Tourism and Community Engagement in World Heritage Sites, Nepal

Abstract

Choegyal explores the complexities of managing sustainable tourism and community engagement at World Heritage Sites and in protected areas. Taking a destination management approach, she addresses the issues of tourism and community engagement from the perspective of stakeholders: resource managers, tourism industry, local residents and visitors. While acknowledging resource conservation must be paramount, Choegyal discusses the practicalities of planning for market-led sustainable tourism and product development. She examines suitable styles of tourism that can effectively involve communities and result in tangible benefits, employment and business opportunities for locals. Her experience concludes that partnerships often yield the best results. Choegyal ends with a case study of lessons learned at Lumbini in Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.