Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Sustainable Business Global Product Development

Question: Discuss about the Sustainable Business for Global Product Development. Answer: Introduction: Nepal is one of the most attractive and visited tourist destination across the globe with different beautiful sceneries (Hall Page, 2012). There are several items and events that visitors can enjoy viewing and experiencing while in the town. Such include religion, arts, and crafts, paintings, festivals, cuisine, sceneries, hotels, and heritage among others. Tourism in Nepal is attractive given the additional trekking activity involved and the scenes of the earthquake that makes people reflect on the nature and its effect on human lives (Aryal Shrestha, 2011). Feasibility and sustainability is a factor for these products, most importantly the artificial products that are fabricated (Chen, Legrand Sloan, 2016). This paper presents the feasibility study on tourism product in Nepal considering the principle of sustainability in its development. The proposed tourism product for the region is the tourist support service that embraces rapid technology and gives the aspiring guests opportunity to consider options from all over across the globe (Barber Kastarlak, 2011). Visiting Nepal has an advantage of being able to visit Mount Everest, the tallest in the world trekking in the Himalayas, and walking through Annapurna and Langtang among other areas (Aryal Shrestha, 2011). Everest presents the visitors mount climbing opportunity, and flying above the mountain. The support service for tourists focuses more on trekking activities, offering support to the guests on the requirements and choosing appropriately the places they want to visit for a trek. The service intends to provide guidance on the state requirements, health and fitness, equipment and supply, and hosting the guests within the vacation areas. It will also guide the foreigners on how to survive the remote locations and offer support and needs to be required while visiting such areas. The services will involve permits, guidance, accommodation and availing itineraries for the guests to be able to plan their visit in prior. Environmental Impact The environmental implications of the proposed tourism product as a service are majorly indirect. Every service offered must be sustainable and supportive to the environment while at the same time able to contributing to the maintenance of the environment (Boone, 2010). The significant negative environmental impact of the service is pollution and erosion caused by major trekking events across the areas, calling for the control of trekking activities and initiating systems to ensure that the environment is preserved and maintained to support any future touring activities. There is the need for social responsibility and commitment to all players and stakeholders to keep the environment (Cipollina Presenza, 2010). Environmental impact involves all the issues that affect the environment and extend to the fauna and flora. The effects can be both active and negative as long as they contribute to the changes in the environment, both positive and adverse (Mason, 2015). For the tourist guide service proposed, the combination of activities involved in the service may affect the environment in different ways (Barber Kastarlak, 2011). There is a need for environmental impact assessment for any product and business to ensure that the production or the service is within limits and takes into consideration the scope of the environment. An environmental impact assessment has been in place in Nepal since late 20th century with a keen focus on infrastructural development. In the same way, the country commits to ensuring environmental conservation through the guidelines in place that ensure that measures are in place at every pre-stage of activity (Deng, Ding, Song, Zhong, 2011). The policies eliminate the adverse effects any planned activity may contribute to the environment and guides every industry including tourism, transportation, and the general ecological system (Boone, 2010). The proposed action, therefore, has to consider all the impacts it will have on the environment considering all the services that will be involved. The hosting the tourists will be contracted to third parties, transportation that will be provided directly from the service, consulting and support services for the guests (Mason, 2015). Another key activity is the long distance walk and any behavior that comes with it that may harm the environment. During the adventure, it is necessary to institute discipline among the people to ensure that they have respect for and appreciate the culture and the environment (Richards, 2011). The observance of the locals and avoiding any disposal along the way unless for the designated places is necessary. The positive impact that the activity may have to the environment includes the contribution for revenue to support conservation policies and activities and may attract the interest of conservationists who may contribute towards the course (Mason, 2015). The service proposed can encourage locals to take initiatives to ensure that their environment is in better condition. Therefore if controlled and service adhere to the environmental regulations, the activity can influence nature positively (Boone, 2010). This project does not require full impact assessment since such is only applicable to the activities that directly affect the environment thus partial assessment depending on the scope of such activities. Regular review and monitoring of activities are essential to identify any activity that has a potential impact on the environment and design a mitigation measure (Deng, Ding, Song, Zhong, 2011). Political Impact There are policies and administration that guide and control activities within respective jurisdictions. Political consequences come about in two directions, from either the government or the business or product side. There policies in place that require adherence from players depending on their fields and