Sustainable Mountain Tourism Research Articles

Tourism Policy for Sustainable Mountain Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review

The tourism sector is a key driver of socio-economic advancement. This study aims to assess tourism policy for sustainable mountain tourism using a systematic literature review. The research is based on a review of empirical studies, reports, and policy documents. The Google Scholar search engine was applied using the keywords "tourism policy" and "sustainable mountain tourism". All papers that were published from January 2010 to February 2024 have been checked for the study and 27 research papers were selected for this study using the PRISMA framework. An increased emphasis on sustainability and responsible practices has resulted in a paradigm change in the global tourism business. Sustainable tourism promotes ecological sustainability, economic viability, and social equality by mitigating the negative effects of tourism on the environment, society, and economy. Collaboration with stakeholders is essential for implementing integrated sustainable mountain tourism policies. For this, government strategies should be directed toward improving sustainability awareness, strengthening local communities and political leaders’ participation, and adopting new technologies and renewable energy sources for sustained growth.

A fading mountain world? Landscape change driven by the economic and socioecological fabric of the Pyrenean area around Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park (1900-2020)

Industrialization and the subsequent transition to a tourism-based economy, together with the globalization of the agri-food system, have transformed how natural resources are used, the relationship between the local population and the landscape, and the biodiversity of mountainous areas. This article analyses the agrarian and environmental history of the area surrounding Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, in the Catalan Pyrenees, from the early twentieth century to the present day, through oral testimonies, old photographs, demographic and socioeconomic data, and a GIS-based map analysis of changes in land use and the location of the resident population. The results show that economic tertiarization and the end of integrated productive land management have given rise to a forest transition towards less landscape diversity. This threatens the entire range of landscape ecosystem services that make the area appealing for a more diversified and sustainable mountain tourism model.

An exploratory study of stakeholder views on the sustainable development of mountain tourism

AbstractSustainable tourism can combine recreation for people, economic opportunities for entrepreneurs, and environmental protection, but for mountain tourism, climate change and the predicted reductions in snowfall require urgent action. Therefore, this study aims to identify sustainable mountain tourism strategies and consumption patterns using a multi‐criteria decision methodology and data collected through an online survey and expert opinions. The results show the importance of stakeholder engagement and the relevance of three strategies: (i) zero‐emission lodges; (ii) energy communities, and (iii) zero‐emission ski lifts. As well as pointing out the need for sustainability awareness and education. While respondents pay a great deal of attention to sustainability, the analysis highlights three policy interventions to safeguard mountain tourism: (i) financing the conversion of facilities; (ii) expanding infrastructure to reach mountain resorts, and (iii) rewarding consumers for choosing a certified zero‐emission resort.

Estimating the recreational value of mountain tourism to shape sustainable development in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Mountain tourism has been experiencing remarkable growth in Pakistan, and the economy of mountainous regions is increasingly reliant on the tourism sector. However, the vulnerability of mountain tourism to climate change and human activities poses severe threats to its long-term sustainability, and addressing these challenges necessitates meticulous planning and immediate policy attention to effectively mitigate potential risks and secure the future of mountain tourism. This study aims to aid in formulating policies that promote sustainable mountain tourism by estimating the recreational value associated with high mountain tourism in Hunza Valley. The total recreational value is considered an indicator of the economic viability of tourism in high mountain regions. Data were collected from 1046 tourists through on-site surveys conducted during 2021–2022, and the estimation model employed a truncated negative binomial regression technique. This study reveals that the annual recreational value per person for visiting the Hunza Valley amounts to USD 126.3, resulting in a total annual recreational value of USD 22.8 million of the region. These estimations provide valuable insights to policymakers, enabling them to understand the area's economic potential better and facilitate efficient resource allocation strategies within the mountainous landscape. Furthermore, these findings offer critical guidance for informed decision-making concerning natural resource management, ensuring the conservation and preservation of the region's unique landscapes and historical sites.

