Innovation in Nepal’s Heritage Tourism

Innovation Management in Cultural Heritage Tourism in Nepal: Opportunities and Obstacles for Implementation

Nepal is a developing country and it is considered as a visual paradise, located between China; towards the North and India; towards the South. Over the years, cultural heritage tourism has been a major revenue for Nepal, owing to the fact that through small developments within the tourism sector, Nepal has been able to benefit from generating employment opportunities, as well as foreign currency (Swanson & Edgell Sr, 2013). In order to maintain a sustainable cultural heritage tourism, sufficient innovation needs to be implemented, thus making the cultural heritage tourism to be economically viable, to enable the society needs to be met in the country (Jones, 2013). Evidently, in this way, Nepal will be able to deliver the benefits associated with innovative heritage culture without being detrimental to the current, as well as future generations. However, it is also clear that there are opportunities, as well as challenges, which hinder the implementation of innovation management (Sharpley & Telfer, 2015). These will be discussed in the paper, forming its base. In this regard, the aim of this paper is to reflect and explore the present profile of cultural heritage tourism in Nepal, thus, familiarizing with innovation management whilst discovering the opportunities and challenges for their implementation, in order to provide a sustainable development in Nepal, and to discover how it can play a significant role towards the development of the nation.

Nepal has great potential for tourism (Duncanson, 2002, Jones 2013) due to its rich cultural heritage assets and the pristine nature of its unmatched tourism features. This is because the tourism sector employs 42% of the entire working population, and it accounts for approximately 7.5% of Nepal’s GDP. This is forecast to have a rise of 4.3% yearly to approximately Rs287 billion or 8.4% GDP in 2017 (Jones, 2013). This implies that the tourism number is increasing and will continually increase in the coming years. However; Nepal has failed to create a competitive advantage due to weak tourism policy, management and strategies (Jones, 2013). However effective tourism policy and management are fundamental. In order to meet customer expectations, the challenges of global competition and in an era of over-tourism, whereby tourism development and governance needs sensitive management, it is necessary to consider innovation management and implication (OECD, 2006; European Commission, 2006; UNWTO, 2005; Hjalager, 2009; & Katsoni, et al. 2016).

The research design will undertake a qualitative approach and be based on a Conceptual Framework drawn from, Innovation theories, Resource-Based Theory and tourism planning governance, which explores the situation in Nepal and how the tourism initiatives or strategy could be improved in order to maximise the potential of cultural tourism and achieve competitive advantage. As such, phenomenological research theory (Mayoh, & Onwuegbuzie, 2015) has been used to understand individual experiences and perceptions, which could influence the innovation

Plan

The aim of this paper is to reflect and explore the present profile of cultural heritage tourism in Nepal, thus, familiarizing with innovation management whilst discovering the opportunities and challenges for their implementation, in order to provide a sustainable development in Nepal, and to discover how it can play a significant role towards the development of the nation.

The objectives of the paper includes the following:

To critically review the literature on the process of innovation management in tourism in relation to government policy and strategy with a focus on cultural heritage tourism.

A critical reflection on literature will involve secondary data collection from books, journals, article, government publications, online sites and research papers (Johnson, & Turner. 2003). This objective will be completed in two weeks.

To evaluate the issues, challenges and gaps in knowledge which could hinder the establishment of competitive advantage regarding innovation management in cultural tourism in Nepal.

The research will undertake a qualitative approach, in order to meet this objective. As such, phenomenological research theory (Mayoh, & Onwuegbuzie, 2015) has been used to understand individual experiences and perceptions, which could influence the innovations. Implementing phenomenological theory helps to determine in-depth knowledge of the study and generate a vast amount of data by human interest, it has been reflected by the research process regarding the study (Hinch & Higham, 2011). The notion of phenomenological research is employed to provide the answers to the specific research problems and issues of Nepalese tourism, which could assist to identify how and why innovations do take place. Moreover, a short structural interview will be conducted in between 5/7 community people who have inhabited the cultural heritage destination. Additionally, the research will take place in the two different regions of Nepal mainly, Kathmandu (northern region), and Pokhara (western region). These localities are completely differenced on their tangible and intangible tourism features. This will take a period of 2 months.

To critically evaluate the importance of innovation in tourism in the context of Nepalese economy and tourism.

In meeting this objective, the research will use a non-probability snowball method to identify the key information from representatives (Noy, 2008). Hence, an interview will be recorded on the tapes and field notes, which could be translated from Nepali to English, to ensure reliability (Wang & Fesenmaier, 2007). Consequently, content analysis and classical coding method will be used to interpret the collected data but on the other hand gathered information from an interview will be interpreted through thematic analysis. This will take 1 month to completion.

To examine the perceptions of the different stakeholders in relation to innovation management within the tourism sector to enhance the socio-economic future of Nepal.

Meeting this objective will require the use of qualitative research, whereby, data collection will be taken at the end of 2019. The primary data collection encompasses the process of accumulating data and information based on an in-depth structured interview (Alshenqeeti, 2014), which will take at least 30 to 60 minutes. An in depth structure interview, will be conducted amongst 5 officers and managers, who involved in cultural heritage tourism such as tour operators, hotel industry and Local/ Central Tourism Board of Nepal. This procedure will take a period of three months.

To develop a conceptual framework for innovation and related theory to create a competitive advantage in the tourism industry of Nepal.

To meet this objective, the research will use multiple methods and procedures in appropriate ways in validate the research (Seale, 2012). To validate the research, it will be strictly followed on specified areas of the study, in order to gather sufficient related data (Hussein, 2015). Moreover, triangulation will be used for comparison and analysis of the related findings. Further, the collected report will be rechecked and compared with other existing articles and reports. Hence, the research data will be collected in an affecting manner from various authentic sources, which would bring forth a reliable and valid outcome. This will take a period of two weeks.

Project

This research begins with the formulation of a significant title, whereby key words are established, which relate to the proposal. Thereafter, the research overview is conducted, based on academic discourses, as well as literature. This stage also involves the formulation of research questions, the major approaches to be adopted, as well as the significance of the research is established. Following this, the positioning of this research is established, thus providing a deep understanding of the research issues whilst identifying the existing gaps. The design and methodology follows, whereby, it provides the research parameters, overall approach discussion, providing specific aims and objectives, and a discussion of the timeline for their achievement. A well-developed methodology is crucial for conducting empirical research. At this stage, the anticipated development of the work to PhD level will occur.

References

Jones, H. (2013). Entry points for developing tourism in Nepal. What can be done to address constraints to inclusive growth.

Sharpley, R., & Telfer, D. J. (2015). Tourism and development in the developing world. Routledge.

Swanson, J. R., & Edgell Sr, D. L. (2013). Tourism policy and planning: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Routledge.