An eco-social exploration of tourism area evolution in mountains through stakeholders’ perspective

Abstract

This study delves into the intricate interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic influencers that shape the multidimensional eco-social spheres through the process of tourism area evolution (TAE) in a mountain tourist destination, Sikkim, located in the Eastern Himalayas. Understanding the eco-social aspects from the perspective of local communities in the Himalayan region has been challenging due to the overlapping and entangled ecological and social relations in the mountains, which lack a comprehensive and systematic assessment framework. To address this gap, the study incorporates 300 stakeholders' perspectives from five distinct groups, with the objective of constructing an explanatory model that combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies. This analysis was conducted within the framework of the widely recognized tourism area life cycle (TALC) model. Also, it integrated participatory appraisal with robust statistical modelling techniques, including Kruskal-Wallis Test, Principal Component Analysis, Analysis of Variance and Multinomial Logistic Regression to detangle the influence of internal and external factors on the eco-social structure of Sikkim. The results reveal that the status of TAE is uneven across Sikkim, predominantly influenced by diverse geoclimatic, geopolitical, environmental, economic, infrastructural, and sociocultural factors, as well as the capacity of the destination to cope with external changes. The study further identifies that the high-altitude destinations under protected and restricted areas, which are major attractions in Sikkim, are more vulnerable due to their relatively high socioecological sensitivity, posing challenges to future tourism development. However, based on the TALC framework and the stakeholders' perception-based model, the study predicts that the likelihood of Sikkim approaching the stagnation stage is low, unless phenomenon like climate (change), social security and environmental degradation trigger it. Albeit the greater concerns are for features (social structure, local-tourists interaction, seasonality and ecological disturbances) that potentially exhibit characteristics of consolidation. The key findings highlight the significance of the uniqueness, tradition, cultural heritage, basic amenities and community's capacity to cope with external changes may sustain tourism in Sikkim. Hence, the study advocates for a prioritized focus on capacity building through community-based participation, with special emphasis on the high-altitude destinations, as a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of (eco)tourism and the preservation of the eco-social environment in Sikkim.