Announcement
"People, Park and Mountain
Tourism", April 2-21, 2003
(A series of e- consultations co-organised by Asia Pacific Mountain Network and
Bridges: Projects in Rational Tourism
Development (Bridges-PRTD) in coordination with the Namche Conference, May
24-26, Namche Bazar, Khumbu, Nepal)
| 1. Schedule April 2-6: Session I: Cultural and ecological impact of tourism in remote mountainous destinations April 7-11: Session II: Security issues related to tourism in remote mountainous destinations April 12-16: Session III: Management systems: parks, protected areas, community- based development April 17-21: Session IV: Shaping the future: achieving optimal results in the global market 2. Background note From April 2 to 21, Asia Pacific Mountain Network will hold a series of e-consultations sponsored by the Bridges: Projects in Rational Tourism Development (Bridges-PRTD) in coordination with the Namche Conference, May 24-26, Namche Bazar, Khumbu, Nepal. The Namche Conference coincides with the 50th anniversary ('Golden Jubilee') of the first ascent of Mt. Everest, as well as the first quarter century of Sagarmatha National Park. Sir John Hunt's 1953 expedition not only placed the first two summiteers on top of the world's highest mountain, it also unleashed a development process that has radically transformed the Sherpa homeland. The conference venue, Namche Bazar (3450 m), at the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park, is a significant departure from the usual academic symposium on mountain issues: rather than simply reading papers to each other, the delegates and participants will have the opportunity to 'ground-truth' their ideas and to learn from local experts. These e-consultations are conceived as a preliminary to the Namche Conference. Focusing specifically on issues that are of concern to the residents of remote mountain tourism destinations, we will compile a set of questions, generalisations, and suggestions to place before the conference participants (including members of the host community). In so doing, Mountain Forum subscribers around the world may participate by proxy, and the actual conference participants will have an opportunity to focus on and sharpen their ideas in advance. 3. E-Consultations [At the beginning of each session, the content moderator will present a lead-paper for e-discussions. Participants are encouraged to read the lead-paper and comment on it. Moreover, they are encouraged to contribute case studies, fill in 'knowledge gaps', suggest what have worked and what haven't and provide policy recommendations, among other things.] Session I (April 2-6) Cultural and ecological impact of tourism in remote mountainous destinations and neighboring areas Ø How is tourism affecting traditional social structures and individual lives? Ø What changes are perceived as positive and negative? Ø How can cultural traditions function as tourism assets without undermining their value through commodification? Ø What economic and ecological risks does the tourism trade pose for the host community and for neighbouring areas? Session II (April 7-11) Security issues related to tourism in remote mountainous destinations Ø Hosts and visitors are exposed to many hazards, including trail and bridge instability, medical emergencies, crime, armed conflict, and a variety of natural catastrophes. Trekkers sometimes get lost. What can be done to mitigate such hazards? Ø Whose responsibility is search and rescue? Ø What new hazards are created by tourism? Ø What steps should be taken to protect porters? Ø How can the public's need to be informed of potential hazards be reconciled with the economic interests of the tourism industry? Session III (April 12-16) d) Session IV (April 17-21) 5. How can you participate? |