1.

Introduction of Pokhara

Pokhara is a valley surrounded by beautiful, amazing, and silent Himalayas, in the north and
mountains. Pokhara, a city of lakes, is decorated by natural lakes and rivers (Santosh, 2010).
The second-biggest city in Nepal, Pokhara, is around 200 km from Kathmandu, the country's
capital. In the development stage, the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Development
Authority selected Pokhara as the leading Himalayan adventure destination (Upreti &
Upadhyaya & Sapkota 2013). Pokhara, a tourist town in central Nepal, has rapidly changed in
the last five decades. The elevation ranges from sea level to 2,650 meters (Kotre) and 505
meters (Armala). The total surface area of PLMC is 464.94 km2, or 23.01 percent of the Kaski
district and 0.31 percent of the entire country (Pokharel, Khanal, 2018). Pokhara, which
provides paragliding, ziplining, bungee jumping, and a hike to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), is
often heard of as an adventure destination. Pokhara has been recognized as the finest city for
adventure and leisure (Nepal Tourism Board, 2018). Pokhara is a city rich in culture and
hospitality, surrounded by the famous Himalayas, lakes, and waterfalls, among other natural
beauty. The reflection of Fishtail (Machhapuchhre) mountain into Phewa Lake, one of Pokhara's
biggest features draws thousands of visitors from all over the world (Upreti & Upadhyaya &
Sapkota 2013).

Nearly 1,95,000 people are living in Pokhara. Pokhara is situated in the Western Development
Region's Kaski district in the Gandaki zone. Pokhara occupies an area of almost 123 square
kilometers. There are multiple castes including but not just the Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar,
Gurung, Magar, Kami, Damai, Sarki, Rai, and Limbu (Santosh, 2010). Pokhara is renowned as
the town of nine lakes, including Begnas Nyureni, Gunde, Khashte, Rupa, Maidi, Dipang, and
Fewa, and is popular with tourists (Bhadgaon 2006).The biggest part of local economic activity
in the Baidam or Fewa Lake side area is expected to be boosted by this lake (Lamichhane
2005; Shakya 1995; Thapa 2010).

2. Benefits
2.1
Economic benefits

The high standard of life has been improved by tourism-related economic growth. Due to this,
plenty of the investigation of this industry has focused on the positive impacts of earnings, job
opportunities, revenue from taxes, and overall economic growth and development (Wong,
1996). Addressing the importance of tourism revenues to the country's gross domestic product
(GDP) growth, it is expected that both private and public capital and the performance of foreign
projects will take place in a range of industries that deliver goods and services to the population.
In reality, a significant amount of revenue from tourism that meets foreign capital needs is
invested (Khadka,1997). A country or region's economic development is affected by a variety of
factors, with the word "tourism" working as a separate factor in terms of the number of tourists,
their revenue in foreign currency, and the amount of trade in goods, including hotels and
restaurants play an active role in the development of the economic system (Kumar, 1996).
Improvements in technology and leisure time, education, declining international airfares,
improved communications, and so on—helped the development of travel and tourism
(Eadington and Smith 1994). The analysis shows that tourists from abroad spent over 135
million US dollars (nearly Rs. 15 billion) in Nepal in 2021. A better option to normal organic
resource-based economic growth, such as mining, agriculture, and forest production, has
frequently promoted tourism development. From 602, 855 in 2010–2011 to 803,092 in 2011–
2012, there were a greater number of visitors in Pokhara (Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil
Aviation Planning & Evaluation Division 2014). Pokhara is the entrance to the Annapurna
Region, which is larger compared to the Everest Region. On average, 22% of visitors who come
to Nepal visit Pokhara which helps the economic sector of Pokhara by providing benefits
(MoTCA 2011).

