Cultural Tourism and Innovation in Nepal

Introduction:

The “Culture tourism is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region’s culture” (Panich, et al 2014) which recognizes the national identity and provides the necessary support to other industry (Pradhan, 2014). Defining culture tourism could provide the perception which is typically a group of people who are involved in a purpose of leisure and a new experience their culture needs (Richards, 1996). Hence, culture tourism can be important role to country and regional development (OECD, 2009).

Due to the existence of the pristine nature and unmatched cultural heritage and geological assets in Nepal the potential of cultural tourism is considerably higher at Nepal and it is the reason that greater numbers of tourists have been attracted to the country in a continuous manner (Duncanson, 2002 and Jones, 2013). However, Nepal is still struggling to take ultimate benefits from tourism due to weak tourism initiative and strategy (Jones, 2013). Consequently, the research under consideration has applied a notion of Conceptual Framework in Innovation and Resource Based Theory (RBT) which could be supported by theoretical and empirical processes for the purpose of analysis and minimization of the contemporary issues Nepal (Borowiecki and Castiglione, 2014) .

Research Questions:

1. What issues, gaps and challenge are facing by Nepalese cultural tourism in order to create competitive position?

2. How innovation management in cultural tourism could be delivered as a benefit to tourism in order to develop socio-economic contribution in the community and destination?

3. What theory/concept and empirical research are linked with the innovation that could enable the government of Nepal and business people to create the policies and favourable environment tourism business?

Aim and Objectives:

Aim:

“ To critically analyse innovation management in cultural tourism to create the necessary and favourable competitive advantage in order to enhance the socio-economic well being in Nepal”

Objectives:

1. To critically assess the process of innovation tourism management by the government focusing on the culture tourism to maximise tourism benefits at the destination and community of Nepal.

2. To evaluate the issues, challenges and gaps in knowledge which could be hindering the establishment of competitive advantage in culture tourism in Nepal.

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

4. To examine the perceptions of the different stakeholders in relation to innovation management within the tourism sector of Nepal.

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

Literature Review

Hall et al. (2008: pp.5) has defined that "Innovation is the generation, acceptance and implementation of a new idea, process, product or services” regarding the growth of the business. In order to achieve profitability, it is necessary that the tourism industry to gain the competitive advantage (Barney, 1991; Grant, 1991; Hunt, 2000,). Accordingly, the Resource-Based Theory (RBT) is a specific economic strategy to gain a competitive advantage against the rivals using unique resources and capabilities (Werenefelt, 1984; Barney, 1991; Montgomery, 1996). A unique resource could be identified as a specific capability of a country, which is hard to imitate by others and this could be effective in enabling the country to be more secured and stronger than influence of the external market (Grant, 1991). Hence, various resources of Nepal have the touch of rarity, particularly, cultural heritage, natural resources and biodiversity (Neupane, &Chettri, 2009, Shrestha, 2011), that Nepal can strategically achieve regarding the necessary monopoly creating a barrier with competitors (Poters, 1997). Also, RBT examines the weakness and strength of the country to identify resources and capabilities of country (Hoskisson, et al. 1999; Acedoet al. 2006).

Further, conceptual framework is states the theories, concepts and systems which are cohesive with various key ideas which could foster a conceptual framework (Mile and Husberman, 1994). There are two types of innovations which can be integrated to develop a conceptual framework i.e., Precondition and Categories Innovation (Sakdiyakorn, et al., 2015).The precondition innovation has mainly distinctively covered three main areas, firstly the enhancement of community wiliness, secondly, development of engagement, human capital and leadership and lastly, development of the tourism mechanism (Sakdiyakorn, et al., 2015). But, Categories Innovation is closely consisted regarding the evaluation of the customer perspectives, particularly, customer expectation and needs, which consist of product, process, management and marketing (Black et al. 2006). Subsequently, when networking, trust and willingness could occur by precondition innovation and only then the Categories Innovation will be a success (Sakdiyakorn, &Sivarak, 2015).

Hence, research has noted multiple gaps in the Nepalese tourism; such as marketing perspective, lack of knowledge of information and technology (Sharma, & Kim, 2016), human management, leadership, poor infrastructure, political conflict and economic barrier (Upadyay& Manoj, 2006). Additionally, most of the service sector in Nepal could experience difficulties in adopting technology due to knowledge in gaps within human resources and society (Sharma, & Kim, 2016).

