Proposal to Link Chitwan and Parsa National Parks for Tourism Faces Hurdles

Bara. Chitwan National Park has expressed reservations over a proposal to collaborate by forming a single complex with Parsa National Park to promote tourism.

Although Chitwan initially disagreed with the proposal to allow visitors to explore both parks on a single ticket or by paying a nominal additional fee, it has stated that it will cooperate if a departmental decision is made. A proposal was submitted to the department and the Ministry of Forests a year ago to allow tourists visiting Parsa to access Chitwan on the same ticket, and vice versa, for seamless safari experiences.

The 40th Warden Conference held on Chaitra 21 last year also decided on the issue of visiting two parks with a single ticket. However, it is reported that the then-administrator of Chitwan National Park and the buffer zone management committee were not positive during initial discussions at the ministry level.

According to Ramchandra Khatiwada, Chief Conservation Officer of Parsa National Park, after Chitwan disagreed with the first proposal, an alternative was requested to allow tourists visiting Chitwan to visit Parsa for one day upon payment of a 2,500 rupee ticket fee.

Khatiwada stated that a proposal has been sent to the department to allow tourists to visit Parsa for an additional 500 rupees, given that foreign tourists currently pay 2,000 rupees to visit Chitwan. He added that if the government wishes, this could be implemented immediately.

While Parsa National Park receives only 1,000 tourists annually, Chitwan National Park attracts between 250,000 and 300,000 visitors, generating 300 to 350 million rupees in annual revenue. Parsa has not been able to generate income from sources other than the sale of timber and firewood in the buffer zone.

According to Chief Conservation Officer Khatiwada, since Chitwan National Park is already internationally branded, it is not possible for Parsa to compete with it. Therefore, the proposal for a single ticket was made to foster friendship and integrated eco-tourism development.

He believes this would lead to the integrated development of both parks, benefiting hotel and tourism entrepreneurs, local levels, and Madhesh Province. Despite the lower numbers, Parsa is home to the same rare wildlife and birds found in Chitwan.

Ministry and Local Municipalities Indifferent

Sitaram Aryal, Chairman of the Parsa National Park Buffer Zone Council, stated that their concerns have not been addressed despite repeatedly raising the issue at the ministry level. Aryal remarked that the Ministry of Forests is not in favor of making an immediate policy decision to promote Parsa, as revenue goes to the same government account regardless of whether tourist numbers increase in Chitwan or Parsa.

Due to a lack of publicity and tourism-friendly infrastructure, tourists are reluctant to visit Parsa. It is the only national park in Madhesh Province. Although eight municipalities, including Birgunj Metropolitan City and Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City, are connected to the park, only Jitpur Simara has built tourism-friendly infrastructure.

Parsa is considered a 'virgin park' (with minimal tourist activity). It is a primary habitat for wild elephants. Visitors can observe 37 types of mammals, including rare Bengal tigers, gaur, rhinos, bears, pangolins, deer, leopards, and chital, along with 490 species of birds, 13 species of reptiles, and 31 types of butterflies.

Inside the park, more than two dozen watchtowers have been built alongside water ponds for wildlife viewing. Rare one-horned rhinos can also be observed through elephant and jungle safaris. According to the Parsa park administration, it would be a significant achievement to attract even 20 percent of the tourists visiting Chitwan to Parsa for now.

Hotel and tourism entrepreneur Mohan Sharma suggests that infrastructure should be built targeting Indian tourists. "It is necessary to pressure Chitwan and the department to bring foreign tourists going to Sauraha to Parsa and to allow Indian tourists to go to Sauraha via Parsa," Sharma said. "There is more to see and experience in Parsa than in Chitwan, but we have not been able to publicize it."

'No Objection if Departmental Decision is Made'

Meanwhile, Dr. Ganesh Pant, Chief Conservation Officer of Chitwan National Park, said that Chitwan would provide positive support if the federal government makes a policy decision. "This is an issue raised by Parsa; we have no information about it institutionally. The department and the ministry have not asked us anything," said Dr. Pant. "If the government makes a policy decision, there is no reason for us to support or oppose it."