MADHAV PRASAD GHIMIRE, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, is a senior civil servant with wide range of knowledge on Nepalese real estate market, and its economic and social issues. Ghimire, who did MS from Asian Institute of Technology, has completed Master in Business Administration from Tribhuwan University . Having served as consulate general in Nepalese mission in Honk Kong, Ghimire also headed the Foreign Aid Division in Ministry of Finance in the past. Ghimire spoke to KESHAB POUDEL He talked about the situation of economy and tourism. Excerpts:

How do you see the state of tourism in Nepal ?

First of all, tourism is one of the basic area of Nepalese economy. Whether it is in the short term or long term plan of the government, the importance of tourism is clearly mentioned. In terms of foreign exchange, the tourism has a major contribution as it is still one of the major foreign currency earners. In overall GDP, the tourism has made 2.5 percent contribution. In terms of employment, the tourism provides employment opportunity for large number of population. According to a study, a tourist provides direct and indirect employment opportunities for at least 12 Nepalese. In terms of investment, tourism has a leading role. Hotel sector, which is one of the major components of tourism, is one of the major sectors of investment.

What are the major concerns now on tourism sector?

Although it has made major contribution in economy, the debate is growing about how to give benefit to the large segment of the population. During the last 12 years of conflict, the tourism industry also suffered a lot. After the signing of peace treaty, there is growing hope of its revival. As it is in the revival stage, we must develop a plan to expand the tourism sector from urban concentration towards the rural. In the past, it was seen as an urban based business and its benefits were confined to certain key stakeholders like travel tour operators, airliners, hoteliers and traders. The perception of tourism was that it was just a business of blue collar class. Now, there is slight deviation in this concept.

What is the challenge now?

The challenge of tourism at present is how to tickle down its benefits to the broad stake holders at the grass root level. The challenge is now how to share benefit in fair and just manner. In other words, the challenge is how to make it pro-poor or to give benefit to broad stake holders including residents of far flung areas and rural parts of Nepal . In the past, tourists were taken to many parts of Nepal but local people did not have any say on benefit sharing. The local communities and people felt ignored and neglected in power sharing. People did not feel ownership. The time is now to broaden the area and benefit sharing and ownership. The community should get benefit as per their contribution in tourism sector. Now we are developing a policy for pro-poor or sustainable tourism. The tourism should be sustainable as well as it should support the livelihood of people. Along with its contribution in GDP growth, we must work out a plan to trickle down the benefits of the tourism sector. It must go for far flung and remote areas.

As the government wants to widen the benefit of tourism in rural parts of Nepal , a pro-poor Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation program (TRPAP) is going to phase out soon. Does the government have anything in mind to extend it or consider another project similar to that?

If we see the plan documents, they always stress on the pro-poor based rural tourism. In practice, no such programs were implemented targeting the poor. When I was heading the Foreign Aid Division of Ministry of Finance negotiating the program, we proposed to UNDP, DFID and SNV to implement pro-poor tourism as a pilot program in six districts. TRPAP aim was to target the poor population of rural areas.

How do you see the implementation of TRPAP?

The implementation of TRPAP is satisfactory as it produced good results in those six districts where it was implemented. We need to replicate the lessons learned from this kind of program and there is a need to expand such programs in other districts also. This is donor-funded program so we are now discussing regarding the program. We are getting positive indications. TRPAP must be replicated and scaled up.