ECONOMIC AND SOCIOCULTURAL IMPACTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL PARK AND ASSOCIATED TOURISM ON THE THARU PEOPLE OF SAURAHA IN CHITWAN, NEPAL

This article examines economic and sociocultural impacts of the establishment of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) and associated tourism on the indigenous Tharu people of Sauraha in Chitwan District of Nepal. Findings are the analysis of data obtained from 100 face to face household survey, 10 in-depth interviews and six key informant interviews. Equal number of participants were purposefully selected from the study sites-Bachhauli ward and Harnari ward (see Figure 1). These are the two closest wards from northeastern entry point of CNP as well as with high concentration of Tharu population in Sauraha. The study results revealed comparatively greater economic impacts for the participants of Harnari ward. However, sociocultural impacts were found moderate for the participants of both wards. Besides the establishment of CNP, influx of international tourists in Sauraha, in-migration of people from other parts of Nepal to Chitwan, and the influence of modernization particularly led by the growth of CNP tourism were identified as other key factors of social, economic and cultural changes in both study wards. Broadly, the study results and discussion are presented under three key themes: (1) economic impacts, (2) sociocultural impacts, and (3) contributions of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)s in the preservation of Tharu culture. The article concludes by offering some suggestions to concerned authorities for planning and working better to achieve improved livelihood outcomes of the Tharu people of Sauraha together with the prospects for future sustainability of CNP tourism, particularly by promoting Tharu culture and tradition.