Research Of Relation Between Air Transport And Tourism-a Case Study Of Nepal

Nepal’s economic development is constrained by a high population density, low industrial output, limited natural resources, difficult topography, geopolitical crisis, a weak human capital base with extremely poor levels of education and health, poor public management capacity, a long history of autocratic regime and public intervention. Rapid population growth further complicates the delivery of services for the improvement of human welfare. In the context of such poor economic situation of the country, tourism has played important role for the economic growth, prosperity and poverty reduction. At the same time, the difficult topography has posed serious challenges for the sustainable development of tourism because Air transport is the only easy means of accessibility to such difficult remote and mountainous regions where there are immense potential for growth. These realities inspired me to think and investigate possible relation between Air transport and Tourism. Besides, tourism cannot be described in isolation, there are many businesses and factors associated or influencing this sector. Furthermore Professor Gu Qing Liang’s Dean, School of Management Donghua University Shanghai China inspired me to further my research following my thesis on Marketing strategy of Nepal Tourism board in China during pre-graduation studies.The case study method has been considered as a strong preferred method for research. It helps to paint a different but much clearer picture of actual scenario and allows a deeper perspective into the roots of existing problems. Further weakening of the aviation Industry with the National flag carrier Nepal Airlines no longer operating direct flights due to lack of Aircrafts in many potential inbound tourist areas internationally as well as major accidents in the form of5Mountain flight crashes from2011-2013which killed all tourists on board from16different countries including China on of the major sources of inbound tourists at present influenced me to conduct a detailed and selective Case study research method to analyze the current situation taking into consideration the overall scenario air transport and tourism as a single case. Attempt was made to collect necessary quantitative and qualitative data even facing with difficult bureaucratic system of Nepal and other reliable sources to pave a journey of writing the master thesis towards its final destination.