Oped»
Talking tourism
Bhuwan Thapaliya
APR 11 –
People say Nepal’s sex-economy has been on the rise, so much so that there is now talk of Nepal turning into the latest hotspot for sex tourism. Of late, analysts are said to be of the view that Nepal’s sombre tourism industry has been replaced by sex tourism. Is this a fact or a myth?

According to John Frederick, an expert quoted in The Economist, on South Asia’s sex trade, “Ten years ago the sex industry was underground in Nepal. Now it’s like Bangkok, it’s like Phnom Penh.” What are we to make out of these statements with Nepal Tourism Year 2011 just around the corner? Is Nepal really a growing haven for the flesh trade?

No doubt, tourism is one of the largest industries in Nepal — a major source of foreign exchange and revenue. According to estimates by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and UK-based Oxford Economics (OE), Nepal’s travel and tourism economy is ranked number 138 in absolute size worldwide, 145 in relative contribution to national economies and 115 in long-term (10-year) growth out of 181 countries.

The contribution of travel and tourism to the gross domestic product is expected to rise from 6.0 percent (Rs. 52.7 billion) in 2009 to 6.3 percent (Rs. 113.2 billion) by 2019. Its contribution to generating employment opportunities are mammoth, and the contribution of the travel and tourism economy to employment is expected to rise from 497,000 jobs in 2009 (4.7 percent of total employment) to 677,000 jobs (5.0 percent of total employment) by 2019, according to the WTTC/OE report.

The Nepal government has been actively promoting tourism in Nepal; the romance of the snow clad mountains and the lure of the breathtaking landscapes continue to attract tourists from around the globe who have now become a pivotal part of Nepal’s economy. But tourism is a double-edged sword. Tourists come here to see natural wonders of the country and our traditional ways of life.

With them comes money, but they also bring influences that may get difficult for our people to overlook. Then, the dilemma erupts: The tourists help us survive, but, in the long run, their money and influences may erode the very things they come here to see. Nepali culture may not be quite the same tomorrow as it is today. Luckily, to date, Nepal has managed to survive into modern times with many of its customs and traditions intact. Some argue that culture is such a fragile and difficult thing to preserve. But one has to remember that in preservation of our culture lies our true identity. The mantra is to find a balance. As one young lady once told me, “I go to the temple and I go to the disco. Sometimes I wear a salwar kameez, sometimes a micro-mini. That’s how I try to balance different aspects of my lifestyle.”

Tourism can be a boon to our economy, but it can be a bust if it destroys the native culture and environment. Considering this, Nepal must ask, what type of tourists it wants — certainly not paedophiles and sex seekers if it is to boost its economy and preserve its rich cultural heritage.