EVALUACIÓN DE LOS FACTORES EXTERNOS

Babbie (2007) defined purposive sampling as "a type of non-probability sampling in which the units to be observed are selected on the basis of the researcher's judgement about which ones will be the most useful or representative”. Schreuder, Gregoire, and Weyer (2001) stated that purposive sampling cannot be avoided. For example when budgets are minimal, the sampling process is difficult due to scattered population and the information collected may have considerable political value. According to

Schreuder et al. (2001), purposive sampling is used to offer more protection against small sample sizes.

The proposed study site is large enough in terms of area, population and stakeholders. For example, the total area of CNP is 1, 68,200 ha and human population in the buffer zone is about 300,000. Wildlife tourism stakeholders are scattered across the whole area. Therefore, a non-probability sampling method, particularly purposive sampling, was applied to select the respondents for the study.

Sautter & Leisen (1999) stated that a stakeholder is any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organizations objectives. Tourism stakeholders mainly include the tour operators, government organisations, members of the communities, non-governmental organisations, researchers and experts and tourists (Angelo & Maria, 2010; Byrd, 2007; Sautter & Leisen, 1999). For this study, local wildlife tourism stakeholders in CNP were classified in five categories, which are presented in Table 1.

Reja, Manfreda, Hlebec, & Vehovar (2003) stated that given time is an important element to determine sample size. Considering the time constraints, primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires from 21 interviewees within 5

stakeholder groups : park managers, senior officials of the DNPWC; wildlife tourism operators; key officers of BZUCs and BZCFs; staff working at NGOs such as ITNC; and researchers. The research participants were included from all categories of local wildlife tourism stakeholders. Total number of stakeholders available in the study area was kept in mind to decide the numbers of interviewees from each category, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Categories of research respondents/stakeholders interviewed

SN Categories Participants Total respondents

1

Park management authorities

Park staff (in DNPWC and CNP) working mainly for Anti-poaching Operations

and wildlife tourism management. 6

2 Tourism operators

Executive members of Regional Hotel Association, Restaurant and Bar

Association, and Nature Guide Association of Chitwan, and local lodge managers 6

3 Host communities

Executive members of BZUC, BZCFUGs User Groups, Community Based Anti-

poaching Operations (CBAPOs), and Buffer Zone Cooperatives 5

4 NGO/INGOs Staff of WWF Nepal and NTNC 2

5 Researchers/experts Researchers and experts 2

Respondents were mainly selected from Kasara, Sauraha and Kathmandu. Interviewees of host communities and tourism operators were selected from the Sauraha area.

Representatives of NGOs/INGOs were selected from Sauraha and Kathmandu. Park management authorities were selected from Sauraha, Kasara and DNPWC in

Kathmandu. Sauraha is the main destination for tourists visiting the Park where more than 90% of tourism facilities, including tour operators and resorts, are situated. Most of the wildlife viewing activities, such as elephant safari and jungle drives, are provided from there. Offices of local wildlife tourism stakeholders, including NTNC, are also located there. Kasara is the Park’s headquarters, with offices of BZMC and some lodges for tourists. Researchers and scientists with work experience in wildlife conservation and tourism in CNP, and working in Chitwan and Kathmandu, were contacted and interviewed.

4.4.1 Park Management Authorities

Park management authorities are the most responsible people to manage wildlife tourism and save rhinoceros in CNP. Out of six Park management authorities

interviewed; 4 were from CNP including chief conservation officer, chief veterinarian and rangers. Two respondents from DNPWC, a conservation education officer and a ranger were also interviewed. All of these interviewees have much work experience in the field of APOs, mainly of the rhinoceros in CNP.

4.4.2 Tourism Operators

From this group, 6 respondents, including executive members of Regional Hotel Association, chairmen of Restaurant and Bar Association and United Guide, and

founder and manager of the local lodges were interviewed. These respondents, involved in wildlife tourism management and rhinoceros conservation for many years provided important information for the research.

4.4.3 Host Communities

Five respondents from local communities and institutions drawing benefits from wildlife tourism were selected for interviewing. These include chairman of Mrigakunja Buffer Zone User Committee, members of its CBAPOs, vice president of Jankauli BZCF User Group and chairman of Nari Chetana (women awareness) Saving and Credit Cooperative of Sauraha. These institutions have been regularly involved in

4.4.4 NGOs/INGOs

WWF Nepal and NTNC are the main NGOs working in the field of wildlife

conservation and wildlife tourism management in CNP. This one respondent from each of WWF Nepal and NTNC were interviewed. As these organisations and the

respondents have much work experience, important information was collected from them.

4.4.5 Researchers/Experts

Two respondents involved in wildlife conservation and research for many years, and have gained expertise in this field, were interviewed. Among them, one had about 24 years’ experience and another has been working continuously since 1970s, before the Park establishment in this field. These people provided valuable information from the past and present context. They provided valuable information regarding impacts of wildlife tourism and causes of rhinoceros poaching in Chitwan Valley.