Langtang locals call for fair share of tourism earnings

Langtang, Nepal’s third most popular tourist destination, attracts thousands of domestic and international trekkers annually. However, locals have not been able to get much benefit from tourism—a major source of revenue for Nepal—due to inadequate government investment in infrastructure.

Tourist hotspots like Langtang, Gosainkunda, and settlements on the Tamang Heritage Trail see a high influx of visitors. According to Langtang National Park, it mobilized Rs 41.05m from entry fees from 32,597 tourists in fiscal year 2023/24. Likewise, it collected Rs 3.42m as royalty from forest products and Rs 51,017 as fine. In 2022/23, a total of 30,159 tourists visited the national park, contributing Rs 42.47m to the state coffers, according to Ganesh Prasad Adhikari, the information officer at the Dhunche-based Langtang National Park Office. 

Langtang National Park charges Rs 100 for Nepali visitors, Rs 1,500 for SAARC nationals, and Rs 3,000 for other foreign tourists. However, local tourism entrepreneurs argue that the revenue collected is not reinvested sufficiently into infrastructure development.  

Subba Lama, proprietor of Hotel Red Panda in Chandanbari, said tourism destinations in the Langtang region lack proper amenities. “Despite its religious and tourism significance, the Gosainkunda trail lacks comprehensive development plans. Even a tourist information centre has not been established. Above Chandanbari, internet access is almost non-existent. How can we ensure convenience for tourists without proper communication facilities?” he questioned.  

Entrepreneurs also criticize the government for neglecting emergency rescue services and tourist information centres which are essential for enhancing the visitor experience.

Revenue generated from tourists is deposited with the federal government and later shared with provincial and local governments. Although all three tiers of the government are collecting taxes, the collected revenue has not been channeled for the development of areas from where it is collected.

Davasidar Waiba, Ward Chair of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality-6, said that providing only basic facilities is not enough. “Additional amenities like well-maintained trails, tourist information centres, and other infrastructures are vital,” he added.

Local representatives and residents believe that federal and provincial governments should coordinate and allocate resources to address these gaps. They say a lack of synergy among three tiers of government has hindered progress in tourism and infrastructure development.

Bongjomane and Jyarsha Gothen community forests above Gatlang in Aamachhodingmo Rural Municipality-3 were devastated by a fire 15 years ago. Despite repeated assurances from various government ministers, no reforestation initiatives have been implemented. “Government representatives have visited the area, made speeches, but left without doing anything. No budget has been allocated for reforestation,” he added.

Minister for Forest and Environment of Bagmati Province Government, Krishna Prasad Silwal, recently visited the area and stressed the need for scientific studies before launching reforestation projects. Ashok Kumar Ghimire, chief of the District Coordination Committee, Rasuwa, told Minister Ghimire to formulate plans to rehabilitate the forest instead of just touring the area. 

Ram Sharan Gajurel, who leads a federation of hotels and tourism enterprises, said the government should not merely collect revenue from tourists but also focus on developing tourism infrastructure. He highlighted the need to develop trekking routes, rest areas, water and sanitation facilities, electricity, information centers at various locations, and proper tourist amenities. “While the region has significant potential for religious and ecotourism across all five rural municipalities, there are challenges in development vision and leadership,” Gajurel said. “Local governments should collaborate with businesses and stakeholders to create comprehensive tourism promotion plans.”

Aamachhoding Rural Municipality offers numerous tourism opportunities. “Beyond well-known locations like Paldor Peak, Jageshwar Kunda, Dilpu Kunda, Parbati Kunda Gopa Kunda and Sanzen valley,  there are other interesting destinations like Golsung, Gatlang, Chilime, Tatopani, Nagthali, and Thuman that showcase the depth of Tamang cultural heritage,” said Bikas Lama, a seasoned trekking guide.

Similarly, promising locations in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality-2 like Dudh Kunda and Pangsang are also awaiting tourists. Local youth social worker Kaminu Tamang said Dudh Kunda lacks proper infrastructure. “The area lacks adequate accommodation despite having breathtaking views accessible within two days,” he added.

