Introduction
Tourism is an important part of development. It could not be denied that in line with the concept of globalization, nations from around the globe has created a distinct strategy that they ought to adapt to especially when it comes to making an impact on how the world develops a better sense of what they could offer the industry of tourism. Through expanding their options, nations have become more concerned as to how they are going to improve their strategies especially in making a distinct impact on the reputation they hold in the international market. At present, tourism is considered as one the most effective forms of industry that boosts the overall capacity of a nation to earn from most of the industries that it is dependent upon. This is why it is important to take note of the fact that improving the concept of tourism that a nation wants to embrace includes the need for the administrators to give attention to the different industries that could be involved in such movement. This is where sustainable tourism comes into the picture.
With regards the proper application of the different principles of sustainable tourism, this presentation shall concentrate on how the Sagarmatha National Park is considered to be among the most suitable areas where sustainable tourism could be established. Through examining the background, the current situation and the future expectations on this particular area’s development in becoming capable of presenting a distinct reputation of being sustainable amidst the attention that it is getting from tourists all around the globe.
Background of the Tourist Destination
Located in Nepal within the mountainous regions of the Himalayas the scene at the Sagarmatha National Park is simply majestic and alluring. Covered with snow and glaciers, the presentation of nature in this part of the world is simply amazing. Seemingly untouched by the massive process of evolving human culture and industries, the Sagarmatha National Park is considered to be one of its kind. It was in 1979 when the Sagarmatha National Park was noted as one of the major spots recognized by the World Heritage enlisted under the Natural Criterion.
While there are residents living around the area, it could not be denied that several authorities and agencies of natural resources have been designated to protect the area from any type of devastation and disturbance from distinct human activities from the people living within its territorial boundaries. The convergence between the Indian and Asian mountains have distinctively created a scenic value that connects the different characteristics of these different land regions together, creating a young but exceptionally identifiable range of mountains that represents the overall value of what the mountain ranges intend to portray.
The metamorphosis of the land appearance concentrated in the area has been created for the past 50 million years of natural movements and massive design corrosions. Resulting to a majestic presentation of exceptionally designed mountains, the Sagarmatha National Park is expected to continue growing and morphine for the next decades. This is why as much as possible, authorities assigned to give attention to the overall condition of the area are expected to give specific consideration on the preservation and conservation of the natural resources in the said national park (Aas, et al, 2005). While people are allowed to roam around the area’s surroundings, authorities make it a point to make sure that the natural condition of the location is not disturbed accordingly [due to the occurrence of massive human activities](Keiner, 2003).
There are, however, something more than just human activities that should be carried into account when considering the most common issues that could disturb the natural appearance and integrity of the mountain ranges in the said naturally reserved park. The climate surrounding the area is notably vast and complex especially in consideration with the time span when the climate is dry compared to when it is wet. There is a reported average 80% of annual precipitation which is often collected during the months of June towards September. Supposedly, this situation in the environment would make it easier for glaciers to form and be preserved accordingly. However, the fast changing average of climate change makes such occurrence nearly impossible. At a longer span of time, it has been observed that the climate in the area rises accordingly which makes it harder to form and preserve glaciers. This challenge also intends to mandate a commotion on the development of diversified life forms in the location thus affecting the overall natural integrity of the national park (Reay, 2004). This is where the need to implicate systems of sustainable tourism to make sure that the Sagarmatha natural reserves would be protected is considered essential in the hope of making the destination available for tourists around the globe for many decades to come.
Prism of Sustainability
- Environmental Dimension
As mentioned in the previous section of this discussion, there are two very prominent issues that authorities protecting the Sagarmatha National Park need to face. One of which is the fast changing climate in the Himalayas [to which the Sagarmatha National Park is included]. This aspect of change does determine the course of development that the natural resources in the location takes into account. However, instead of massive development, the pattern of change in the climate makes it harder to preserve the resources and the beauty that the national park is noted for. The fast pace changes regarding this matter does create a problem for keepers of the area. Along with climate change is the influx of people who are willing to come and visit the area. It is feared that the increased population of individuals or group of people coming into the region could disturb the overall integrity of nature’s works (Scoone, 2001). Practically, this involves the natural procedures taken into account by the environment to form the most fascinating sceneries in the area. It is assumed that the beauty that Sagarmatha National Park possesses today could be accounted for several years of nature’s works. Disturbance from human activity could alter the said grand creations accordingly, hence making it possible for the National Park to possibly lose its physical value.
