IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/vrs/enviro/v7y2019i3p24-37n3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The impact of tourism on local communities and their environment in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan: a local community perspective

Author

Listed:
  • us Saqib Najum

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

  • Yaqub Asim

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

  • Amin Gomal

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

  • Khan Imran

    (Management Sciences Department, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

  • Faridullah

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

  • Ajab Huma

    (Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

  • Zeb Iftikhar

    (Department of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

  • Ahmad Didar

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad)

Abstract

The northern area of Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan (GB), has huge tourist potential due to its exotic mountain beauty. According to the GB Tourism Department, a large number of tourists (around 200651) visit GB every year from across the country. Due to a large influx of tourists in the area both positive and negative impacts have been felt especially on the environment and on the local communities. The environmental impacts of tourism were investigated in this research in two districts of GB. Three villages were selected from each of the districts of Hunza and Diamer as the basis of this research. This study was based on the perceptions and attitudes of the respondents. The total number of questionnaires completed was 340 filled from different respondent categories. Results showed that deforestation, loss of biodiversity, generation of solid waste, water, air and noise pollution, damage cultural and heritage sites and are the main environmental issues caused by tourism activities in the villages in these districts. About 42% of respondents said that deforestation and loss of biodiversity were high in the Diamer district while in Hunza 39% of respondents said that solid waste generation was high. Similarly, 21% respondents in Hunza and 14% respondents in Diamer agreed that water pollution is caused by tourism activities. Microbial analysis of water confirmed the presence of Salmonella typhi, E. coli and Enterobacter sp. There were positive impacts of tourism with results revealing that 87% of villagers and 98% of businessmen responded that tourism had provided them with jobs and business during the peak tourism season. Hotels and restaurants are the main source of jobs in GB mainly as porters and guides. According to the data collected dry fruits, medicinal herbs, gemstones and handicrafts provided considerable attractions for tourists. It is recommended that a combined effort be made by the local communities, tourism departments and other Govt. Agencies to ensure the cleanliness of tourist attractions.

