Integrating Local Resources into Curriculum for Sustainable Development of Tourism in Nepal

Authors: Taranath Bhattarai

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37082/IJIRMPS.v12.i4.232647

Short DOI: https://doi.org/g9tgms

Country: Nepal

Full-text Research PDF File:   View   |   Download

Abstract: This study examines the integration of local resources into educational curricula as a strategic approach to fostering sustainable tourism development in Nepal. Utilizing a qualitative research design rooted in hermeneutic phenomenology, the research captures the lived experiences and perspectives of individuals actively engaged in tourism-related occupations in the culturally and naturally endowed Lumbini region. By analyzing how natural, cultural, and human resources can be effectively contextualized within education, the study establishes a theoretical linkage among education, resource mobilization, and tourism development. Data were gathered through field observations, participatory rural appraisal (PRA), and semi-structured interviews with a diverse cohort, including rickshaw pullers, shopkeepers, tour guides, educators, students, and local officials. The findings underscore a critical disconnect between existing educational practices and the communicative, practical, and contextual needs of the tourism industry. The study advocates for a localized, resource-based curriculum that prioritizes practical language skills, intercultural competencies, and place-based knowledge. Such an educational model is proposed as a catalyst for empowering local human capital, reinforcing community-based tourism infrastructure, and advancing sustainable socio-economic development across Nepal.

Keywords: Local resources, sustainable tourism, resource-based curriculum, experiential education, contextual learning, community empowerment

Paper Id: 232647

Published On: 2024-08-17

Published In: Volume 12, Issue 4, July-August 2024

Share this