2.2
Socio-cultural benefits

Nepal, with 125 ethnic groups and 123 languages spoken there as well, ranks as one of the
richest nations in the world (CBS 2012). The arts have tourist appeal through various artistic
and cultural activities which include the painting process, dancing, music, art, and the built
environment (Goeldner and Ritchie, 2006). Whenever youngsters copy, follow, or duplicate the
appearances of tourists, mostly Westerners, they feel more modern. Some of the clearest
demonstration effects in these kinds of cultures are the popularity of colored tangled hair, hair
raises, the rap genre outfits, braless transparent tops, color tattoos, and piercings in different
places like the tongue, cheek, ear, nose, eyebrows, stomach, and forehead (Sharma, 2012).
Tourists enjoy dining on local cuisine, especially that which is regional or cultural in origin.
Everyone loves trying local cuisine as a way to create memorable break experiences (Goeldner
and Ritchie 2006). Pokhara's socio-cultural process is one of the key features of its urban
environment. This process caused the establishment of an ethnically diverse and multicultural
society as a whole the town, which originated through historical processes. The fort population
within Pokhara continued to serve as the foundation for an early population in the valley during
the medieval period (879–1768) (March 2024). Because tourism has focused on beneficial
outcomes such as employment, revenue taxes, revenue, advances in technology, and growth in
the economy, it is a tool to enhance the standard of living. GDP has been used as a measure
for evaluating the monetary effects of tourism throughout a country (Ministry of Culture, Tourism
& Civil Aviation Planning & Evaluation Division 2014). A large number of visitors arrive from
western developed nations, and they support the local population, surroundings, customs, and
resources (Wearing et al. 2010).

2.3
Environment benefits

He has described Pokhara as being one of the world's greatest destinations for tourists and the
environment as heaven on earth. He believes that the only reality that connects humanity with
the environment, the air, the mountains, and themselves is the reality of environmental
awareness (Devkota, 2004). Several tourism supporters have supported new concepts in eco-
friendly travel, including nature-based, eco-, and environmentally-friendly tourism, among
others. (Kline, 2001). The first decade of the nineteenth century experienced the development of
both modern tourism and nature protection, which have usually developed together (Holden
2008). Sustainable tourism works to provide future employment for communities while having as
little adverse effect as possible on the environment and the culture of the area (Bhatta 2006).
The municipality has established a three-kilometer length of the main road to be a "No Vehicles
Zone'' on Saturdays from 15:00 to 22:00. This decision began effectively (Ghimire and Upreti
2011). The objective of sustainable and responsible tourism is to improve the number of
responsible visitors, both domestically and internationally, and to promote the responsible and
sustainable travel practices of visitors as well as hosts in Pokhara's tourism industry
(Upadhyaya and Khatiwada, 2012). (Pokhara Waste Management Private Ltd) and a few other
environment-concerned intuitions are playing a major role in promoting eco-tourism that
promotes the tourism and tourist sectors. In Ghandruk, firewood, kerosene, LPG, and electricity
are the primary energy sources (ACAP 2012). Intermediate Technology Development Group
(ITDG) defines that the help of micro hydropower has made a positive impact on the
environment by reducing the use of wood and fire for lighting and cooking.

3. Challenges
3.1
Environmental challenges

Nepal offers many kinds of climate zones, from tropical to cold temperatures. This has affected
travelers in their journey through unpredictable weather changes. Nepal has plenty of wildlife
and plants throughout a 120-kilometer area (Kunwar, 2010). Solid waste from the lodging
facility's tank system is rapidly polluting the Fewa Lake. Along with this troubling situation, the
lake has been reduced by about a third since 1940 as the result of floods, landslides, drainage,
and human settlement (Lamichhane et al. 2009). Nepal tourism year 2011 expected 1 million
visitors unfortunately 736215 visitors entered Nepal. Pokhara is experiencing an increase in
both local and foreign tourism, but this amazing town is also facing a lot of pressure from
environmental pollution (Pokhrel, 2011). Air pollution, noise pollution, garbage management
challenges, and environmental damage in Pokhara are the main sources of pollution that affect
Pokhara's tourism environment. As a role of the Second Tourism Infrastructure Development
Project, the Pokhara Environmental Improvement Programme received support from the Asian
Development Bank in 2003 to help build a waste management site for the city (Tuladhar et al.
2003). In Pokhara, the pollution number of PM10 particles is 839.9 and the overall remaining
particle amount was 874.4 (μg/m3). The unpleasant sound and smoke released from the
vehicles, along with the polluted road, may harm the tourism industry (CAI-Asia, 2006).

