Development of cultural and ecotourism in
The mountainous regions of Central Asia and the Himalayas.

Table of contents:
Executive Summary 3
Literature Review 4
Justification and Background 4
Promising Innovative Livelihood 8
Delivering Its Promise 9
Recommendations 10
Destination Management 10
Understanding the driving factors of destination marketing and management 11
Conclusion 13
Pro-Poor Value Chain 13
Supportive Mountain Tourism Policy 13
References 14

Executive Summary:
For centuries the mountainous region of South Asia has captured the imagination of travellers. It is recognised for its breath-taking natural beauty and is home to some of the highest mountains in the world. It has been a closed region for a number of centuries.
Nearly 446 million which is half the world’s 969 million poor call South Asia their home and all of the 446 million people live on less than US$ 1 per day. This is almost double than the number of poor that live in Sub-Saharan Africa (298 million poor living under US$ 1 each day. (Ahmed et al. 2007). A complete appreciation of the poverty condition and the way that tourism can address this condition involves an acceptance of the wider social forces that play a part in the socio-economic system of the mountains. It has not gone undetected that the area is going through an age of unbelievable environmental and political alteration, which is giving rise to socio-economic consequences.
It has been claimed that tourism is the most likely adaptation approach to these changes and can generate much desirable means for the reworking practice building upon the assets of the area. Although tourism may be the answer to these changes but the real test is to ensure that it is managed well and that its profits are shared by all. The remarkable mountainous regions of Central Asia, the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas now fascinate increasing amounts of international travellers enticed by the distinctive natural beauty and culture of these previously remote regions.
The inter-disciplinary project kindly backed by the Norwegian Government and UNESCO regular programme funds aim’s to launch associations and encourage collaboration between native populations, national and international NGOs, and tour agencies in directive to include local communities fully in the employment prospects and income generating activities that tourism can bring.
Mountain regions included in the project:
Laddakh (India)
Masouleh (Iran)
Northern Tien Shen Mountains (Kazakhastan)
The mountainous region around Lake Issy Kul (Kyrgyzstan)
Humla (Nepal)
Chitral and the Kalash Valleys (Pakistan)
Pamir Mountains (Tajikistan)
Local project partners include:
Mountain