokhari and Gufa Pokhari lakes. The unique socio-cultural blend, the variety in the
biodiversity and various natural wonders found in the area make it an extremely attractive
place for the tourists (Dahad, 2009).
Issue analysis
TMJ is a protected area developed for the conservation of the rhododendron forest and the
flora and fauna of that region. The natural as well as the cultural resources of TMJ need to be
conserved in a way that provide the local community the required access to sustainably
develop while making use of it. The basin in the area are all interconnected and TMJ boasts
of a pragmatic landscape, it requires detailed landscape level planning along with the
responsible participation on the authorities and the local people. The development of
ecotourism and an integrated conservation and community development program (ICDP) are
considered the major ways to achieve the goals for conservation of the natural resources in
the area and preserve the cultural heritage 40 mg while ensuring that the community develops
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in a sustainable manner. Some of the major challenges and issues that are faced related to
destination development and the tourist visit in the area are because of the lack of any legal
arrangement or a single institution taking care of TMJ. It is needed that TMJ develop an
institution model along with an official administrative setup so that the conservation goals
and the tourism promotion objectives of the area are met. Presently, the restrictions and the
regulations laid down by the Environmental Protection Act of 1997 govern the management
and the steps for environment conservation in TMJ. Tourism is considered to be a major
development tool for any region, since it not only promotes the awareness about the rich
environmental heritage but also helps in the economic development of the areas. It is
beneficial for the local community and also increases the income of the indigenous people
while safeguarding the resources on which the life of the local community depends (Sharma,
et al., 2019).
TMJ requires an improvement in their infrastructure and the development of more facilities
and better transportation connectivity. The potential for eco tourism in this area is immense
because of the diverse physical, sociocultural and biological environment. It also provides
spectacular review of The Majestic rhododendron forest and the Himalayas and various rare
wildlife species can be spotted there. However, there are no structures for the development of
Sustainable Tourism in this area. The insurgent attacks, lack of awareness and information
about the area are some of the major reasons of the decreasing popularity and the number of
tourists visiting TMJ. Even the open campsites or not well maintained and are lacking the
basic facilities like drinking water, toilets and garbage bins. This is the reason why the local
communities located in and around TMJ are not able to get the benefits. Agriculture and
livestock farming are the main sources of livelihood for the local people as there are not
many options for employment off the farm. However, even these livelihood options are not
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enough for meeting the basic needs of the people says there is only a limited agricultural land
available and most of the land belongs to the Alpine region with poorly developed irrigation
facilities and other farming infrastructure (TDAP, 2016).
TMJ can also benefit from the promotion of the local cultural heritage and the study of their
co-evolution. The plant and animal species in the area get Enough protection not just from the
local ethnic groups but also from the government authorities however, the ethnic and the
cultural diversity of the region is often neglected. TMJ should realize that this is a valuable
asset possessed by them which can not only contribute to a better management of the natural
resources of the area but the sustainable conservation of these resources will also lead to the
promotion of cultural tourism for them. Inadequate attention is given to the conservation of
language, practices, knowledge and skills of the indigenous people which has proved to be a
major setback in the attempts for preservation of this heritage (Ghimire, et al., 2016).
The Biodiversity in TMJ is the most unique characteristics of this area as it houses numerous
species and acts as a habitat for them. However, there is no proper record or listening of the
various species of flora and fauna found in the reason and the interaction of these animals and
wildlife species is also not well understood because of the poorly developed conservation
area and the lack of awareness among the people about it. Because of these reasons, the
biodiversity of TMJ is under a serious threat and the uncontrolled expansion of the human
settlements is further adding to it. The development of roads, human settlements and the
adoption of unsustainable practices for agriculture have further contributed to the destruction
and degradation of the natural resources and their over exploitation in TMJ (Ganga, 2016).
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Impact on the host community
The host community is both positively and negatively influenced development and promotion
of the tourist activities in their area. However, it is expected that the positive impact of
ecotourism development in TMJ will be higher that the negative impact. The social and the
cultural aspects of any community are usually interwoven and the society is based on the
traditions, activities and knowledge which together represent the culture of the people.
Tourism will have a direct socio cultural impact on the host community at the TMJ and the
development of cultural tourism will lead to strengthening the traditions and values of the
people and improve the interaction of the communities to the outside world which will help
in the development of their agricultural practices as well. The responsibility is not however
take care of the negative impact of tourism that may be recorded on the biodiversity and the
species of the plants and animals that are endangered or under the threat of extinction. The
government policies and agencies assigned the responsibility of promotion of tourism play a
significant role in actualizing this goal. The policies developed for the promotion of TMJ as a
tourist spot should also take into consideration the preservation of the biodiversity and
sustainable development of the local people and thorough planning is required to ensure that
the negative impacts of public disturbance, pollution, and uncontrolled infrastructure
development do not cause further harm to the biodiversity and the natural resources of the
area (Basnet & Tiwari, 2010).
