Prospects of tourism in Nepal : A study of Chitwan City

Abstract

This study focused on tourism trends and its sustainable development strategies in Chitwan, a tourist hotspot with diverse biodiversity, and cultural heritage Nepal. In this study, we designed mixed-methods research where data were collected through both quantitative survey and qualitative interviews to identify the tourism pattern of domestic and international tourists visiting Chitwan. Site data was gathered from key tourist places like Sauraha, Meghauli, Devghat and Madi. According to the results, domestic tourism is on the rise while international tourism recovers after a global disruption. Guests want to explore nature-based offerings, and the star attraction is Chitwan National Park while culture and adventure tourism is a growing segment.

Its research identifies the key difficulties like shortage of infrastructure, seasonality and environmental concerns. This Thesis propounds on the basis of analysis an integrated model for sustainable tourism development in Chitwan that strikes emphasis on economic benefits along with balancing environmental conservation and community empowerment. Recommendations are necessary such as infrastructure investments at a strategic level, tourism products diversification and better digital marketing and strengthened community participation.

The paper not only advances the literature on protected areas sustainable tourism development but provides concrete recommendations for policymakers, tourism industry actors and local communities of Chitwan as well.