Public open spaces and geotourism development in Pokhara metropolitan city, Nepal

Public open spaces (POS) are an integral part of the built-up area. They provide a platform for local as well as foreign visitors for recreation, socialization, and stimulation in a diverse environment. POS is a site with unique and attractive geological, geomorphological, landscape and socio-cultural environments are used for geotourism development. This paper discusses the developmentof geotourism in public open spaces in Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) and analyzes the perception of visitors towards the provisions of the particular POS. This study has applied an exploratory research design while primary information was obtained from a field observation with a checklist and patch visitors’ related records from POS. Similarly, visitors’ opinions were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Out of 277 public open spaces so far mapped in PMC, more than 70 patches have a potential for geotourism development and, 18 public open spaces are developed as sites of geotourism. However, only seven of them are managed systematically with the provision of formal institutions collecting revenue from visitors’ entry fees. Regarding the visitor’s satisfaction towards the development and facilities, about 23% of visitors are highly satisfied and another 38% are satisfied. Patches described as highly satisfied are more developed and have more visitors. The annual revenue of these seven POS also confirms that proper development of other POS as geotourism destinations, will further contribute to the economic prosperity of PMC. Moreover, its surrounding areas will have higher prospects of developing as global geopark.