Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Eco Tourism


Nepal's biodiversity, natural beauty and traditional rural lifestyle make it a perfect ecotourism destination.Going beyond the mountaineering mantra "Take nothing but photographs; leave nothing but footprints," ecotourism is a sustainable form of travel that aims to minimize impact and even leave a positive trail. Ecotourism was defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990 as "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."
Eco tourism in Nepal is newly introduced as it provides the utilization of natural resources to create sustainable income for businesses and individuals, if it is managed and catered properly. It focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on this earth. Ecotourism in Nepal is the main form of tourism in the country aside from the attractions of Kathmandu and other historical cities. The landscape of Nepal changes from lowlands towards the highest mountains in the world, resulting in extreme diversity only in area of 147,181 km sq.
 Nepal contains significant percentages of wildlife, such as 2, 04 % of the world's flowering higher plants and 8, 6 % of its birds. Nepal contains some 5833 species of gymnosperms and flowering plants with some 315 endemic species of higher plants, 847 bird species, 185 mammal species, 43 amphibian species, 100 reptile species, 656 butterfly species and 185 fresh water fish species have been identified in Nepal.
It is truly remarkable country for the development of ecotourism because of the combination of stunning natural environment and strong cultural heritage. Over 18% of Nepal's land has been assigned as National Parks and protected areas, attracting more than 50% of Nepal's tourists to at least one of these areas during their stay in Nepal. This simply demonstrates the importance of such regions for ecotourism.

Wild Yeti offers a variety of ecotours throughout the rural areas of Nepal. Tours may last a few hours to a few days with accommodation. Certain tours may also incorporate cultural experiences for a truly rounded Nepalese experience.