Eco-Trekking in Southeast Asia: A Comparative Study of Sustainable Practices in Mountain Tourism

This research investigated eco-trekking in Southeast Asia with a comparative analysis of sustainable practices in mountain tourism. Existing literature and case studies across various countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, served as the primary sources for the evaluation of different practices. The core components of the study were understanding the impact of eco-trekking on local communities, economies, and the environment, and the sustainability of these practices. The research found a range of approaches to eco-trekking across Southeast Asia. For instance, in Vietnam, community-based eco-trekking initiatives emerged as a significant driving force for sustainable local economic development. These initiatives were also critical in preserving local ethnic cultures and traditions. In contrast, Thailand and Malaysia showcased more top-down, government-led eco-trekking practices that concentrated on environmental conservation and maintaining a balance between tourism and nature. The study also identified common challenges, such as managing visitor impacts, maintaining the quality of trekking experiences, and the need for increased local community involvement. Furthermore, the research emphasized the importance of cross-border learning and the potential for sharing best practices among countries in the region. In conclusion, the research demonstrated that while eco-trekking practices varied across countries, they all played a crucial role in promoting sustainable mountain tourism. The study highlighted the need for a more integrated, cooperative approach among Southeast Asian countries to share lessons and jointly tackle common challenges. These findings can inform policy-making and planning for sustainable mountain tourism in Southeast Asia and other similar regions globally. Future research directions may include examining the effects of recent global trends, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on eco-trekking and sustainable tourism practices in the region. Keywords: Eco-Trekking, Sustainable Practices, Mountain Tourism, Southeast Asia, Environmental Conservation, Adventure Travel Sustainability.

Waste Management Policy and Practices in Mountain Expeditions in Nepal: Stakeholder's Perspective on Implementation of Mountaineering Expedition Rules

Purpose: This study investigates the current implementation status of the Mountaineering Expedition Rules (MER) of 2002 in Nepal, focusing on waste management practices during mountain expeditions from the stakeholder's perspective.
 Methodology: The study used a descriptive research design with a mixed approach, collecting primary data through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data analysis is conducted using descriptive statistics for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data.
 Main Findings: The findings highlight the need for improvement in waste management during mountain expeditions in Nepal. While climbers demonstrate a moderate to high level of awareness and implementation of waste management practices, challenges such as limited budgets, lack of self-awareness among expeditioners, and slow decay of waste in cold weather persist. The study emphasizes the importance of proper implementation of mountaineering expedition rules, particularly in waste management.
 Implications: This study contributes to the development of sustainable tourism practices in Nepal and the preservation of the mountain environment. The study recognizes the efforts made by the Nepalese government through policies and regulations to address waste management issues. The goal is to protect the fragile mountain ecosystem while facilitating the growth of sustainable mountain tourism.
 Novelty: It offers practical recommendations based on stakeholder perspectives, which can inform policy formulation in Nepal and other countries with similar mountain tourism contexts.

Attractive Landscape Features as Drivers for Sustainable Mountain Tourism Experiences

Mountains are perceived as places of biodiversity, as attractive places with breathtaking aesthetic views and epitomized by their unique landscape features. As mountains are the second most demanded outdoor destination category at a global level after beaches and islands, the steady growth of tourism places high pressure on sensitive mountain ecosystems. As can be observed from tourism practice in mountain environments, the distribution of tourism activities is highly uneven. In the Alps, one of the best-known regions with relentless tourism growth, a substantial concentration of tourism intensity can be traced to specific locations and valleys, whereas other parts have to cope with trends of marginalization. In this situation, many concerned stakeholders have long advocated for more balanced economic and tourism development. The initiative of “Mountaineering Villages” promoted by the Alpine Convention is one of a few respective actions to shift perspectives and persuade tourists to engage in sustainable tourism activities. The paper explores how these activities are linked to the balanced use of cultural landscapes and the narratives that are exposed as convincing development models in these regions.