3.2
Infrastructure challenges

We can notice how the job of a travel agency has grown to a position that is more complicated
in today's world by studying new developments and rapid changes in the tourism sector
(Chaudhary, 2019). Pokhara challenges problems due to its increasing growth in tourism, both
in terms of quantity as well as quality. Random tensions and conflicts could harm hotel
relationships, travel and tour companies, trade associations, food and beverage establishments,
and airports in the years to come when it comes to meeting the estimated improvement target
(Upreti & Upadhyaya & Sapkota 2013). More actions of the norms and rules established in the
Pokahra Master Plan have been considered since the first People's Movement of 1990. Those
rules and actions were only defined by papers and meetings and were not able to be effectively
addressed (Poudel 1996).

3.3
Socio-cultural challenges

Some odd behaviors, such as communal sexual activity and sex parties, are growing
progressively more common among youths in Pokhara. While most tourists aren't involved in
these activities, the environment of Lakeside's dance bars promotes visitors (Sharma, 2012).
Another report reveals that 4.6% of people who use injection drugs (IDUs) have been diagnosed
with HIV and that 55% of IDUs are younger than the age of 25. Lakeside is their go-to spot
where they hang out. Sixty-two percent of Lakeside witnesses claimed that specific children on
the streets are being used by tourists as dealers of drugs and marijuana. (Sharma, 2014).
Consider that conflicts between visitors and their hosts are often a result of both cultural shock
and cultural pride (Roday et al. 2011). About 75.66% of citizens in Lakeside Pokhara agreed
that the environment that is created by tourism promotes the consumption of alcohol. There is
always pressure from the dominant language on the weaker language.

3.4
Economic challenges

The government's costly effort has yet to be fully successful at meeting expectations for the
number of foreign tourists that arrive, due to a breakdown in marketing and a false target
created without sufficient strategy or planning (MoTCA, 2011). Before the COVID-19 epidemic,
Pokhara Metropolitan City was projected to have NPR 2.123 billion in transactions per month.
The global epidemic completely paused the industry, causing an immense loss of NPR 5.8
billion (39% of the whole PMC loss) during the first lockdown period, which lasted from March
24, 2020, to June 14, 2020. (UPC-PMC, 2077). Due to the coronavirus, there was an 80 percent
drop in tourists in 2020, which resulted in the loss of 20% of employment (more than 2 lakhs)
and just 3.6% of GDP (46.6% less) for the GDP of the nation, drop by almost 70% (MoCTCA,
2020; WTTC, 2021).
4. Recommendations and Conclusions

To achieve the vision of a clean and safe tourist destination steps must be taken, including
managing hotel waste products, preserving Fewa Lake, protecting local customs and culture,
controlling traffic, and monitoring noise and air pollution. For many tourists, their primary
attraction is the quality of the surroundings. To attract more tourists, improve areas for public
use, accommodation, and transportation facilities. Preserve cultural heritages, support and
protect local practices, historic attractions, and cultural events. Boost marketing projects,
develop interesting promotions that reach more individuals, and display the opportunities and
attractions the location has to offer. Encourage community engagement, a wide range of
attractions, and transportation and accommodation services. Support local businesses and
restore local and foreign economies. Use of limited resources in an appropriate way. Promote
tourism and a welcoming environment for international as well as domestic visitors. Establishing
strategy and implementing it.

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