NEB Class 11 Management Tourism and Mountaineering Studies Question Paper 2078 Nepal

Tourism is the activity of people travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for a period of not more than one consecutive year, for leisure, business, or other personal purposes, and the services and industries that cater to these travellers.

Mass tourism is a form of tourism in which large numbers of people visit the same destination at the same time, usually through organized package tours, often concentrated in popular and well-developed locations.

In tourism, 'the market' refers to the actual and potential buyers (tourists) of tourism products and services who have the desire, ability, and willingness to purchase travel-related goods and services. It represents the demand side of the tourism industry.

National Parks situated in the Terai region of Nepal include: Chitwan National Park, Bardiya National Park, Shuklaphanta National Park, Parsa National Park, and Banke National Park.

Eco-tourism is a form of responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of local people, and involves interpretation and education. It minimizes negative impacts on nature and culture while supporting conservation efforts.

Adventure tourism is a type of tourism that involves exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk and physical activity, requiring special skills and physical exertion. Examples include trekking, mountaineering, rafting, bungee jumping, and paragliding.

Two mountain peaks above 8000 m in height are Mount Everest (Sagarmatha, 8,848.86 m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 m). (Other examples: Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Annapurna.)

Two major health problems faced during a mountaineering expedition are: (1) Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) / altitude sickness, including high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE); and (2) frostbite and hypothermia caused by extreme cold.

Two risks of mountaineering are: (1) avalanches, falling rocks, and crevasse falls; and (2) extreme weather conditions and altitude sickness that can endanger climbers' lives.

Motivation refers to the inner drive, needs, or psychological forces that arouse and direct a person to act in a particular way to achieve a desired goal. In tourism, motivation is what stimulates a person to travel and choose a particular destination or experience.

Stanley Plog classified tourists along a continuum from psychocentric to allocentric:

Allocentric tourists:

• Adventurous, self-confident, and outgoing; seek novel and exotic destinations.
• Prefer unstructured, independent travel rather than packaged tours.
• Like to explore new, undeveloped, and unfamiliar places before they become popular.
• Comfortable with new cultures, foods, and people; high level of activity.
• Spend more on experiences and require fewer tourist facilities.

Psychocentric tourists:

• Self-inhibited, anxious, and inward-looking; prefer familiar and safe destinations.
• Like well-developed, popular destinations with established facilities.
• Prefer organized package tours and a predictable, structured itinerary.
• Choose destinations close to home and familiar surroundings; low activity level.
• Look for comfort, security, and value for money.

Most tourists fall in the mid-centric range between these two extremes.

Major challenges of global tourism development in recent times include:

1. Health pandemics and safety crises - outbreaks such as COVID-19 caused travel restrictions, border closures, and collapse of demand.
2. Climate change and environmental degradation - rising sea levels, glacier melting, extreme weather, and pollution threaten destinations and increase the carbon footprint of travel.
3. Over-tourism - excessive visitor numbers at popular destinations cause environmental damage, congestion, and resentment among host communities.
4. Security threats and political instability - terrorism, conflicts, and political unrest reduce traveller confidence.
5. Economic fluctuations - global recessions, currency volatility, and rising fuel/travel costs affect tourist spending.
6. Seasonality and uneven distribution - heavy reliance on peak seasons and concentration in a few destinations.
7. Technological disruption and competition - rapid digitalization, online platforms, and intense global competition require constant adaptation.
8. Sustainability and resource management - balancing economic benefits with conservation of natural and cultural heritage.

These challenges require coordinated policies, sustainable practices, diversification, and resilience-building by stakeholders.

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), established in 1998 as a national tourism organization through a public-private partnership, plays a key role in marketing Nepal's tourism products:

1. Destination branding and promotion - promotes Nepal internationally under brands such as 'Naturally Nepal, Once Is Not Enough' and organizes campaigns like Visit Nepal Year.
2. Marketing and publicity - produces brochures, films, websites, and advertisements, and participates in international travel fairs and trade shows.
3. Product development and diversification - identifies, develops, and promotes new tourism products and destinations (adventure, cultural, eco, religious tourism).
4. Market research - studies tourist trends, source markets, and visitor preferences to guide marketing strategy.
5. Coordination and partnership - works with the government, travel trade, airlines, and private sector to market Nepal collectively.
6. Information dissemination - provides reliable travel information to tourists through information centres and digital media.
7. Capacity building - trains and supports tourism entrepreneurs and promotes quality service.

Through these activities, NTB enhances Nepal's image, attracts visitors, and increases tourism revenue.