The possible issue that could be added among others [that have already been mentioned] is that of the aspect by which global warming affects the overall natural integrity of the area. Global warming is a phenomena that everyone and everything is expected to be affected with. Relatively, in the Sagarmatha National Park, such condition could be dealt with accordingly through maintenance and constant observation from the keepers of the park. The agencies, including scientists and environmentalists, could be given proper change to explore what else could be done to improve the integrity of the natural wealth that is present in the park.
- Social Dimension
Sustainable tourism does provide a distinct guideline especially in determining what is meant by good aspects of gaining visitors from all over the globe, without necessary putting the natural resources of a particular area at risk. To be able to reach good destinations, transportation is needed. In areas like the Sagarmatha National Park, it could be observed that transportation may not be easy to incur. Relatively, it is evidently important to make sure that mobility among tourists in the Sagarmatha National Park be connected to the idea of keeping the transport system more environmentally friendly especially in consideration with the emergent existence of massive tourism in the area.
- Economic Dimension
Along with this option of resolution on mobility, it is expected that particular programs of environmental protection be oriented among tourists who are to enter the Sagarmatha National Park. Dividing the park into several sections should be given attention to; this will allow for a better guidance on how tourists are to be guided as they tour around the area. Taking pictures and engaging in specific activities such as camping and other outdoor games or sports activities could only be accomplished with a secured permit from the authorities keeping the area (Cohen, et al, 2011). Certain sections are to be opened for such options of activities; nonetheless, it is only with ample permit taken from the administrators of the part that such activities could be given particular attention to among tourists.
- Institutional Dimension
The power of the administrators over what is to be accomplished for the sake of improving the tourism industry and operations in Sagarmatha National Park does create a distinct course of development especially in identifying what is meant by effective allotment of resources in order to get the best benefits from what the industry has to offer the nation and its people with.
Applicable Principles of Sustainable Tourism
Raising awareness among tourists is an important aspect of the programs that determine the overall application of the concepts of sustainable tourism to reserved and protected areas like the Sagarmatha National Park. How could awareness be improved among tourists? As the visitors arrive in the area. It is expected that a distinct location for orientation is designated to introduce the tourists to the different areas of the national park where they would be toured on and what these stations are for, as well as how they should behave around such areas. Improving the ways by which they understand their responsibility not only as visitors in the park, but as keepers of the area as well (Wallace, 2002). During these times, reminding the visitors of how they ought to take into account the seriousness of their responsibilities as they roam around the park is a focal point of discussion.
Apart from the tourists, the local residents who are expected to operate small and cultural businesses around the area are expected to affect the overall integrity of the environment surrounding the national park as well. While tourism opens such options for local residents accordingly, it could not be denied that they should also be held responsible in making sure that they are able to follow the rules and policies relating to good environmental developments (Aas, et al, 2005).
Considerably, it is through the collaborative work of the locals and the visitors that developing or at least improving the natural integrity of the park. With good communication between parties involved, it is expected that controlling the situations and the elements that are likely affecting the environmental reputation of Sagarmatha National Park would be much easier to accomplish (Gossling, et al, 2010). People who are willing to help out for the sake of preserving the area’s most valuable wealth could be given a better option of engaging in the conservation of resources through creating programs of tourist-involvement especially in making distinct effect on how the environment is being maintained around and within the national park (Reay, 2004). These programs are supposed to be designed to make sure that the visitors would be given the chance to get involved in the work of preparing the national park for further developments in the future.
Opening the doors for support and development among institutions and agencies that render attention and budget for the preservation and protection of naturally preserved areas could also improve the ways by which the Sagarmatha embraces a distinct option of development especially in the hope of retaining the integrity of the area’s environmental surroundings amidst opening the options of developing programs and industries that would host the inflow of both local and international tourists coming in to visit Sagarmatha National Park.
