Executive Summary

Bhaktapur is home of medieval art and architecture, which is renowned for its colorful
festivals, traditional dances and typical indigenous Newari lifestyle that has
emerged as Nepal’s cultural capital. It is a living museum displaying traditional
music, festivals and ritual dances, the vibrant depth of Newari Culture for the
promotion of the tourism. Approximately one hundred thousand people inhabit in
the city and the main occupation of its inhabitants is agriculture, crafts and
businesses.

Municipality has been doing a lot to preserve historic monuments and cultural heritage.
It has changed from the filthiest city in the valley to the cleanest city. Still there are
more things to be done for promoting tourism. To exploit tourism potentials of the
district for economic upliftmen of its inhabitants, some measures are to be
considered.

The quality manpower, security, comfortable and pleasant places, access basic facilities
such as parking, toilet and general minimum basic information on do's and don’t
dos, standard accommodation, communication facilities, new tourism products,
evening tourism promotion packages, etc. should be developed including modern
infrastructures.

Tourism is a most complex functional system comprised of five components viz. tourists,
attractions, service facilities, transportation and information direction. Tourism is a
series of activities of the people for development of tourist movement. This is a practice
of traveling for recreation, pleasure or culture, exploration, promotion or
encouragement of touring and accommodation of tourists so that Bhaktapur should
consider these issues seriously while formulating tourism related plans, policies and
promotional strategies.

Tourism is the world's largest industry in these days. This has made leading contribution
in improving the economy of many countries including Nepal. The tourisam industry can
be implemented as a means for the poverty alleviation and its income can be distributed
for grassroots level communities for rural development. It is, obviously, related for
traveling which is naturally a human character. People expect change that can be
obtained from travel. The basic concept of tourism pleasure leisure was started from
ancient time of civilization even though people cannot enjoy in a disturbed environment
so that peace is most vital requirement for tourism promotion that GoN and Bhaktapur
Municipality should seriously consider on this issue.

A tourist spends hours for favorable destination where they can emotionally, mentally,
economically and psychologically feel inner satisfaction. For this purpose, the tourism
related marketing promotional plans, policies and strategies are needed to be efficiently
and effectively formulated and implemented for better outputs. A Strategy is a
comprehensive master plan, which directs way to achieve missions, visions and
objectives. It helps to maximize competitive advantages and minimizes disadvantages.
Tourism Development Strategy has been ‘packaged’ into distinct destinations, each
containing specific marketing differentiation such as image, branding and positioning.
Each destination is, therefore, a distinct product, which exhibits clear and unambiguous
differentiation from the other.
Each destination will form part of an intra-destination marketing committee with clear
line of communication and areas of responsibility. Marketing techniques must use
combination of traditional and 21st century technologies. A scientific research and
media measurement structure should be incorporated at the outset to guide and direct
strategy, benchmark objective criteria, measure reputation index and demonstrate return
on investment are also essential for the effective tourism marketing promotional
activities.

It is recommended that Bhaktapur Municipality aspire to be a catalyst creating a healthy

environment for local businesses to flourish. These might range from small-scale shops
and cafes, to the more ambitious restaurants and privately run tourist enterprises. For
example, various programs organized on different occasions like cultural heritage
shows, food carnivals and typical musical concerts etc. can also be run by the private
sectors and community investments under the public private partnership scheme.

With the local traditional craft and craftsmen are getting opportunities to preserve and
promote their ancient skills that have been handed down from generation to generations.
And, it indicates that tourism is the main source of revenue for Bhaktapur Municipality
development activities and there is still high potentiality for the economic benefit from
this sector. The Municipal citizens should develop professionalism to attract the global
people towards their doorsteps and Municipal must conduct several researches for the
improvement of the tourism industry at local level as it is a seasonal business.

Bhaktapur can function as a pioneer for tourism related industry and other
municipalities of Nepal could replicate its activities for poverty alleviation purpose and
socio-economic development of the rural areas. For this purpose, the Municipality can
organizes several interactive programs with the other stakeholders to share its lessons.