The Nepalese tourism market can be segmented (segregated) on the following bases:

1. Geographic basis - by source country/region: India, China, other South Asian countries, Europe, North America, Australia, etc.; and by domestic vs. international tourists.
2. Demographic basis - by age, gender, income, occupation, family size, and education of tourists.
3. Psychographic basis - by lifestyle, personality, interests, and values (e.g., adventure seekers, leisure travellers, spiritual seekers).
4. Purpose/behavioural basis - by purpose of visit: holiday/pleasure, trekking and mountaineering, pilgrimage/religious, business/MICE, official, education, health.
5. Activity basis - adventure tourists, cultural tourists, eco-tourists, religious tourists, and wildlife tourists.
6. Volume/spending basis - high-spending vs. budget tourists; group vs. individual travellers (FIT).

Segmenting the market in these ways helps target marketing efforts and design suitable tourism products for each group.

Homestay tourism, in which tourists stay with local families and experience their daily life and culture, has significant impacts in Nepal:

Positive impacts:

1. Economic - generates additional income and employment for rural households, reduces poverty, and keeps tourism revenue within local communities.
2. Cultural - preserves and promotes local culture, traditions, food, and lifestyles; encourages cultural exchange between hosts and guests.
3. Social - empowers women and marginalized groups, builds local skills and confidence, and improves community infrastructure.
4. Environmental - encourages conservation of the natural environment as a tourism resource and promotes cleanliness and sanitation.
5. Rural and balanced development - spreads tourism benefits to remote areas and reduces rural-urban migration.

Negative impacts:

1. Possible erosion of culture and traditions through over-commercialization and outside influence.
2. Environmental pressure and waste problems if not well managed.
3. Unequal distribution of benefits and potential social conflicts within communities.

Overall, well-managed homestay tourism contributes to inclusive, community-based, and sustainable tourism development in Nepal.

Definition: Adventure tourism is a form of tourism that involves travel to remote, exotic, or natural areas to engage in physically challenging, exciting, and risk-bearing activities. It combines physical activity, contact with nature, and a degree of risk that requires special skills, equipment, and preparation. Examples include trekking, mountaineering, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, mountain biking, and jungle safaris.

Features of adventure tourism:

1. Element of risk - involves physical, emotional, or perceived risk and uncertainty of outcome, which is the main attraction.
2. Physical exertion and challenge - requires considerable physical effort, stamina, and endurance.
3. Use of natural environment - takes place in natural settings such as mountains, rivers, forests, and deserts.
4. Special skills and equipment - demands specialized training, gear, and sometimes professional guides.
5. Novelty and excitement - offers new, thrilling, and memorable experiences far from routine life.
6. Sense of achievement - provides personal satisfaction, confidence, and accomplishment after completion.
7. Interaction with nature and culture - allows close contact with the environment and local communities.
8. Higher expenditure and limited mass appeal - generally costlier and appeals to a specific adventurous segment rather than mass tourists.

Nepal, with its Himalayas and diverse geography, is one of the world's leading adventure tourism destinations.

Mountaineering expeditions in Nepal are regulated by the Government of Nepal (Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Requirements of a mountaineering expedition:

1. Permits and royalty - climbing permit and payment of royalty fee for the chosen peak (fees vary by peak and season).
2. Liaison officer - a government liaison officer must accompany the expedition team.
3. Insurance - mandatory insurance for climbers, guides, and high-altitude workers (Sherpas).
4. Qualified guides and support staff - licensed climbing guides, Sherpas, porters, and a base-camp team.
5. Equipment and supplies - specialized climbing gear (ropes, ice axes, crampons, oxygen cylinders), tents, food, and communication devices.
6. Physical fitness and skills - climbers must be physically fit and trained in mountaineering techniques.
7. Environmental deposit - a garbage/refundable deposit to ensure the mountain is kept clean.

Process of a mountaineering expedition:

1. Planning and selection - choose the peak, season, and route, and form the team.
2. Obtaining permission - apply for the climbing permit through a registered trekking/expedition agency and pay royalty.
3. Logistics and preparation - arrange equipment, food, staff, insurance, and transportation.
4. Travel to base camp - trek or fly to the region and establish base camp.
5. Acclimatization - gradual ascent and rotation between camps to adapt to high altitude.
6. Establishing higher camps - set up Camp I, II, III, etc., and stock them with supplies.
7. Summit push - the final climb to the summit, usually with oxygen and in good weather windows.
8. Descent and clean-up - safe return, removal of garbage and equipment, and reporting to authorities.

Proper coordination, safety measures, and adherence to government regulations are essential for a successful and responsible expedition.