the respective policies controlling such fields (Pizam Wang, 2011). In another way, product or service may attract government or political attention based on its appropriateness even without the existence of any clear policy for such. Businesses need to pay attention to any proposed legislative and regulatory changes that may affect their operations and anticipate any future shifts. Political stability is essential for the tourism industry in any country that has far influenced the trends in tourism in Nepal as a country (Bhandari, 2010). Nations bank on oil, tourism, agriculture and mining as the primary exchange products, and with tourism being the top giant three earners globally, there is a need for favorable political environment and policies to offer conducive atmosphere and affirmation of safety for tourists and its stakeholders (Cipollina Presenza, 2010). Nepal is rich in tourist attraction thereby need political goodwill to support the growth of the sector and the economy. War and political instability grossly affect the tourism activities with the potential of giving wrong publicity that drains down tourist arrivals (Bhandari, 2010). The first political revolutions, for instance, contributed widely to the decline of tourism activities in Nepal and southern Asia region (Hall Page, 2012). The service must consider the political trends and mark ways of remaining relevant even at the time of political uncertainty. This would call for the promotion of local tourism activities to ensure that even when the external numbers drop, the local and regional clients still find a preference to the operation thus earning some income (Shakya, 2014). Sustainability needs may ignite thoughts on expansion to other countries with potential, infusing export and publication options to keep the base in case of any uncertainty (Benur Bramwell, 2015). Socio-cultural Impact Tourism as the largest service industry in the world needs to be sensitive to the cultural and social effects across different regions (Richards, 2011). Tourism respects the social aspects such as the land since it does not contribute to any additional pressure on the land. With the service focusing on promoting the appreciation of the local cultures by the tourists, it will sensitize on the cultural differences and ensure that there is no conflict of culture among the different groups, either among tourists or with the locals (Mller-Bker, Upadhayaya, Sharma, 2011). Various groups including global agencies have a keen focus on the socio-cultural impacts of tourism and related activities. With the promotion of local products and events, tourism has the potential of uplifting communities not only socially but also economically. Through the tourist's support service, communities are encouraged to develop their ways of living, uphold their positive cultures and find the means to improve the manner of doing things without distorting their uniqueness (Lehmann, 2010). The service must ensure means in which preserves the authenticity of culture and not affected by commodification, standardization, culture clash or irritation from the difference in behaviors. There is a need for the active involvement of the locals in the activities and prepare the tourists of the encounters through their path to tour the different areas (Mller-Bker, Upadhayaya, Sharma, 2011). Tourism activities may also encourage peace and healthy behaviors that will convince the tourists to visit the destinations more due to small risks or insecurity (Duval, Hall Timothy, 2012). Economic Impact Tourism is a top global earner industry with the economic potential of the regions where the service is available. The stakeholders and players in the industry must ensure that the activity has positive trend economically and improving cash flow to the host jurisdiction (Getz, Timur, 2012). The major challenge for second and third world countries like Nepal is the economic leakage in the industry that drains the gains back to the foreign countries (Lacher Nepal, 2010). In as much as this is apparent, the proposed tourism product has no capacity to control the disadvantage entirely. However, the service can encourage the purchase of local products and initiate avenues for more expenditure by the tourists to ensure that there are more foreign earnings from the activity. The service can also put up measures that will ensure the locals benefit directly through the purchase of local products such as arts (Gautam, 2011). Sustainability of the practice highly relies on the manner in which the service can be self-sustaining, earn revenue to the government, the locals and support conservation and maintenance initiatives (Chen, Legrand Sloan, 2016). Another initiative is promoting local equipment, and in a way, improving their standards to ensure the guests can embrace them. Different efforts require political participation and goodwill to find measures to minimize leakage and maintain it below 50% as the case of India (Lacher Nepal, 2010). Trekking activity, camping, and purchase of local products, highly reduce leakage while driving foreign earning into the economy (Acharya Halpenny, 2013). Other than the earnings, tourism contributes to employment opportunity and expansion of knowledge to uplift communities. Community Collaboration Activities Populations in the different sites can be involved to promote their products and talents to the tourists. People can receive support to improve the standards of their products and events without distorting authenticity (Mowforth Munt, 2015). The locals can be involved in guiding the tourists in treks, offering other field services, and orienting the visitors. The community involvement can be by having some of them work for the agency (Shakya, 2014). The lives of the communities are uplifted, and they get to embrace development by having exposure to understand and appreciate their environment thereby reducing poverty. The product will ensure that communities can identify opportunities while presenting ideas and projects to undertake that can support them through the