Sustainable Mountain Tourism in the Alps: The "Mountaineering Villages" Concept, a Local Model for Sustainable Mountain Tourism in the Alps

Sustainable Mountain Tourism in the Alps: The "Mountaineering Villages" Concept, a Local Model for Sustainable Mountain Tourism in the Alps

Economic Development and Mountain Tourism Research from 2010 to 2020: Bibliometric Analysis and Science Mapping Approach

Due to hectic city lives and the growing health concerns in light of the global pandemic, mountain tourism has become increasingly popular worldwide, which has increased the related research. Based on traditional bibliometric laws, such as those authored by Price, Bradford, Lotka, and Zipf, this study acquired 1413 mountain tourism journal articles via bibliometric analysis and identified the most influential journal articles, researchers, and countries in mountain tourism research as indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database during 2010–2020. The keyword analysis revealed mountain tourism’s emerging research topics, including climate change, sustainable development, sustainability, sustainable tourism, protected areas, rural tourism, and conservation. The most influential journal was Sustainability in the mountain tourism. The research results showed that China, the U.S., and Romania produced the most significant mountain tourism articles indexed in the WoS. Most developed countries in Europe had the highest average and average normalized citations, which indicated that they may have more influence in this field as compared to other countries. Some developing countries, such as India, Nepal, and China, had higher citations, average citations, and/or average normalized citations than other countries. The main research trend was the sustainable development aspect of mountain-based tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified the research gap in WoS; although there is some research shedding light on tourism via bibliometrics, mountain tourism bibliometric analysis and science mapping via VOSViewer is scarce. The paper summarizes the critical aspects of the current discussion of sustainable mountain tourism, such as transport and coopetition (i.e., combing with cooperation and competition) in mountain tourism areas. The results indicated that government agencies and destination managers need to strike a balance between sustainable mountain tourism development and environment and natural landscape conservation after COVID-19.

Design and Performance Analysis of a Lightweight Flexible nZEB

Starting from an experimental activity, the paper describes research analysis that has been conducted on a real case construction with the aim to design its adaptation as a nearly zero energy building in three possible alternative scenarios: (i) a lab for students’ activities in the Lecco University Campus of Politecnico di Milano; (ii) an Alpine shelter for the implementation of a sustainable mountain tourism in Zermatt; (iii) an emergency shelter for poor communities in Burkina Faso. The use of an easily disassembled and lightweight steel structure coupled with dry-layered technologies allows a tailor-made envelope design, ensuring high thermal comfort, very low energy use, and limited construction times. The three case studies have been designed starting from the same architectural/structural concept. A detailed analysis, by means of finite element method and dynamic building thermal simulations, has been performed to predict the overall performances of each case study. The results show: (i) high replicability of the concept; (ii) high customization of the envelope technologies; (iii) high energy efficiency; and (iv) high thermal comfort of the architecture. The useful energy requirement in all the three analyzed scenarios is minimized and equal to 14.13, 23.88, and 41.83 kWh/m2 year, respectively, for the students’ lab, the Alpine shelter and the emergency shelter. According to this study the energy needs can be covered by renewable energy produced on site, making the architectural concept an interesting modular lightweight solution for a nearly zero energy building with high potential for replicability.

Sustainable tourism in the Corsican mountains: the mare to mares trail

Purpose This study aims to develop a managerial contribution with actors whose mission is the development of sustainable tourism in the mountains. Lastly, they present and discuss the findings. Design/methodology/approach A case study was conducted on the third stage of Mare in Mares, where at the end of this stage, the village stage gîte located 850 m above sea level accommodates hikers. The study began in 2016 and included tourism professionals (bed and breakfast managers, stage gite managers and guides), local elected officials, as well as representatives of the Local Mediation Group, the Regional Natural Park of Corsica, the Corsican Environment Office, SIVOM de la Bravone, the Development Office and breeders in the pig and beef sector. Findings The results show that the hiker numbers at Mare a Mare (800 hikers over a short period) are not an obstacle to sustainable mountain tourism. In contrast, wild fishing, pig and cattle wandering and the deficit of waste water treatment plants in some of the villages of Mare a Mare, contribute to endangering the strategy of sustainable development and sustainable tourism in mountains. Research limitations/implications The limitations of the study are its focus on just one stage of the Mare-to-Mare sentier de grande randonnée footpath and, secondly, the possibility that the paths may not be usable in future as climate change impacts occur. Originality/value The purpose of this study is to make a managerial contribution in relation to the action that needs to be taken, beginning with a trial in Corsica. Specifically, managerial support would involve a training course on the actions needed for – decision-makers, managers, politicians – whose responsibility it is to develop sustainable tourism in the mountains. Given this broad recommendation, the content of the training and action needed should be based on the concept of territorial resilience, as well as aspects of complex thinking and planning based on a systemic approach.

