Tourism and rural settlements Nepal’s Annapurna region

Functional and humanist perspectives relevant to counterurbanization studies are applied to examine the processes of growth and development of rural settlements affected by tourism. Based on a survey of tourism lodges located in several settlements in the Annapurna region of Nepal, this paper analyzes tourism-induced growth in such accommodations and its implications on changing characteristics. Results suggest the emergence of a hierarchical structure of rural settlements with core and peripheral traits. A normative classification of induced patterns defined by their development stage, size, and function is proposed. Historical, social, and economic influences on the transformation of rural settlements are discussed.     

Tourism dependence and resident attitudes

Many rural communities view tourism as a major vehicle for addressing rural economic decline, but several empirical studies suggest that its growth can bring negative social impacts. One group of studies suggests a direct relationship between the level of tourism development in a community and the presence of negative resident attitudes toward it. This “tourism dependence” hypothesis is evaluated using survey data from four rural communities in the United States Rocky Mountain West. Results support the hypothesis with some important qualifications, and suggest a typology of rural communities experiencing tourism growth that includes tourism-saturated, tourism-realized, and tourism-hungry community types.

Résumé

La dépendance envers le tourisme et les attitudes des habitants. Les communautés rurales voient le tourisme comme un véhicule important pour aborder le probème du déclin économique, mais plusieurs études empiriques suggèrent que la crossance du tourisme entraîne des impacts sociaux négatifs. Certaines études suggèrent un rapport direct entre de développement du tourisme dans une communauté et la présence d'attitudes négatives de la part des habitants. On évalue cette hypothèse de “dépendance de tourisme” en utilisant des données d'enquêtes de quatre communautés rurales dans les montagnes Rocheuses de l'ouest des États-Unis. Les résultats appuient l'hypothèse avec quelques réserves importantes et suggèrent une typologie des communautés qui font l'expérience de la crossance du tourisme, comprenant les types de communautés saturées, réalisées et affamées de tourisme.     

Ecotourism in Bhutan: Extending its Benefits to Rural Communities

This paper analyzes the present state of tourism in Bhutan and considers the prospects for the development of ecotourism. Empirical surveys of tour operators and foreign tourists indicate that visitors interested in the natural beauty of the Himalayan kingdom stay longer than those who come to experience its culture. By attracting younger tourists, ecotourism could contribute to the goals of Gross National Happiness. The majority of tourists and tour operators are in favor of ecotourism activities that might benefit local rural communities. The prerequisite for a substantial promotion of ecotourism would be changes in the Bhutanese tourism policy to encourage the diversification of tourism products.