Although Nepal is naturally and culturally rich, it is an economically poor country, making poverty reduction one of its core development challenges for the 21st century. Tourism is a key sector in the Nepalese national economy. Nepal has the potential to promote PPT in order to contribute to poverty alleviation in rural areas where limited livelihood options are available. However, it is important to develop strategies that help ensure that any benefits of tourism extend to the lowest strata of society. Currently, the poorest people in the communities benefit least from tourism, as compared to better-off people in rural areas. The poorest people in the society also lack skills and resources to get involved in the tourism development process. Therefore, it is important to develop skills and confidence of
the poorest people to enable them to participate in the process, which will ultimately help to achieve sustainable PPT outcomes.
Since AI encourages local people to find their strengths and builds on them, the likelihood of overcoming challenges to achieve sustainable PPT outcomes is higher as compared to traditional approaches. Therefore, it can be concluded that AI might be better suited to achieve PPT outcomes in developing countries like Nepal. It is vital that the AI process needs to be cognisant of the local socio-economic context, to ensure that all potential risks are minimised, and that local people are empowered to design and deliver their own plans to pursue their dreams for sustainable and equitable tourism development.
References
Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A Ladder of Citizen Participation. AIP Journal, 35(4), 216-224. Ashley, C., Boyd, C., & Goodwin, H. (2000). Pro-poor tourism: putting poverty at the
heart of the tourism agenda. Natral Resource Perspectives 51, March. from
http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/2096.pdf
Ashley, C., Roe, D., & Goodwin, H. (2001). Pro-poor tourism strategies: Making tourism work for the poor. Pro-poor Tourism Report 1, Overseas Development Institute, from http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/2358.pdf
Babbie, E. (2007). The Practice of Social Research (11 ed.). CA: Thomson Wadsworth Bhattachan, K. B. (2008). Minorities and indigenous peoples of Nepal. Kathmandu:
National Coalition Against Racial Discrimination (NCARD).
Bhattarai, S., Adhikari, S. R., & Bamford, D. (2006). Tourism for Rural Poverty
Alleviation Programme (TRPAP): Final Evaluation Report. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Bith, B. (2011). Community-based Ecotourism and Empowerment of Indigenous People:
the Case of Yeak Laom Community Development, Cambodia. Lincoln University,
Christchurch.
Bogdan, R., & Taylor, S. J. (1975). Introduction to qualitative research methods: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Britton, S. G. (1982). The political economy of tourism in the third world. Annals of Tourism Research, 9(3), 331-358.
Brohman, J. (1996). New directions in tourism for third world development. Annals of Tourism Research, 23(1), 48-70.
Bui, Y. N. (2009). How to write a master's thesis. California: SAGE Publication, Inc. . Bushe, G. R. (2007). Appreciative Inquiry Is Not (just) About The Positive. OD
Practitioner, 39(4), 30-35.
Central Bureau of Statistics [CBS]. (2001). National Census. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Central Bureau of Statistics [CBS]. (2010). Nepal in Figures. Kathmandu: Government of Nepal.
Chambers, R. (1992). Rural appraisal: rapid, relaxed and participatory: Discussion paper 311. Institute of Development Studies.
Chambers, R. (1998). Foreword. In J. Holland & J. Blackburn (Eds.), Whose Voice? Participatory research and policy change. London: Intermediate Technology Publications.
Chapagain, C. P. (2004). Human Resource Capacity Building Through Appreciative Inquiry Approach in Achieving Developmental Goals. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Madison University, USA.
Chapagain, C. P. (2009). Appreciative Inquiry. Kathmandu: Appreciative Learning and Development Management - ALDM, Pvt. Ltd.
Chok, S., Macbeth, J., & Warren, C. (2008). Tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation: A critical analysis of pro-poor tourism and implications for sustainability. Current Issues in Tourism, 10(2-3), 144-165.
Cleaver, F. (1999). Paradoxes of participation: Questioning participatory approaches to development. Journal of International Development, 11, 597-612.
Collins, D. (2000). Management Fads and Buzzwords. Critical-practical perspectives. London: Routledge.
Cooperrider, D. L., & Srivastva, S. (1999). Appreciative Inquiry in Organisational Life
Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: Leader of change (2 ed., pp. 353-384). Sanfransisco: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.
