Nexus of Tourism Infrastructure, Governance, and Sustainability at Pathivara Temple, Nepal

Abstract

Religious tourism is becoming a major component of tourism economy in Nepal. This study aimed to explore the relationship between tourism infrastructure and governance with economic growth and cultural and environmental sustainability in the context of Pathivara Temple. This study used a mixed-methods approach. The required numerical data were collected from 212 respondents by using structured questionnaires. Likewise, narrative information were generated from 15 articulaing participants representing different groups of local residents, tourism entrepreneurs, service providers, and government stakeholders, and semi-structured interviews for key informants. The descriptive and correlational analysis were done by using SPSS software. The results indicate that both tourism infrastructure development and tourism governance and management are strongly and significantly related to the outcome variables, accounting for between 74 and 83 percent of the variance in the outcome variables. These statistical trends are supported by qualitative evidence and highlight ongoing limitations such as cross-agency coordination, inadequate infrastructure, seasonal overcrowding and increasing environmental pressures. The study concludes that a conscious balanced approach to tourism development, one that balances the investment in infrastructure with the participatory governance is vital if Pathivara is to create a sustainable economic benefit without compromising the spiritual and ecological value that makes it so special.