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RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Prospects of Mountaineering and Trekking Tourism in Nepal:

A Study of Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trails

INTRODUCTION
Tourism in the present world is a very fast growing industry all over the world. It has been
accepted in many countries as lucrative industry and this respect Nepal is not exception.With
numerous trekking options and the significant proportions of new tourism attractions with access
to the direct and authentic experience of nature and culture, the many of the global mountain
trails are integrated with tourism on the forms a distinct trekking and adventure destinations.
These tails attract millions of explorers, trekkers, mountaineers, and general-purpose visitors for
the purpose of adventure tourism. . We have seen other industries coming to a standstill but
Tourism continued relatively undisturbed to the surprise of all. That’s why there is a need to
carryout study to promote mountaineering and trekking in Nepal.

Trekking and mountaineering is the heart of tourism in Nepal. Of the world’s 14 highest peaks
above 8,000 m, eight of them crown Nepal’s north. The fascination of scaling these mountain
peaks draws the huge crowds of visitors from abroad. If such adventurous climbing and trekking
destinations are properly managed there is no doubt to take the Nepalese tourism business in the
higher scale. In addition to this, there are a number of mountain regions in Nepal that still needs
to be explored. Most of the travelers in Nepal are very much familiar about the popular trekking
and peak climbing routes. Unlike those popular routes, there is huge potential to go for exploring
virgin territory of the Himalayas in Nepal. If mountain tourism is comprehensively promoted
there is massive potentiality to develop tourism in Nepal.
In this contextual background, this paper intends to address following questions:
a.What are the prospects of mountaineering and trekking tourism in Nepal?
b.What are the possible tourism activities for mountaineering and trekking tourism in Nepal?
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Trekking tourism
Trekking is a form of adventure tourism practiced in difficult terrain and climate, requiring
specialized equipment, clothing and food, implying connotations of risk, jeopardy, and
wilderness (Weber, 2001; Hall & Weiler, 1992; Gyimóthy & Mykletun, 2004; Buckley,
2006). It is often practiced in the untouched and unknown areas.

God has made Nepal one of the most suitable trekking destinations the world. Nepal as a
mountainous country owns many snow-capped lofty mountains. In addition to them, the forest
consisting of bio-diversities tranquil lakes, splashing rivers and regulates, unique birds and
animals and so on attract many trekkers from foreign counties. Moreover, our social cultural and
religious phenomena play a significant role to attract tourist from other countries. They want to
observe these phenomena in rural areas where people dwell practicing unity in diversity. The
climate of Nepal is neither very hot nor very cold; it is suitable for the trekkers. During summer,
the trekking to Himalayan regions is more suitable than to the low hills. But during winter, the
trekking to low hills seems to be more appropriate for all the trekkers. Similarly, Nepali food is
not only simple but also natural and healthy. Foreign trekkers who are tired of eating fast foods
must be attracted to the rural regions of Nepal.

In 1965, trekking was introduced in Nepal for the very first time by Colonel Jimmy Roberts.
Lieutenant Colonel James Owen Merion Roberts (1916–1997) was one of the greatest and most
prolific explorer of mountains of the twentieth century; a highly decorated British Army officer
who achieved fame as “The Father of Trekking” in Nepal. His idea, innovative at that time, was
to make the mountaineering experience for climbers a bit easier and more comprehensible than
what was present during the initial commencement of mountaineering in Nepal. His ideas
included providing tents to the hikers and having them readily available, paired together with the
Sherpa, for guidance up in the alienated terrains of the high Himalayas. This neoteric idea of his
became a huge success and was encompassed by many, which then led to the availability of the
mountaineering field be open and easily accessible to a wide range of factions. To say the least,
his pioneering in this new field of mountaineering in Nepal became a success and was an
absolute crowd-puller.
Nowadays, the whole manifestation of trekking in the mountains has become a well-established
epiphany; there are coterie or solo travelers trudging through hills and isolated valleys in the
remote destination of the country, walking about six to seven hours each day with their
equipment and bag packs generally carried by porters or animals like yaks or donkeys, until they
reach their destination of the base camp of the mountains. This common perdition has seen much
modification throughout time, as there are availabilities of many more options regarding the
destinations now, and the mode of travel has also been updated to suit modernization- with the
inclusion of helicopter rides and provident availability of health care facilities. The trekking
journeys are also complimented heavily for travelers because of the convenience of delicious
regular meals, sleeping bags and other necessary equipment at one’s disposal and warm
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accommodative tents throughout the trekking journey. On top of all of this, the trekker may also
carry his own personal pack that has his camera equipment, clothes or even snacks and trinkets.
It’s astounding how much the trekking industry has evolved since the humble beginnings of
mountain hiking in the time of Colonel Jimmy Roberts. Of course, the updates on the trekking
propriety now has a wide range of trekkers, from young people to people who are old, a contrast
with the trekking expeditions of Roberts, where his first ascend to the Lookout peak of
Masherbrum (formally known as K1, the 22nd highest mountain in the world) in Pakistan was
done in a completely contemporary way for his time, climbing without any other camaraderie for
company, accompanied only by his Gorkhali companions.
In present day, the travel industry and the contemplation of hiking and trekking in the mountains
is a relatively sustainable ordeal. It has become a booming industry that helps to bring revenue
into the country, and helps to popularize Nepal and its cultures and traditions throughout the
world. And this idea of commercializing and helping the trekking industry become a revenue-
generating potential tourism aspect was first commenced by Colonel James Roberts in Nepal.