future. Sustainability Plan To ensure sustainability of natural resources, we must ensure that we maintain the nature that improves our quality of life to enable it to extend to the future generation (Chen, Legrand Sloan, 2016). The principle of sustainability revolves around limiting the use of scarce resources, minimizing waste and providing quality. This ensures meeting the needs of the population without having compromise the needs for the future generations by making sure that the next generations are also able to enjoy the quality of life as the previous (Wells, 2013). The instituted plans also have to be such that they can support future use to promote sustainability. The sustainability plan involves: Diversification and expansion to prevent any effect of unstable political environment. Encourage authenticity of the local events and products even with the infusion of technology. Promote local talents, activities, and products to avoid leakage. Involve the local communities in activities to help orient the guests on the regular activities. Promoting embracement of different cultures. Cooperating with the government and administration, together with other stakeholders. The tourism product must adhere to the principles of sustainability, to protect the environment, culture, consider the political context, have and bring about a sustainable economic impact (Bhandari, 2010). The product must also examine the relationship between people and their surroundings and support community collaboration to ensure that the communities identify with the product. Implications The impact of this tourism product regarding service is that it will promote tourism in the area, support local culture and activities and increase revenue earning to the government about foreign income and the local populations through direct engagement (Richards, 2011). The service also ensures that the guests experience the authentic culture, appreciate the locals and their activities and get warm acceptance from the locals (Duval, Hall Timothy, 2012). The service eliminates any resistance between the factions and ensures they co-relate appropriately. The product can support the target people without harming the environment. From an economic perspective, the product can generate income and substantiate its maintenance or production while at the same time giving some returns (Gautam, 2011). The focus on the trek support services is to ensure an emphasis on trekking activity while in Nepal and to enable the guests to experience culture in the region and the results of the environmental effect (Aryal Shrestha, 2011). On the other hand, it gives the opportunity to promote local products and activities in the areas that the guests visit. Stakeholder Analysis The administration is a major player in the tourism sector contributing towards favorable political and legislative environment, infrastructure support and economy control (Cipollina Presenza, 2010). Actively involving the government provides a balance of its contribution to the growth of the sector and the sector contribution towards the advancement of communities and government initiatives (Mowforth Munt, 2015). Local Communities The local communities in the regions visited also contribute widely to their rich culture and behaviors. Engaging them will ensure their status is improved, products promoted while they embrace the tourists visiting their areas (Mowforth Munt, 2015). Industry players The tourism industry partners are also important given that they support and complement the activities involved in tourism. Engaging them to ensure efficiency and readily availability of services and championing for best practices (Getz, Timur, 2012). International partners Having international partners supports the promotion of the tourism activities and increases the traffic of guests visiting the country (Pizam Wang, 2011). Development of Tourism Product The development of the tourism product will consider the sustainability principles are giving attention to the tourism industry in Nepal. It will also put weight on how the roles of different players can support the success of the industry and quality (Pizam Wang, 2011). There is need to consider the existing and potential opportunities and map them to support in developing strategies for the service development process. After outlining the opportunities, it is vital to consider the environment and the communities that the activities will take place and put in place measures that will ensure that they benefit from the activities (Shakya, 2014). The development process also must be in line with the local and international policy frameworks and ensure that there are no risks presented by the product to any party. Product is embraced given the quality in place and support the implementation of policies (Wells, 2013). Having met the regulatory requirements, there is a need for a capital base that can support the kick off the process and finance the activities that will bring the business to stability. The service is then tested with the locals as marketing activities roll out to support learning and help in making adjustments that solidify the product (Shakya, 2014). References: Acharya, B. P., Halpenny, E. A. (2013). Homestays as an alternative tourism product for sustainable community development: A case study of women-managed tourism product in rural Nepal. Tourism Planning Development, 10(4), 367-387. Aryal, R., Shrestha, A. B. (2011). Climate change in Nepal and its impact on Himalayan glaciers. Regional Environmental Change, 11(1), 65-77. Barber, B., Kastarlak, B. I. (2011). Fundamentals of planning and developing tourism. Pearson Higher Ed. Benur, A. M., Bramwell, B. (2015). Tourism product development and product diversification in destinations. Tourism Management, 50, 213-224. Bhandari, K. (2010). Tourism in Nepal: post-monarchy challenges. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 8(1-2), 69-83. Boone, C. G. (2010). Environmental justice, sustainability, and vulnerability. 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