Ecotourism in Bhutan

Gurung, Dhan B.; Seeland, Klaus

doi:10.1016/j.annals.2008.02.004

Cited by 95 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…In the early stages of tourism development, local people endure negative effects on social, cultural and environmental factors instead of gaining their economic benefits [5]. Therefore, scholars have introduced community-based tourism to provide local people a high quality of life, driving a greater value of traditional culture and conserving the natural environment through tourism planning and management (e.g., [18][19][20]), thus leading to sustainable tourism.…”

Section: Community-based Tourism and Stdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Empowerment and Sustainable Tourism Development: The Mediating Role of Community Support for Tourism

et al. 2019

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Though community empowerment and sustainable tourism development (STD) have been discussed in the existing literature, little research has focused on the elaborate mechanisms between these two variables. Therefore, the present study examines the relationship between community empowerment and STD, along with the mediating role played by community support for tourism. Using social exchange theory, this research establishes theoretical relationships between vital variables for STD. A survey of empirical study was undertaken, and data were collected from 353 local residents in the northern area of Pakistan. The results for data analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between community empowerment and STD initiatives, and community support for tourism was shown to partially mediate the relationship between the two variables. The findings imply that high community empowerment enables the community to establish successful sustainable tourism development through local people’s support for tourism. This study contributes theoretically to identifying the idea that community members’ support for tourism has a crucial function bridging the link from community empowerment to sustain tourism in a local area.

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Section: Community-based Tourism and Stdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community Empowerment and Sustainable Tourism Development: The Mediating Role of Community Support for Tourism

et al. 2019

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“…Cultural services of forests include recreation and maintenance of physical and mental health [11], aesthetic value for tourism and mental health [13], and spiritual value of sacred groves, trees and other sites [22]. Supporting services include the role of forests in the water cycle [23] and their provision of habitat for native fauna and flora.…”

Section: Forest Ecosystem Services In Mountain Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The economy is largely driven by natural resources, including arable land, water, forest products, minerals, and biodiversity, with hydroelectric power accounting for the largest portion of the country's gross domestic product [12]. Intact natural ecosystems also provide the milieu for cultural practices and festivals, tourism and recreation [13]. As an example of the links between forests and economy, the productivity of a hydropower plant is affected by the sediment load of the river feeding it, and that sediment load depends on upstream land cover and land use systems to retain soil [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bhutan’s Forests through the Framework of Ecosystem Services: Rapid Assessment in Three Forest Types

Sears

Choden²,

Dorji

et al. 2018

Forests

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Forests in mountain ecosystems provide a diversity of services and goods in mountain landscapes, and the immediate utility of the forest to upstream residents must be balanced with the insurance forests provide for downstream residents in the form of, especially, the services of water regulation and soil stabilization. Little empirical data exist for Bhutan that confirm a causal link between upstream forest use and downstream security. To help to fill this gap, we summarize the results of two literature reviews related to forest ecosystem services and human well-being, using the framework of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH). We report preliminary findings of three field-based assessments of forest ecosystem services on hillsides. We conducted an assessment of the perceptions of local residents about the forest ecosystem services in three distinct forest areas of Bhutan. The studies were carried out in high-altitude oak forests, forest management units (FMUs) in government reserve forests, and community plantations. We engaged villagers in focus group discussions and conducted key informant interviews. The strongest evidence in the literature for linkages between forests and GNH was found for the role forests play in socio-economic development and good governance, particularly through the community forestry program. Regulating services of forests were cited as crucial to several aspects of human well-being, but little empirical evidence was provided. To local residents in the three study locations, the provisioning services of forests were highly ranked, as were water regulating services. At the plantation sites, residents felt that the new forests did improve soil stability and water provisioning services. Cultural services were identified but not highly prioritized. Awareness of forest ecosystem services was high among participants in the study, but understanding of the causal links between forest use and human well-being was mixed. Lack of direct evidence about causal pathways between upstream forest condition and downstream security leaves gaps in our knowledge and even perpetuates myths and misconceptions about the role that forests play. We encourage further research at multiple scales and using mixed methods to test hypotheses on the linkages between forests and human well-being in mountain landscapes.

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“…Distinctive Drogpa culture has immense potentiality to earning revenue for the country and themselves through the development of eco-tourism (cf. Gurung & Seeland, 2008). Similar to the history of other tribal people dwelling in various parts of Bhutan, Drogpa have mesmerizing culture and traditions, such as valuable rNam thar, festivals, songs and dances, marriage customs-chung-gnyen (childhood engagement) and 'khor sdeb pa (pronounced as Khordepa: polyandry/polygamy)-bartering of goods ('bru skor: pronounced as Bukor), prayers and offerings devoted to Ama Jomo Remanti.…”

Section: Significance Of Drogpa Culturementioning

confidence: 95%

“…Many foreigners come to Me rag and Sag steng to witness their pristine culture and traditions, especially the festivals. When more outsiders visiting every year, there is a potential risk that the environment might get polluted (Gurung & Seeland, 2008). In continuum, Gurung and Seeland (2008) have mentioned that the Royal Government of Bhutan has an utmost concern about the promotion of culture and environment despite tourism development.…”

Section: Effects Of Globalization and The Undeniable Drogpa's Apprehementioning

confidence: 99%

Survival of Drogpa Cultural and Traditional Memes and the Threat of Modern Development

Wangchuk¹,

Dhammasaccakarn²,

Tepsing³

2013

ASS

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This paper examines the impact of modern amenities such as roads, electricity, cell phones, television, and tourism on the two Drogpa communities of Me rag and Sag steng. It also aims to study the misinterpretation of ancient Drogpa history. The paper concludes that the endurance of Drogpa culture is uncertain and thus, loss of their identity is imminent in the near future. Therefore, the future of Drogpa culture and their hospitable behaviour will depend on how well they perceive and respond to the modern developments. Finally, this paper concludes that the government of Bhutan and Drogpa should proceed collaboratively to sustain their valuable culture and traditions. Furthermore, government should also examine methodically prior to executing any development activity to make certain that tribal cultures be endorsed and more tribal youths be encouraged to acclimatize to their cultures and traditions

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Ecotourism in Bhutan

Cited by 95 publications

References 42 publications

Community Empowerment and Sustainable Tourism Development: The Mediating Role of Community Support for Tourism

Community Empowerment and Sustainable Tourism Development: The Mediating Role of Community Support for Tourism

Bhutan’s Forests through the Framework of Ecosystem Services: Rapid Assessment in Three Forest Types

Survival of Drogpa Cultural and Traditional Memes and the Threat of Modern Development

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