Sustainable tourism development in rural and marginal areas and opportunities for female entrepreneurship: lessons from an exploratory study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of female entrepreneurs in the development of sustainable tourism in marginal rural mountain areas. This role is studied with reference to two focal points: female entrepreneurs’ involvement in the creation and management of tourism/hospitality services characterized by elements of authenticity, experientiality and innovation (Focus 1) and their willingness to create or participate in local stakeholder networks (Focus 2). Design/methodology/approach Exploratory research was conducted in mountain areas where tourism development is still marginal. In depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 businesswomen in Trentino (Italy), who agreed to take part in this study. Findings Female entrepreneurs play a very important role in the development of sustainable mountain tourism. Elements of authenticity, experientiality and innovation are shown to be characteristic of female entrepreneurship, as is women’s propensity to create and foster local stakeholder networks (directly or indirectly) linked to their own businesses. Research limitations/implications In the light of the exploratory nature of this study, a small convenience sample was used. Originality/value This research highlights specific features of female entrepreneurship related to the sustainable development of marginal rural areas and contributes to the academic debate on the topic. This topic is under-researched with regard to developed countries.

Tourism Policy of Nepal and Sustainable Mountain Tourism Development in Retrospect

The modern history of tourism in Nepal began with mountain tourism embodying the diversity of nature and culture, diversity, marginality, access difficulty, fragility, niche and aesthetics. Despite huge scope, Nepal has been unable to take full benefits of mountains, due to inadequate policies and fragile implementation. Pedestaled on secondary data, the key objective of this paper is to make a retrospective assessment of tourism policy and sustainable mountain tourism development efforts in Nepal. The sustainable development of mountain tourism relies on the government’s plans and policies and the efficient coordination between stakeholders. But the tourism policies have not been able to adequately address mountain tourism, and this has led to unbalanced growth of tourism sector. Despite the implementation of new Tourism Policy in 2008, adequate focus on mountain tourism is still missing. There is a lacuna of adequate driving force in tourism policy and it has failed to address vital areas of mountain tourism. Hence, there is an instant need of specific and separate mountain tourism policy encompassing integrated approach (abiding federal structure and local participation in planning and management) hence making mountain tourism sustainable, responsible and sensitive--ecologically and culturally.

Sustainable mountain tourism in word and deed: A comparative analysis in the macro regions of the Alps and the Dinarides

This article examines similarities and differences in the attitudes and social representations of destination managers towards implementing sustainable tourism between the mountain regions of the Alps and the Dinarides. Bearing in mind the transnational impacts (i.e., environmental, economic and social) of the tourism industry the research methodology adopted an international perspective by sending a questionnaire to tourism organizations in fourteen different countries in the Alps and the Dinarides. The research is interdisciplinary in nature, because it integrates knowledge from sustainability and management science with tourism geography and social psychology. The findings confirm that social representations of sustainable tourism differ significantly in the two mountain regions.

Determinants of sustainability of ski resorts: do size and altitude matter?