The promotion of TMJ as a tourist spot will not only lead to taking steps for the conservation
of the natural landscape in the area but also contribute towards the economic development of
the local people. It will provide an additional source of income for them and is likely to
increase their standard of living along with the infrastructural development and the increase
in the accessibility for them. The inflow of tourists and the promotion of cultural tourism will
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also lead to the development of practices to ensure the preservation of the local culture and
the aesthetics of the area. The indigenous knowledge, skills and practices of the local people
will also be preserved and carried forward through this. It was found that agriculture and
livestock keeping was not providing enough revenues to them to fulfill all their basic needs.
Therefore, tourism and the promotion of TMJ as a spot having diverse natural and cultural
heritage will provide the locals an opportunity to engage in the forms of employment other
than agriculture and will also lead to diversification of the income sources for them. This will
bring about a lot of changes in the economic perspective and the employment rate for the
local people (OECD, 2016).
The development of tourism in TMJ will also lead to the organizing of numerous events of
social and cultural importance which will increase the employment avenues for the local
people and also provide them with added means of entertainment and cultural development.
The host population can enjoy better opportunities of education and healthcare which will
ultimately help in improving their lifestyle and general practices. It can also lead to the
revival of the craft, traditions and language of the area and will help in the preservation of the
ancestral heritage of the local people. The literacy and education rate for the local people will
improve with the added access to the infrastructure and will also broaden their mental attitude
as they interact with the people coming from various different domains and locations all over
the world. The local skills up agriculture and other added cultural factors like the
development of handicrafts, promotion of local language will also be carried out through the
holistic regional development happening because of the promotion of travel and tourism in
the area (Limbu & Shang, 2012).
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Policy implications for sustainable tourism outcomes
Some of the proposed policy implications for the development of TMJ as an area of
environmental conservation are recommended in this section. It is suggested that the status of
TMJ should be changed from an area for environmental conservation which currently falls
under the Environmental Act 1997 to a community conserved area which is regulated by the
national parks and wildlife conservation act 1973. The authorities should also take the
required steps for the conservation of biodiversity at the landscape level in TMJ and there
should be a designated authority assigned the responsibility of doing this. The government
need to adopt measures for controlling and preventing poaching, hunting, and trade of the
animals along with the illegal harvesting being practiced in various areas across TMJ. The
development of the area should be carried out by keeping the focus on conservation of the
natural resources and the cultural heritage of TMJ so that the threat to the endangered and the
critical species is not increase further. The initiative for tree plantation in the areas that are
identified as degraded forests can also be carried out to replenish the degradation caused due
to the human activities and infrastructure development in TMJ (OECD, 2016).
The authorities are suggested to establish a research centre for studying the biodiversity
which will encourage the researchers across the world to visit TMJ and help in the promotion
of the area as not just a tourist spot but also a place having rich biodiversity and cultural
heritage. The landscape level conservation initiatives will help in sustainable development
and preservation of the natural resources in TMJ and will allow the growth and development
of not only the flora and fauna but also the local communities in the area.
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References
Basnet, K. & Tiwari, L., 2010. A strategy for sustainable development, Available at:
https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/tinjure_milke_jaljale_rhododendron_c
onservation_area___a_strategy_for_sustainable_dev.pdf
Bhandari, K., Pandey, S., Lamichhane, B. & Sharma, S., 2013. Field report on a case study
of sustainable mountain development in tinjure-milke-jaljale area, Available at:
http://api.ning.com/files/IF7s6H0Az3EB4DoKjEpxvKfmeAXaQSODD4fmoX81IT9nT93Wb
mAsa40z9xP6x0KAuL*WsvEnmHcPUqKw7XlyNRY4yuOlnnRo/
ReadthefullTMJFieldReport.pdf
Dahad, N., 2009. Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale Rhododendron Conservation area: Biodiversity
Conservation efforts and its role in Poverty Reduction, Available at:
http://practicasdecomercio.com/galehy.pdf
Ganga, S., 2016. Tourism industry in nepal: a profile, Available at:
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/59251/10/10_chapter%203.pdf
Ghimire, D. et al., 2016. Nepal tourism statistics 2016, Available at:
http://www.tourism.gov.np/downloadfile/Nepal%20Tourism%20statistic_Final-
2016_1498990228.pdf
Limbu, D. & Shang, Z., 2012. A Checklist of Angiospermic Flora of Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale,
Eastern Nepal. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology , 13(2).
OECD, 2016. OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2016: Policy Highlights, Available at:
https://www.oecd.org/industry/tourism/Tourism2016-Highlights_Web_Final.pdf
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Sharma, U., Yonzon, P. & Sharma, E., 2019. Nepal fourth national report to the convention
on biological diversity, Available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/np/np-nr-04-en.pdf
Shrestha, U., 2009. A case study on Uses of Rhododendron of Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale area,
Eastern Nepal, Available at: https://utsaladesigns.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/case-study-
rhododendron.pdf
TDAP, 2016. Tourism Destination Area Plan (TDAP) for Eastern Nepal, Available at:
http://www.tourism.gov.np/downloadfile/EasternNepalTDAPlanPART1Main
%20Report_1494310082.pdf
Tourism, N., 2018. Tehrathum-Sankhuwasabha: Follow the rhododendron trail this spring,
trekking through colorful hills under the Himalayas of East Nepal. [Online]
Available at: https://www.welcomenepal.com/places-to-see/tehrathum-sankhuwasabha.html
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