Suggested Citation

  • us Saqib Najum & Yaqub Asim & Amin Gomal & Khan Imran & Faridullah & Ajab Huma & Zeb Iftikhar & Ahmad Didar, 2019. "The impact of tourism on local communities and their environment in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan: a local community perspective," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 7(3), pages 24-37, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:enviro:v:7:y:2019:i:3:p:24-37:n:3
    DOI: 10.2478/environ-2019-0015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.2478/environ-2019-0015
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.2478/environ-2019-0015?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mottaleb, Khondoker Abdul, 2007. "Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment and Its Impact on Economic Growth in Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 9457, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. SOFRONOV, Bogdan, 2017. "Impact Of Sustainable Tourism In The Travel Industry," Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, Universitatea Spiru Haret, vol. 17(4), pages 85-94.
    3. Ekinci, Mehmet Behzat, 2014. "The Cittaslow philosophy in the context of sustainable tourism development; the case of Turkey," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 178-189.
    4. Talib Hussain & Benqian Li & Dake Wang, 2018. "What Factors Influence the Sustainable Tour Process in Social Media Usage? Examining a Rural Mountain Region in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Yolal, Medet & Gursoy, Dogan & Uysal, Muzaffer & Kim, Hyelin (Lina) & Karacaoğlu, Sıla, 2016. "Impacts of festivals and events on residents’ well-being," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-18.
    6. Tang, Chor Foon & Tan, Eu Chye, 2015. "Does tourism effectively stimulate Malaysia's economic growth?," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 158-163.
    7. Imran, Sophia & Alam, Khorshed & Beaumont, Narelle, 2014. "Environmental orientations and environmental behaviour: Perceptions of protected area tourism stakeholders," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 290-299.
    8. Lin, Zhibin & Chen, Ye & Filieri, Raffaele, 2017. "Resident-tourist value co-creation: The role of residents' perceived tourism impacts and life satisfaction," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 436-442.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Azam Muhammad & Mahdiat Mahdiat & Hafeez Muhammad Haroon & Bakhtyar Baher, 2022. "Investigating the Role of Tourism in Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan," Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, Sciendo, vol. 29(1), pages 39-47, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Salvatore Bimonte & Antonella D’Agostino, 2021. "Tourism development and residents’ well-being: Comparing two seaside destinations in Italy," Tourism Economics, , vol. 27(7), pages 1508-1525, November.
    2. Miguel Cruz Vásquez & Alfonso Mendoza Velázquez & Beatriz Pico González, 2019. "Foreign direct investment, economic opening and economic growth in Lat," Contaduría y Administración, Accounting and Management, vol. 64(1), pages 15-16, Enero-Mar.
    3. Jinghua Han & Keji Huang & Shiwei Shen, 2022. "Are Tourism Practitioners Happy? The Role of Explanatory Style Played on Tourism Practitioners’ Psychological Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Mohammad Rashed Hasan Polas & Ratul Kumar Saha & Mosab I. Tabash, 2022. "How does tourist perception lead to tourist hesitation? Empirical evidence from Bangladesh," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 3659-3686, March.
    5. Anne Hardy & Leonie J. Pearson, 2016. "Determining Sustainable Tourism in Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Dašić Miloš, 2022. "Political Risk and Quality of Governance as Determinants of Foreign Direct Investments in the Transition Countries," Economic Themes, Sciendo, vol. 60(3), pages 343-367, September.
    7. Papavasileiou, Emmanouil & Lyons, Sean & Shaw, Gareth & Georgiou, Anthimos, 2017. "Work values in tourism: Past, present and future," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 150-162.
    8. Sundas Rauf & Rashid Mehmood & Aisha Rauf & Shafaqat Mehmood, 2016. "Integrated Model to Measure the Impact of Terrorism and Political Stability on FDI Inflows: Empirical Study of Pakistan," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(4), pages 1-7, April.
    9. Marrocu, Emanuela & Paci, Raffaele & Zara, Andrea, 2015. "Micro-economic determinants of tourist expenditure: A quantile regression approach," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 13-30.
    10. Hasan Murat Ertugrul & Fatih Mangir, 2015. "The tourism-led growth hypothesis: empirical evidence from Turkey," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(7), pages 633-646, July.
    11. Francis Baidoo & Lei Pan & Vera Ogeh Lassey Fiador & Elikplimi Komla Agbloyor, 2024. "Importing to feed international tourists: Growth implications for islands across the globe," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(7), pages 1651-1679, November.
    12. Nnamdi Chinwendu Nwaeze & Kingsley Ikechukwu Okere & Izuchukwu Ogbodo & Obumneke Bob Muoneke & Ifeoma Nwakaego Sandra Ngini & Samuel Uchezuike Ani, 2023. "Dynamic linkages between tourism, economic growth, trade, energy demand and carbon emission: evidence from EU," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Rauf, Abdul & Zhang, Jin & Li, Jinkai & Amin, Waqas, 2018. "Structural changes, energy consumption and carbon emissions in China: Empirical evidence from ARDL bound testing model," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 194-206.
    14. Mukesh Kumar & Nargis & Azeema Begam, 2020. "Export-Led Growth Hypothesis: Empirical Evidence from Selected South Asian Countries," Asian Journal of Economic Modelling, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, March.
    15. Abdul Rehman & Hengyun Ma & Muhammad Irfan & Munir Ahmad & Ousmane Traore, 2020. "Investigating the Influence of International Tourism in Pakistan and Its Linkage to Economic Growth: Evidence From ARDL Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    16. Angelo Antoci & Paolo Russu & Pier Luigi Sacco & Giorgio Tavano Blessi, 2022. "Preying on beauty? The complex social dynamics of overtourism," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 17(1), pages 379-400, January.
    17. Hussam Al Halbusi & Pedro Jimenez Estevez & Tan Eleen & T. Ramayah & Md Uzir Hossain Uzir, 2020. "The Roles of The Physical Environment, Social Servicescape, Co-Created Value, and Customer Satisfaction in Determining Tourists’ Citizenship Behavior: Malaysian Cultural and Creative Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-23, April.
    18. Shaohua Kong & Hanzun Li & Ziyi Yu, 2024. "A Review of Studies on the Mechanisms of Cultural Heritage Influencing Subjective Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    19. Saleh, Emad Alchikh, 2023. "The effects of economic and financial crises on FDI: A literature review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    20. Florian Kapmeier & Paulo Gonçalves, 2018. "Wasted paradise? Policies for Small Island States to manage tourism‐driven growth while controlling waste generation: the case of the Maldives," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 34(1-2), pages 172-221, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:vrs:enviro:v:7:y:2019:i:3:p:24-37:n:3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.sciendo.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.