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Tourism Geographies

An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place and Environment
Volume 16, 2014 - Issue 3: Managing and Adapting to Global Change in Tourism Places
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Articles

Perceptions of trekking tourism and social and environmental change in Nepal's Himalayas

, &
Pages 415-437
Received 28 Jan 2014
Accepted 02 Jul 2014
Published online: 19 Aug 2014
 

The Himalayas are among the world's youngest mountain ranges. In addition to the geologic processes of mountain building and erosion, they are also highly vulnerable to human influenced change, occurring at local, national, regional, and international scales. A photo-elicitation methodology is employed to show how residents perceive those changes from historical perspectives, as well as their current conditions and impacts on their daily lives. Nepal's Khumbu region has undergone major social and environmental transformations since the 1960s when international trekking first began to influence the area's economy. The current perceptions of Khumbu residents of these changes are assessed through photo-elicitation interviews. Their responses are placed in the historical context of: (1) institutional and political changes, most of which have been driven by national government policies; (2) social and economic changes, for which the tourism economy has been central; and (3) environmental changes, reflecting the impacts of resource management and climate change. The mostly positive perceptions of Khumbu residents toward how their region has changed reflects general improvements in the physical and cultural landscapes of the Khumbu over time, as well as its continuing geographic isolation, which has helped to slow the rate of globalization, while also keeping the region a dynamic and popular tourist destination.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Dawa Sherpa, Pasang Lamu Sherpa, Ben Ayers, Ang Tshering Sherpa, Samridhi Shrestha, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Sagarmatha National Park and Dzi Foundation for their assistance during the field work, and Surya Poudel for helping with the map and interview transcriptions. This study was partially supported by the Travel Research Grant Award from the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gyan P. Nyaupane

Gyan P. Nyaupane is an associate professor and graduate program director in the School of Community Resources & Development at Arizona State University where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in sustainable tourism, critical issues, and tourism planning. His research interests include tourism, conservation and livelihood linkages, heritage, community development and sustainability in South Asia, Africa, and North America.

Alan A. Lew

Alan A. Lew is a professor in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation at Northern Arizona University where he teaches courses in geography, urban planning and tourism. His interests and writings focus on tourism in Asia, particularly China and Southeast Asia, and tourism in the American West.

Kevin Tatsugawa

Kevin Tatsugawa is an assistant professor and the Wilderness Leadership Program Coordinator at Westfield State University. He has visited Nepal eight times over the past 21 years where he has presented a paper, conducted research, guided climbs and treks, taught a class and climbed.

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