Assessing Tourism Potential and Ecotourism Attractions of Annapurna Base Camp Nepal through an Appreciative Inquiry Approach

Pratik Bhattarai (), Krishna Rawal () and Anup Kc ()
Additional contact information
Pratik Bhattarai: Tribhuvan University, Postal: Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal, http://tu.edu.np/
Krishna Rawal: Tribhuvan University, Postal: Institute of Forestry , Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal, http://tu.edu.np/
Anup Kc: University of Maine, Postal: Center for Research on Sustainable Forest , University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States, http://umaine.edu/forest/

Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, 2024, vol. 12, issue 3, 241-256

Abstract: Nature-based tourism such as trekking and mountaineering has gained popularity in recent years due to the demand for experience-based tourism. Adventure tourism is one of the mainstays of Nepali economy and a major source of revenue. Trekking has brought employment and income opportunities and contributed to the living standard of local people. However, the influx of visitors has led to the depletion of natural resources and the degradation of environ mental conditions in many areas. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a proper balance between social, economic, and environmental dimensions to ensure the viability of these tourism destinations. This study aims to assess the tour ism potential and ecotourism attractions of Annapurna Base Camp through appreciative inquiry analysis. Based on the concept of ecotourism and its principles, we carried out the study keeping ecotourism in the center for exploring other possible forms of tourism at the study site. Through our primary and secondary data sources, we have de signed a strategic plan to bring the results of appreciative inquiry into practice. The study emphasizes the adoption of strength-based approaches like appreciative inquiry in tourism studies that will help communities and destinations address social, environmental, and economic problems while ensuring their sustainability.

Keywords: Trekking; Stakeholders; Strategic Plan; Design; Discovery; Destiny (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q26 Z32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.cieo.pt/journal/J_3_2024/article3.pdf Full text (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:jspord:1099

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being is currently edited by Patrícia Pinto

More articles in Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being from Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve University of Algarve, Faculty of Economics, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal, Coordinator of the Centre: Prof. Patrícia Pinto, E-mail: pvalle@ualg.pt. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Silvia Fernandes ().