Pilgrimage, Livelihoods, and Informality: The Dual Employment System of Cross-Border Religious Tourism at Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal

Abstract

This study highlights the concept of double employment that arises due to religious pilgrimage across the border between India and Pashupatinath Temple located in Kathmandu, Nepal. Although religious tourism is seen as a cultural and spiritual phenomenon, it can be overlooked that the economic benefit that comes from this phenomenon includes employment. This is because most of the activities offered at such sites are conducted informally by individuals who provide transport services, accommodation, ritual materials, food, guiding, and translation services to the pilgrims.
Full-time jobs are found in hotel establishments, travel agencies, transport firms, security organizations, banking, and site management, whereas informal activities are found among tea sellers, flower and garlands sellers, informal guides, porters, photographers, and temporary festival workers. Percentage analysis, comparative sector analysis, relative change analysis, employment linkage matrix, and a framework for measuring the intensity of employment opportunities are used.
Based on the above-mentioned data, it can be stated that the informal nature of the Nepalese labor market is extremely high. Specifically, informal employment accounts for 84.6 percent of total employment and even 90.5 percent of all women's employment in Nepal. Informality at the national level also characterizes the labor market associated with the development of pilgrimage tourism. In particular, many people engage in jobs that require low levels of qualifications, although this kind of work entails risks such as income instability, lack of legal recognition, and insufficient protection. In conclusion, inclusive approaches to formalization can become an effective solution instead of ignoring or criminalizing informal employment.