Fikuri highlands in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-2, is a stunning high-altitude scenic spot. From here, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Dhading districts. The Fikuri region, which sits at an elevation of approximately 3,800 meters, offers spectacular views of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Himalayan ranges including Langtang, Gosaikunda, Nargajun, Kakani, Ganesh, and Dorje Lakpa. Additional attractions include Uttargaya Dham and Bhange waterfall. 

Similarly, Jure Dhunga-Naukunda trail in Naukunda Rural Municipality holds significant tourism potential, according to vice chairperson Chandra Bahadur Tamang. “The local government can generate substantial tourist revenue by promoting this trail,” he added.

The national park and its wildlife, including red pandas, snow leopards, and deer, attract tourists but create conflicts with local farmers. Wild animals frequently destroy crops, forcing some farmers to abandon agriculture. “Instead of spending on compensation, preventive measures against wildlife intrusion should be prioritized,” said Jhanknath Neupane, a social worker from Kalika Rural Municipality-2.  

Langtang National Park generates over Rs 40m annually, but this revenue fails to translate into tangible development for the region. The existing revenue allocation policy proposes distributing revenue among different tiers of government: 50 percent to the federal government, and 25 percent each to the provincial government and local government. However, this allocation is not effectively being used for tourism sector development.

Amar Raj Mishra, a member of the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, said royalty is split among five sectors—water resources, electricity, forests, conservation areas and tourism. “The commission can only recommend conditional grants, it is up to the government to take the final decision,” he added.

Locals say the Langtang National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee has not developed a systematic plan for proportional budget distribution. Moreover, there is no mandatory requirement to allocate funds specifically to the tourism sector.

Experts and stakeholders suggest better coordination between federal, provincial, and local governments to ensure fair allocation of resources and foster sustainable tourism development. Unless the government addresses these shortcomings, tourism potential of Langtang Region, like other areas of the country, risks remaining underutilized.

Call to reinvest tourism revenue in Lantang

Although royalty collection from tourism is high, there has not been much focus on tourism sector development in the national park and surrounding areas. Most of the spending made from this share of royalty that the area receives does not contribute to tourism development. Some resources are allocated to nature conservation.

The religious tourism area of Gosaikunda and cable car projects are under discussion of late. However, investment or economic resources for the project has not been secured.  or investment secured. Likewise, although the district is home to different tourism products and services like Uttargaya Dham, Kalika Mai Temple, Langtang National Park, Gosaikunda, and Ganesh Himal range, no effort has been made to develop the package by including all these attractions.

Similarly, the region is home to globally significant wetland sites and endangered wildlife and plant species. These natural heritage and biological diversity must be preserved and handed over to future generations. Successful tourism development can create employment opportunities for youth within the country.

For this, the government should encourage the private sector to build quality hotel and lodge facilities, build infrastructure for clean and competitive tourism, establish a business revival fund targeting potential pandemic-related challenges, and strategically reinvest a substantial portion of tourism revenue back into sector development.

The impact of climate change is becoming evident not only in the tourism sector but also in agriculture and nature, said Nurpusangbo Ghale, Chairperson of Naukunda Rural Municipality. 

He highlighted that, in collaboration with the National Trust for Nature Conservation and other stakeholders, with support from the Green Climate Fund, efforts are being made in the Gandaki Watershed Climate Resilience Project area. These efforts aim to enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems, reduce climate-induced disasters and risks, implement disaster response strategies, and promote nature-based solutions, climate resilience, and climate coding. 

Chairperson Ghale also emphasized the need to mitigate climate change impacts, promote tourism by identifying new destinations, and increase investment in infrastructure development. 

Meanwhile, Information Officer Ashesh Khadka from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Cooperatives of Bagmati Province stated that the provincial government does not collect taxes independently and operates based on budgets and plans prepared by the Ministry of Finance. 

He added that development projects carried out in coordination with local governments and other tiers of government could prevent duplication and increase community ownership. However, locals have complained that funds allocated by the provincial government are often not utilized effectively, as they are distributed based on political influence rather than addressing urgent needs.

This story has been produced with the support of the Internews Earth Journalism Network through the Media for Inclusive Green Growth project