Pro-Poor Rural and Ethno-Tourism' or Cultural Treks

Nepal is considered as one of the poorest countries in the world. However, tourism in this country plays a very important role. Nepal is very popular among the professional travelers and bag packers. It attracts tourists by both: ancient history and unbelievably beautiful nature, rafting is very popular there. Quite recently, there has appeared a very special kind of tourism – rural or village tourism. It gives a possibility to get acquainted with probably the main treasures of the country: culture, customs and traditions. As a rule, tourists in Nepal repose on the specially built resorts and singly made tents. Rural tourism allows them to get in the everyday life and culture of the local residents.

The majority of the population in Nepal lives in the villages and a tourist has a possibility to stay in one of those. He will be able not only to watch sidewise the life in the village, but also to participate directly in it. The way of life of resident population doesn’t change, influenced by the tourists, it remains the same. Tourists eat the dishes common to the ordinary residents, they have the possibility to take participation in the rural living.

There is one more important reason why this kind of tourism compares favorably with the traditional one. Money, spent by tourists is given straight to the population. If the rural tourism develops further, it will be able to play an important role in country’s development, decreasing the poverty level. Local administration greatly supports this kind of tourism.

Tourism Council plans to launch a project on the forest planting and environmental protection, in order to give the tourist industry incentives for development. However, it is worth mentioning that specialists see a particular danger in rural tourism: it can destructively affect the culture and way of life of the local population.