Mountaineering Tourism
A proposed definition: “Mountaineering is the collective term for all of the activities associated
with climbing and descending mountains, cliffs, slides, boulders, stream beds and waterfalls. It
includes technical activities, such as rock and ice climbing, that typically employ specialized
safety equipment, as well as activities, such as slide climbing and bouldering, that may or may
not employ specialized safety equipment.”
The austerity and rigor in a mountaineer’s life is incomplete until he visits Nepal and scales one
of the peaks in the mystic Himalayas. Thus there is no exception when we say, “Nepal is the
Mecca for mountaineers.” That is not just because of the presence of highest peak on earth,
Mount Everest, but also because eight out of fourteen additional Eight-Thousands peak  are
located in Nepal. Every year, Nepal receives hundreds of daredevils from around the world who
like to contest the harshness of the nature with their bravery, and obstinacy. With 135 different
kinds of peaks open and recognized as mountaineering peak, Nepal can be both the training
ground as well as the ‘holy grail’ of mountaineering.
Mountain climbing in Nepal instantly became a passionate adventure treat for mountaineers after
the country first opened doors to climbers back in 1949. Though the attempts to climb mountains
started from the early years of the 20th century but no one had been able to claim triumph over it
until 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey set their first ever foot on the summit
of Mt. Everest. Soon after the pair's first historical mountaineering victory, the appeal of
mountaineering grew manifold luring thousands of mountaineers from all around the world to
scale various Himalayan heights. Despite all the hardship of mountaineering, adventurers have
been fighting their way through the summit in a hope of making their dream of adventure come
true. Gleaming like a silver majestic fortress, Nepal boasts of having eight of the world's highest
fourteen peaks over 8000m, including the highest of them all, Mt. Everest. Equipped with top
notch equipment, highly experienced team of Sherpa climbers, Explore Himalaya has led
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hundreds of Mountaineering Expeditions to 8000+ meter peaks and innumerable trips to trekking
peaks below 6500 meters. Our surefooted support crews are thoroughly trained on
mountaineering techniques and are highly competent on handling all the dangers of mountain
climbing and using mountain climbing tools. Our highly professional administrative team at
office is expert in handling all the issues related to Climbing Nepal Mountains. Some of the
mountains lie in Nepal Tibet border.

RESEARCH PROCESS
Data Collection
Data will be collected from both primary and secondary sources. Data collected for the purpose
of survey are both of qualitative and quantitative in nature. As some type of sources are
necessary for getting required data, both primary and as well as secondary sources of data are
used in course of study in the subject of study.
 Primary Data Collection
a. Interview Schedule
Semi-structured interview based on questionnaire will be used to collect information
about tourists' details and their experiences. Questionnaire is designed in such a way that
information required for fulfilling the objectives of the study is best served.

b. Key Informants Interview

For this purpose various Hotel professionals, tourist guides, porters, tourist related
organizations, government offices will be consulted in order to collect views regarding
the trekking and mountaineering experiences in Nepal.

 Secondary Data Collection

Existing literature about tourism in mountainous region will be collected from the
following sources:-
-Library
-Tourist Information Centers
-Various government offices
-Other sources
Data Processing and Analysis
To analyze the data collected in meaningful way data is subjected to processing first. Only after
putting data in a usable format analysis become possible. To make the description meaningful,
logical and well defined processing and analysis are made in order. In some instances
comparison is made and in other classification and ordering is needed.
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ANTICIPATED FINDINGS
After conducting the research we may find the following results:
a) The current profile of tourism in Nepal and the prospects of tourism development in
Nepal will be known.
b) This study will give us the knowledge about the interrelated national strategies and plans
for the proper management of trekking and mountaineering trails.
c) Different method will be found out for sustainable management of trekking trails that
result with its brand identity and value of mountain adventure destination.

REFRENCES
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Himalayan Glacier. (2020). Prospects of Tourism in Nepal - Himalayan Glacier. [online]

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Man.gov.np. (2020). [online]

Available at: http://man.gov.np/images/category/2075-Voice-of-Himalaya.pdf

Nepal, N. (2020). Mountaineering. [online] Naturally Nepal.

Available at: https://www.welcomenepal.com/things-to-do/mountaineering.html

Nepal, N. (2020). Trekking. [online] Naturally Nepal.

Available at: https://www.welcomenepal.com/things-to-do/trekking.html

Researchgate, (2020). [online]

Availableat:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265341317_Perceptions_of_trekkin

g_tourism_and_social_and_environmental_change_in_Nepal's_Himalayas

Scribd. (2020). A CASE STUDY ON Tourism in Nepal | Nepal | Tourism. [online]

Available at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/53274118/A-CASE-STUDY-ON-Tourism-in-

Nepal
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Tourism.gov.np. (2020). [online]

Available at: https://tourism.gov.np/files/statistics/19.pdf

Upadhayaya, P. (2020). Sustainable Management of Trekking Trails for the Adventure Tourism

in Mountains: A Study of Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trails

Available at: https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/jota/article/view/22748