ABSTRACTResearch questionsThe research questions are aimed at increasing knowledge about ski resorts’ sustainability. Achieving and maintaining sustainable operations and meeting sustainability requirements may be more important for some resorts than others.RQ1: Which sustainability indicators are part of pillars and requirements of ski resort sustainability?RQ2: Which types of ski resorts are more effective in managing sustainability?Research methodsA survey of ski resort managers from Europe and North America was undertaken. Principal component analysis was conducted on each of the pillars and requirements of sustainability of ski resorts. Identified factors were then inputted into Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests to search for differences between resorts with different lengths of pistes and altitudes. Finally, clustering was used to further define which types of ski resorts exhibit more sustainable behavior.Results and FindingsThis study shows that larger ski resorts are capable of producing lesser environmental effect per visitor. Higher altitude forces ski resorts to behave more sustainably. There is a clear indication that resorts with longer pistes and higher altitudes are more inclined to implement sustainability management practices and enjoy higher quality environments.ImplicationsThe results advance our knowledge of ski tourism and recreation as a special interest market segment as well as its potential for policy to support sustainable mountain tourism development. Identified advantages and situational conditions to be taken into account for efficient ski resort operations are discussed. A major policy implication of the present study is that big is not always bad when managing a ski resort.

Mountain-route tourism and sustainability. A discourse analysis of literature and possible future research

Travel to mountain destinations has increased considerably over time, resulting in amplified discussions on both the benefits and risks to mountain environments, cultures and communities. This paper illuminates the ‘ruptures’ and ‘silences’ in literature to investigate how the current sustainable tourism management discourse influences the practice of tourism in mountainous routes in developing countries. We apply discourse analysis to applicable literature, to unravel beliefs and evidences that currently shape this area of discourse. Peer reviewed, and grey literature was identified through the Pearl Growing Technique from available internet-based databases. The results indicate that most research on mountain-route tourism emphasise the nature and marketing of mountain tourism and impacts of tourism on mountains. We suggest that mountain tourism research should afford more page-space to (1) the use of universally applicable indicators of tourism sustainability in mountainous routes and destinations, (2) approaches for local community involvement in planning mountain route tourism, as well as (3) ways of using mountain route tourism as a tool for poverty reduction. Management ImplicationsThe paper summarises the key aspects characterising the current discourse in sustainable mountain tourism as being;•The establishment of tourism routes in mountain communities’ avails opportunities for poverty reduction through entrepreneurial activities related to tourism.•Sustainable tourism is understood differently from one mountain community to another. Indicators for managing sustainable tourism should be developed in consultation with all concerned stakeholders•Mountain environments and cultures are fragile and can suffer extensive negative impacts from tourism. Mountain route managers should device methods of mitigating the negative impacts and maximising the positive impacts.•It is imperative when designing a sustainable mountain tourism plan, to involve the local community.•Tourism is not a panacea to mountain poverty. Its planning and development should be carried out following sustainable tourism tenets to enhance poverty reduction.

Mountains—Law—Ethics

“Don’t look up at the mountain, climb it.” Thus said Swami Vivekananda. Climb the mountain we can see the world, not so world can see us. When a goal matters enough to a person, that person will find a way to accomplish what first seemed impossible. Mountains therefore instigate us to make an adventurous attempt which has enormous environmental, socioeconomic and cultural value comprising vitally important resources and functions that benefit society both directly and indirectly: as regulators of climate and water resources; containing important water reserves and providing us with fuel as sanctuaries of a large diversities ecosystems, with unique and exclusive species and an extraordinary variety of landscapes, communities, languages, and cultures, as studying grounds for disciplines such as geology and biology and as ideal settings to develop environmental education activities. There has been a need to enact loss/declarations on mountain protection having a large international tradition linked growing awareness of mountaineering community towards environment, as well as negative effects caused by the increase and mass marketing of mountains sports of tourism activities on mountain ecosystem and local communities. The article presents certain principles in believing that freedom to practice mountaineering depends on the enormous value of mountain areas which are often the sources of products essential to human kind as a whole. The role of mountain tourism is not only in supporting local communities but the misuse of existing resources may lead to the loss of biodiversity, massive or intrusive changes to the landscape, climate change and pollution due to overuse of sensitive areas. Several declarations made by various mountaineering organizations have insisted on accepting the risks and assure responsibility leading to the balance of goals with skills and equipment, adopting fair means and reporting honestly. The declarations also insist to strive for best practice and never stop learning by being tolerant, considerate and help each other for protecting the wild and natural character of mountains and cliffs in order to support local communities and their sustainable development. The values or otherwise termed as ethics of mountaineering connotes human dignity, life, liberty and happiness; intactness of nature, solidarity, self-actualization, truth and adventure. The attraction of sports climbing depends upon utilizing opportunities provided to improve climbing standards and techniques resulting in to experience the pure fun of climbing with the fear of falling greatly reduced and enhancing aspirations of climbers to take the first step on to rock outside in relative safety, gradually learning about widening their climbing experience and having broad based exposure to an adventurous elevated and higher vision improving the social behavior and to fight against the killers of the virgin nature it also improves to have better coexistence with the neighborhood in spite of diversities and multidirectional cultural variations The catastrophe resulted due to earthquake that shook Nepal living thousands of people standards in remote locations beyond the access of roads and helicopters; in a land of expedition the world food program brought food and relief items those in greatest needs opened an access to humanitarian relief. “Respect the mountains” is the key slogan to promote sustainable mountain tourism through a global network of volunteers who activated significant step in mountain protection in their respective territories. The risk, responsibility, duty of care, and liability insisted actions to reduce the risk of litigations against ourselves in taking actions to reduce the possibility of contributing any harms to others. Mountaineering enabled by legal and ethical foundation dictated that “If we were afraid of failures, we don’t deserve success—we make a living by what we get, but we make a life but what we give.”