Cooperrider, D. L., & Whitney, D. (2005). Appreciative Inquiry: A positive revolution in change. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., & Stavros, J. M. (2003). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The first in a series of AI workbooks for the leaders of change. US: Lakeshore Communications, Inc. and Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., & Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: For Leader of Change (2nd ed.). Ohio: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.
de Kadt, E. (Ed.). (1979). Tourism Passport to Development? New York: Oxford University Press.
Department for International Development [DFID]. (1999a). Sustainalbe Tourism and Poverty Elimination Study. London, UK.
Department for International Development [DFID]. (1999b). Tourism and poverty elimination: untapped potential. Retrieved 10 December, 2011, from
http://www.pptpartnership.org/dfid_summary.PDF
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation [DNPWC]. (2010). Sagarmatha National Park. Retrieved August 30, 2010, from www.dnpwc.gov.np
Dhakal, D. P., Khadka, M., Sharma, S., & Choegyal, L. (2007). Lessons Learned: Nepal's
Experience Implementing Sustainable Rural Tourism Development Model: Tourism
for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP).
District Development Committee [DDC]. (2002). District profile of Solukhumbu. Solukhumbu, Nepal.
Fisher, D. (2004). The Demonstration Effect Revisited. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(2), 428-446.
Fitzgerald, S. P., Murrell, K. L., & Newman, H. L. (2001). Appreciative Inquiry: The new frontier. In J. Waclawski & A. H. Church (Eds.), Organizational Development: Data driven methods for change (pp. 203-221). Sanfrancisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Grant, S., & Humphries, M. (2006). Critical evaluation of appreciative inquiry; Bridging
an apparent paradox. Action Research, 4(4), 401-418.
Gunn, C. A. (1988). Tourism Planning (2nd ed.). New York: Taylor & Francis. Hall, C. M., & Lew, A. A. (2009). Understanding and managing tourism impacts: an
integrated approach. New York: Routledge.
International Institute for Sustainable Development [IIDS]. (n.d.). Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). Retrieved August 29, 2010, from www.iisd.org
Jacobsgaard, M. (2003). Using Appreciative Inquiry to Evaluate Project Activities of a Nongovernmental Organisation Supporting Victims of Trauma in Sri Lanka, New Direction for Evaluation (Vol. 100, pp. 53-62).
Kappelle, R. J. (2001). Relationship between local people and protected natural areas: A case study of Arthur's Pass and the Waimakariri Basin, New Zealand. Lincoln Universtiy.
Koster, R. L. P., & Lemelin, R. H. (2009). Appreciative Inquiry and Rural Tourism: A case study from Canada. Tourism Geographies, 11(2), 256-269.
Lama, A. K. (2010). Vulnerability of nature based tourism to climate change:
stakeholders' perspectives of and response to climate change in the lower Mustang region of the Annapurna Conservation Area. Lincoln University, Christchurch. Lama, W., Sherpa, C. L., & Lama, L. T. (1997). Village Ecotourism Planning in Langtang
and Dhunche of Rasuwa and Shermathang of Sindhupalchowk districts for Langtang Ecotourism Project (LEP) using Appreciative Participatory Planning
and Action (APPA). Kathmandu: The Mountain Institute (TMI).
Lawoti, M. (2010). Federal State Building: Challenges in framing the Nepali constitution. Kathmandu: Bhrikuti Academic Publications.
Leiper, N. (1989). Tourism and Tourism Systems. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Management Systems Department, Massey University.
Lofland, J., Snow, D., Anderson, L., & Lofland, L. H. (2006). Analyzing Social Settings: A Guide to Qualitative Observation and Analysis (4 ed.). Nelson, Canada: Thomson Learning.
Mahat, R. S. (2005). In Defence of Democracy: Dyanamics and fault lines of Nepal's political economy. New Delhi: Aroit Publishers.
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation [MoTCA]. (2010). Nepal Tourism Statistics. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation Nepal [MoTCA]. (2010). Retrieved July 25, 2010, from http://www.tourism.gov.np/aboutus
National Planning Commission [NPC]. (2010). Nepal Millennium Development Goals, Progress Report. Kathmandu, Nepal.
Nepal, S. K. (2003). Tourism and the Environment: Perspectives from the Nepal Himalaya. Lalitpur, Nepal: Himal Books.
Nepal Tourism Board [NTB]. (1998). Nepal Tourism Board Act. Retrieved 15 July, 2011, from http://welcomenepal.com/corporate/index.php
Nepal Tourism Board [NTB]. (2008). Tourism Vision 2020. Retrieved 15 July, 2011, from http://welcomenepal.com/corporate/index/php
Panzeri, D., Lama, L. T., & Sherpa, G. (2009). Participatory Tools Handbook. Kathmandu, Nepal: CESVI and Mountain Spirit.
