A Study of Climate Variability and Socioeconomic Impact on Tourism Industry of Nepal

Authors

  • Raju Pokharel PhD Candidate, Northern Hydrometeorology Group(NHG) Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute(NRESi) University of Northern British Columbia
  • Jagdish Poudel Mississippi State University, Starkville MS, USA
  • Aseem Raj Sharma Jagdish Poudel, PhD Candidate Graduate Research Assistant Forest Economics and Policy School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
  • Robert K Grala Mississippi State University, Starkville MS

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22158/se.v2n1p20

Abstract

In Nepal, tourism is the second largest industry after agriculture. Furthermore, Nepal offers numerous opportunities for adventurous outdoor recreation, especially in the Himalayas, and attracts tourists
from all over the World. However, future prosperity of Nepal’s tourism industry might be affected by a changing climate and a socioeconomic environment. A log-level regression model is employed to estimate the impact of climatic and socioeconomic factors on the number of international tourists visiting Nepal. Climatic estimates indicated that an increase in temperature did not have a significant impact on the numbers of international tourist arrival. Results show that the number of international tourists visiting Nepal was positively associated with GDP and population growth, inflation rate, and an exchange rate. These results help policy makers for facilitating growth of tourism industry and its adaptability to climate change in Nepal.


Published

2016-11-16

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Articles