Research Methodology:

The research has undertaken a single qualitative approach. A conceptual framework and resource based theory have been adopted on the basis of various authors which could constitute an empirical research, under which the study phenomenon could be examined or practice (Flyvbjerg, 2006).So phenomenological research theory has been used to understand individual experiences and perceptions, which could influence the innovations(Mayoh, J., &Onwuegbuzie, A. 2015). Implementing phenomenological theory helps to determine in-depth knowledge of the study and generate vast amount of data by human interest, has been reflected by the research process regarding the study (Hinch&Higham, 2011).Notion of phenomenological research is utilised to provide the answers to the specific research problems and issues of Nepalese tourism which could assist to identify why and how innovations do take place and could create problems in creating a competitive position to Nepal(Alderbert, and Longhi, 2011).

Various research designs and studies have been utilised to ensure validity and reliability of the research (Kimberlin, C.L. and Winterstein, A.G., 2008).A qualitative research does take place on two different occasions. (Hall et al. 2008 &Hjalager, 1996). First field observation was made on August 2018 and the second qualitative data collection has taken place on the middle of the year during 2019(Hall and Williams, 2008). The research has been employed both on the primary and secondary data collection levels to ensure validity and reliability of the research (Golafshani, N., 2003). The primary data collection encompasses the process of accumulating data and information based on an in-depth structured interview (Alshenqeeti, H., 2014), which can take at least 30 to 60 minute. Aims of the interview questions are to explore the perspective of Precondition and Categories Innovations in Nepal. An interview is divided into two sections; one is in depth structure interview, which has taken place amongst 5 officers and managers, who involved in officials from hotels, tour operators and Nepal Tourism Board. In the second part of the research a short structural interview is has been conducted in between 5/7 community employee who inhabit the destinations. The research is taking place in the three different regions of Nepal mainly, Kathmandu (northern region), Pokhara (western region) and Chitwan (Centre region) (Johnson, B. and Turner, L.A., 2003).

Further, the research has used non-probability snowball method to identify the key information from representatives (Noy, 2008). Hence, an interview has been recorded on the tapes and filed notes which could be translated from Nepali to English, to ensure reliability (Wang &Fesenmaier, 2007).

So, the concerned research is using multiple methods and procedures in appropriate ways to validate the research (Seale, C. 2012). To validate the research the Researcher has strictly followed specified areas of the study to gather related data (Hussein, A., 2015).

Research Ethics

The process of research ethics could be comprehended in the manner of a strictly followed code of conduct which could emphasise moral obligation so that the research process could have limited to no specific detrimental effect on the social groups, personnel as well as other institutions which are closely associated with such a research undertaking. Apart from these the research is concerned with the other ethical challenges such as data storage, security and GDPR protection.

Reference

Alshenqeeti, H., 2014. Interviewing as a data collection method: A critical review. English Linguistics Research, 3(1), p.39.

Borowiecki, K. J. and Castiglione, C. (2014). Cultural participation and tourism flows: An empirical investigation of Italian provinces, Tourism Economics, forthcoming.

Duncanson, W., 2002. Transformation in the Traditional Himalayan Landscape: The Rise of the Trekking Hotel in Nepal. Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review, pp.7-21.

Golafshani, N., 2003. Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research. The qualitative report, 8(4), pp.597-606.

Jones, H., 2013. Entry points for developing tourism in Nepal. What can be done to address constraints to inclusive growth.pp. 1-36.

Johnson, B. and Turner, L.A., 2003. Data collection strategies in mixed methods research. Handbook of mixed methods in social and behavioral research, pp.297-319.

Kimberlin, C.L. and Winterstein, A.G., 2008. Validity and reliability of measurement instruments used in research. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 65(23), pp.2276-2284

Panich, W., Maneenetr, T., Taksina, T. and Sakolnakorn, T.P.N., 2014. The management strategy of cultural tourism: A case study of SakonNakhon Province, Thailand. Asian Social Science, 10(15), p.48.

Pradhan, K. 2014. Cultural Tourism and Nepal. Transnational Corporations Review, 6(3), 238-247.

OECD (2009). The Impact of Culture on Tourism. Paris: OECD.