Phillimore, J., & Goodson, L. (Eds.). (2004). Qualitative research in tourism: Ontologies,
epistemologies and methodologies. New York: Routledge.
Plog, S. C. (1974). Why destination areas rise and fall in popularity. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Quarterly, 14(4), 55-58.
Poudel, K. (2007). TRPAP: Tourism for poverty reduction. New Spotlight News Magazine. Raymond, E. M., & Hall, C. M. (2008). The Potential for Appreciative Inquiry in Tourism
Research. Current Issues in Tourism, 11(3), 281-292.
Reed, J. (2007). Appreciative Inquiry: Research for Change. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Republica. (2012). Tourists arrivals fall shy of one million target. Retrieved 16 January,
2012, from
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=40286
Ritchie, J. (2003). The Application to Qualitative Methods to Social Science Research. In J. Ritchie & J. Lewis (Eds.), Qualitative Research Practice: A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers. (pp. 24-46). London: Sage.
Rogers, P., & Aitchison, J. (1998). Towards Sustainable Tourism in the Everest Region of
Saville, N. M. (2001). Practical strategies for pro-poor tourism: case study of pro-poor tourism and SNV in Humla District, West Nepal.
Scheyvens, R. (2011). Tourism and poverty. New York: Routledge. Sejuwal, K. (2011). Sunar's father begs for justice. Retrieved from
http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_category&news_category_id=16#
Simmons, D. (1994). Community participation in tourism planning. Tourism Management, 15(2), 98-108.
Snape, D., & Spencer, L. (2003). The Foundations of Qualitative Research In J. Ritchie & J. Lewis (Eds.), Qualitative Research Practice: A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers. (pp. 1-18). London: Sage.
Social Welfare Council [SWC]. (2011). List of NGOs and INGOs. Retrieved 29 January, 2012, from http://www.swc.org.np/index.php
Sofield, T. H. B. (2003). Empowerment for sustainable tourism development. UK: Elsevier Science Ltd.
Stewart, E. J. (2009). Comparing resident attitudes toward tourism: Community-based cases from Arctic Canada. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
Tamang, B. (2002). Appreciative Inquiry Approach: An alternative approach to
development discourse Tribhuvan University Nepal, Kathmandu.
Timsina, N. (2010). NGOs in Nepal: Social Responsibility and Governance System. Retrieved 29 January, 2012, from http://www.ong-ngo.org/NGOs-in-Nepal-Social
Tosun, C. (1999). Towards a typology of community participation in the tourism development process. International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality, 10(113- 134).
Tosun, C. (2000). Limits to community participation in the tourism development process in developing countries. Tourism Management, 21, 613-633.
Tosun, C. (2006). Expected nature of community participation in tourism development.
Tourism Management, 27, 493-504.
Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme [TRPAP]. (2005). Solukhumbu Dudhkunda-Pikey Cultural Trail [Documentary]. Kathmandu, Nepal: Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme.
Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme [TRPAP]. (2007). Project Completion Report. Kathamandu, Nepal.
United Nations [UN]. (2000). United Nations Millennium Declaration. Retrieved July 6, 2010, from http://www.un.org/millennium/declaration
United Nations Development Programme [UNDP]. (2009). Nepal Human Development Report. Retrieved 4 November, 2010, from
http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/national/asiathepacific/nepal/Nepal_NHDR_2009.pdf
United Nations Environment Program [UNEP], & World Tourism Organisation [WTO]. (2005). Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers.
United Nations World Tourism Organisation [UNWTO]. (2009). Tourism Highlights. Madrid: UNWTO.
United Nations World Tourism Organisation [UNWTO]. (2011). Tourism Highlights. Madrid.
Weaver, D., & Lawton, L. (2010). Tourism Management (4 ed.): John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Whitney, D., & Trosten-Bloom, A. (2003). The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A practical guide to positive change. San Fransisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Williams, S. (1998). Tourism Geography. London: Routledge.
World Tourism Organisation [WTO]. (2004). Tourism and Poverty Alleviation Recommendations for Action. Madrid, Spain.
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case Study Research: Design and methods (3 ed. Vol. 5): SAGE Publications.
Zhao, W., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (2007). Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: An Integrative Research Framework. In C. M. Hall (Ed.), Pro-poor Tourism: Who Benefits? Perspectives on Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Channel View Publications.