Implementation of Sustainable Tourism in the German Alps: A Case Study

What are the processes behind efforts for more sustainable mountain destinations in the German Alps and what are the views of different tourism stakeholders on these processes? The research deals both with threats pushing the agenda of sustainable development (such as climate change and depletion of resources), indicators of sustainable tourism (to measure the scope of change), as well as cross-border cooperation and stakeholder engagement in the German Alps. The data was collected through 30 interviews with individuals dealing with tourism development and sustainable tourism development in the German Alps. The findings suggest that a holistic approach and collection and dissemination of data and knowledge on sustainability are the basis for developing sustainable mountain tourism. Implementation and monitoring should focus on specific flagship sustainable tourism products, as well as on a destination in a broader sense and the sustainable tourism market. Three themes emerged as important for implementation of sustainable tourism in the German Alps: indicators of sustainable tourism, cross-border cooperation and stakeholder engagement.

Exploring the Impact of Tourism to the Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions

Sustainable development is difficult to be achieved in mountain regions because of their sensitivity to climate change. The rapid development of mountain tourism worldwide during the last years makes the goal for sustainable mountain tourism even more challenging. Key factor to the development of mountain tourism in Europe was the function of ski centres. According to the spirit of the Brundtland Report ski centres are not in general sustainable, because they may have economic benefits but they negatively affect the other two pillars of sustainability: environment and society. The present paper focuses on a ski resort in Greece, attempting to assess the impact of mountain tourism on the sustainable development of the area. Ski resorts played a crucial role to the bloom of mountain tourism in Greece. Its evolution is a relatively recent phenomenon which has been affected by the economic crisis that afflicts the country in the past years. Demographic data compared with tourism indicators were used to assess the environmental impact of tourism in the area. Moreover, meteorological data were used in order to examine the correlation of climatic conditions and the number of visitors. The results show that the ski centre in Elatohori despite the economic benefits has a major environmental impact, especially because of the increased carbon emissions caused by the visitors of the area. Additionally, the climatic conditions (precipitation and temperature, especially the absolute maximum air temperature) affect the number of visitors.

Sustainable Mountain Tourism Development in Khumbu Region

As a result of highly impressive socio-behavioral temperament and character of the Sherpas in the eastern mountains, many people may be influenced to visit Nepal again and again and the outcome could be the spread of global brotherhood of the Nepalese people. The Sherpas are regarded as the symbolic source of inspiration by means of their simplicity of living, grounded religious and spiritual faith and trustworthiness - all contributing in an experiential living in the Himalayas. This article presents with an exploration of the problems, challenges and prospects for promoting sustainable mountain tourism keeping the Hilarity of the Sherpa Spirit at the center of concern while establishing a world view on sustainable tourism development and supplementing it with the grounded multiple realities via ethnographic dialectics.The Gaze: Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Vol.6 2014 pp.42-69