Through altering the problems that are currently affecting the adjustments [both natural and manmade] that the park is currently undergoing as it takes the option of being internationally recognized, it could be realized that Sagarmatha National Park could embrace development further, especially in relation to the option of making a distinct impact on how the flora and fauna in the park is protected accordingly. Diversity of species residing in the park should be protected accordingly, not only for the sake of retaining the integrity of the environment of the park, but also for the sake of improving the options of developing tourism satisfaction in the area in the years that are yet to come (UNEP, 2013).
Sustainable Tourism towards a Better Future
Sustainable tourism is dedicated towards creating possible programs and options that are necessarily important when it comes to preserving the resources of the areas that are considered as reserved or protected. This is the reason why when it comes to applying the said concept of modern tourism in the current operations of tourism in several areas of the world, it is important to take note of how well the different elements of local and international travel do contribute to the manners by which the environment and its integrity is protected accordingly.
As mentioned in the discussion presented within the previous sections of this work, among the most common points of consideration would be that of the manner by which transportation and mobility is given particular attention to (Moworth). Transportation is a key element to better and open tourism in particular areas where people would likely want to visit. For this case, the best way of improving mobility along the regions and territories of the Sagarmatha National Park would be the creation of environmentally-friendly transport options that would do less when it comes to harming the surrounding environment. Programs of eco-walk around the area could also be pursued by the management and the administrators of the agencies that are protecting the area. These programs could be enhanced through determinable goals that are established by the administrators especially in considering how the walks are supposed to affect the being of the visitors; showing and telling them how they could benefit from such programs could entice them into taking the more environmentally-friendly option of mobility around the area (Malhado, et al, 2014).
Another aspect of concern would be that of the climate change; something unavoidable, but likely controllable based on the manner of consideration that administrators take into account especially in determining how modern technology could help in improving the situation. Creating canopies around the area as well as greenhouse nurseries would help out in retaining [if not possibly developing] the diversity of existing species in the said location. These options of development could actually give a deeper sense of protecting and improving the overall environmental integrity of the regions within and around the Sagarmatha National Park.
Human act, the contribution of human activities to the development of the Sagarmatha National Park’s environmental improvement could either be positive or negative based on how the people could be guided accordingly. As mentioned earlier, the understanding of the people towards the real value of their role in protecting the resources present in the environment could be improved based on how well they are educated about it (Peeters, 2010). Tourists visiting specially protected areas like the Sagarmatha National Park ought to be given proper vision as to what they are expected to and how they are expected to act as they interact with the species and the elements of natural beauty that is found in the area [especially delicate factors like the glaciers]. What makes a good program to support the need of the visitors to be educated regarding their role is the creation of a god system that involves the distinction of accurate information that could help tourists be knowledgeable about the place they are visiting, its special features and the distinct creatures living in it (Gössling, et al, 2009). Practically, knowing these information provide tourists a better aspect of understanding how their actions could actually impact the overall standing of the park’s integrity.
Conclusion
Preservation and protection; these are the two primary goals of programs that are created and applied for the sake of improving the different options of managing areas like the Sagarmatha National Park. Being enlisted to be among the most interesting places to visit in the world, tourists have a distinct expectation from what the park could offer them with. These expectations are likely to be met, only through the concept of maintenance and development that the administrators take into account. The collaborative use of both traditional and modern options of protecting the environment could help well assuring that protected areas like the Sagarmatha National Park could be given attention to as they are being opened to both local and international flow of tourists coming from within and outside the country. Question is, would tourism be sustainable to this destination? As seen from the discussions presented herein, sustainable tourism is a great possibility to be embraced in maintaining the beauty and integrity of Sagarmatha National Park, especially if the administrators would put in ample time to establish policies and denote sections in the area where the tourists are to be guided accordingly with their options of visiting and roaming the place as they visit.
True to its sense, tourism is an industry that opens its doors to different options of development for the host countries (Malhado, et al, 2014). The recognition of Sagarmatha National Park by the World Heritage listing administrators does not only put the national park in the map but also Nepal. Not only does this recognition improve the consideration of Nepal as a country, but as a destination, which is expected to increase its economic competence in the face of international market that is fully focused on the creation of better tourism options for the less likely notable areas in the world.
While such options are opened for the host countries, it is expected that making a distinct name especially for the area being campaigned upon in the field of tourism, it is also strongly suggested that the administrators of the nation consider programs that would not only improve the appearance of the location but would also create a better option of protecting the environment within and outside the surrounding environment of the protected areas.
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