Original scientific paper

Barriers to local community participation in tourism development: Evidence from mountainous state Uttarakhand, India

Devkant Kala orcid.org/0000-0003-4539-4608 ; School of Business, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
S. C. Bagri orcid.org/0000-0002-0182-5843 ; School of Management & Professor at Centre for Mountain Tourism and Hospitality Studies, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Local community involvement, particularly in emerging and remote tourism destinations, is justified to accomplish sustainable tourism development efforts. Despite the benefits that tourism development offer, participation of community in geographically disadvantaged mountainous destinations is accompanied with many challenges. This qualitative investigation has understood and given voice to local residents of two emerging destinations of Uttarakhand, India. Data were gathered through interviews and were thematically examined. Findings reveal four key barriers that affect community participation in tourism development: practical, socio-cultural, apprehension and institutional. The study emphasizes the need for both greater advocacy of community participation, better synchronization among concerned government authorities, education and training for locals, and the need to design particular strategies which can encourage local participation that are customized to emerging destination context.

Keywords

community participation; tourism development; barriers; mountainous destination; India

Hrčak ID:

206164

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/206164

Publication date:

28.9.2018.

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