Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Tourism in Nepal is highly dynamic and complex. While nationally Nepal has a prosperous tourism industry, it also faces challenges such as mass tourism and the degradation of natural resources. This thesis investigates local residents´ perceptions and attitudes towards tourists, the Nepalese tourism industry and the future of tourism in the rural village of Sanitar. Furthermore, the thesis explores what factors motivate local residents' involvement in tourism. Located in the Mid-Hill region, Sanitar has had little tourism activity prior to the recent opening of a homestay in the village. The homestay has started to generate a more regular influx of tourists, creating an opportunity for more local involvement within the industry. Based on two weeks of fieldwork in Sanitar using qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews and participatory observation, we found that there was an overwhelmingly positive perception of tourism. We suggest that this positive perception is influenced by the economic status of local residents and imaginaries of the power of whiteness to facilitate change. We argue that the findings are rooted in indirect reproductions of colonial discourses. Furthermore, the research found that local residents had a desire to share their culture with tourists, raising questions about the balance between economic profit from cultural-based tourism and the authentic long-term preservation of culture.