Assessing indigenous community’s perspectives and attitudes toward tourism development impacts in the northwestern Himalayas, India

Abstract

An assessment and monitoring of tourism impacts coupled with community perception have emerged as a vital tool for ensuring the sustainability of mountain tourism destinations in recent years. The present study aims to explore the indigenous community’s perspectives on tourism impacts and their participation in the process of tourism development at Doodhpathri, an emerging tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir, India. A non-probability convenience sampling method based on 344 questionnaires has been used to accomplish the research objectives. Inferential statistics and factor analysis were employed to analyze the collected data. Our assessment reveals that in general, tourism is viewed as a development industry. Its positives are better perceived than its negatives, given that it generates employment prospects, boosts household income, improves the image of the area, and raises the indigenous community’s standard of living. However, a substantial portion of the population living in the area perceives tourism activities as the cause of multiple environmental and biophysical issues, such as increased waste generation leading to pollution and water quality deterioration. On the whole, most of the residents were positive about future tourism development and optimistic about tourism management practices. However, the area has recently observed a voluminous influx of both local and foreign tourists, which necessitates the formulation of a sustainable tourism planning strategy.

Ngalaksa Traditional Ceremony as a Local Wisdom to Maintain Community Social Interaction

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Cultural Guardianship in Tourism: Indigenous Communities' Quest for Economic Stability and Identity Preservation

“…The defining characteristic of indigenous tourism lies in its emphasis on indigenous perspectives, values, and voices (Wani et al 2023). Unlike conventional tourism, which often commodifies culture for mass consumption, indigenous tourism prioritizes the empowerment and self-representation of indigenous communities.…”

A phenomenological study of tourists' categories in the Indian Himalayan Region

“…Since tourism is a vital activity in the IHR, its diversification in allied areas is significant for further regional developmental prospects (Chandra & Kumar, 2021; NITI, 2019; Singh et al, 2009). However, the hidden motives of some unregulated resorts and spa operators, specifically to generate one‐sided profits, lead to an upsurge in hostile guests and transgression in tourism activities in the region (Pandey, 2022; Wani et al, 2023). Consequently, this has led to an aberration in the existing form of visiting tourists, widely claimed as a demeaning source that negatively affects the area's cultural and social ontology (Gawlik et al, 2022; Kaur, 1985; NITI, 2019; Pandey, 2022; Singh, 2004).…”