Facilitating sustainable mountain tourism- volume 1: resource book

The Himalayas have long captured the imagination of travellers with its immense beauty and rich cultural diversity. However it is one of the poorest regions in the world with its inhabitants dependent on subsistence agriculture. Faced with a booming population and a rapidly deteriorating natural environment alternative livelihood options are crucial. Mountain tourism provides opportunities for providing gainful employment, income, and other socioeconomic benefits, while at the same time conserving the rich natural and socio-cultural heritage of the region.

This resource book is part of a set of guides for facilitating sustainable mountain tourism; consisting of a resource book and a toolkit (see related links for toolkit). It aims to strengthen the capacities of national and state tourism organisations and/or other facilitators to support a process of planning for sustainable mountain tourism development and plan-based project facilitation in their respective countries or states.

Facilitation of the project cycle is introduced as a guiding principle and ordering process for tools in sustainable mountain tourism planning and development – emphasising poverty reduction, gender, and social inclusion, and the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources – and the planning and management of activities in tourism organisations. Approaches and tools are introduced through which national and state tourism organisations can; support tourism development activities; scan the context in which projects are formulated and implemented; and determine who are or need to be involved. Finally, project formulation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation are explained and facilitation tools discussed. Organised into four parts: Introduction, Overview of Concepts, Overview of Approaches, and Issues and Trends in Institutional Development it allows for easy referencing.