English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...

Sustainable tourism and post-conflict state buildingwith downturn trend in tourist arrivals and have caused inconveniences intheir holidays during their stay (Bhattarai and Dahal 2008).The post-conflict years 2008 and 2009 could not catch the momentumof growth like the previous year 2007. The total tourist arrivals by air inthe year 2007 had grown by 27 per cent to 360,350 from 283,819 arrivalsin 2006. However, there was the growth of only 4 per cent to 374,661tourists by air in 2008 and 1.08 per cent to 378,712 tourists by air in 2009(MoTCA 2009). This reveals, as Neumayer (2004) also states, the unstablenature of tourism, which is highly sensitive to any uncertainties, especiallyconflicts.Lasting peace is the prerequisite for ST sector in Nepal. Various dependentfactors like the lack of consensus politics and speedy political stability inthe present state of transition are seen as key challenges to maintain thepeaceful destination image of Nepal, sustain the recent growth of touristarrivals, adopt inclusiveness, support equitable growth and facilitateparticipatory approach of development in tourism sector. There is a highneed of bringing tourism under ‘peace zone’ by declaring it as a nationalindustry which can be free from the impact of any sort of conflict for whichthe speedy political stability and politics of consensus really matters. Thetrends (Table 5.1) on the fluctuation of tourism during the armed conflictand thereafter in post-conflict period prove that tourism is a peace industrywhich can flourish and sustain only in a secured and safe environment.5. ConclusionThe recent political revolution and peaceful transition after the end of adecade long (1996-2006) armed conflict have brought great changes on thepolitical spheres and paved ways for socio-economic transformation andstate building for a prosperous and peaceful ‘New Nepal’. National unityin diversities, nationalism, durable peace, equitable economic growth,income and distribution are both challenges as well as opportunities forstate building.For Nepal, tourism is not merely an option but very crucial for development.This is also one of the sectors in the national economy which hascomparative and competitive advantages with potential backward andforward linkages with other economic sectors like agriculture, trade andindustry. It has immense potentials for socio-economic mobilisation andgrowth not only due to the abundance of nature, culture and heritage in104