| This study describes the roles of the public, private, and civic sectors in adventure tourism development in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), Uttaranchal, India.;Relying on methods drawn from Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) such as semi-structured interviews, mapping exercises, transect walks, and participant observation, the study explored the following objectives: (1) To establish the current extent of adventure tourism and considerations for the future of adventure tourism activities in the NDBR; (2) to determine the current proposed and potential roles of the public, private and civic sectors in adventure tourism development; (3) to identify, in particular, the role to local people in adventure tourism development; (4) to understand how the location of adventure tourism activities are determined; and (5) to consider the role of environmental assessment in proposed adventure tourism development. Adventure activities in the Niti and Bhyundar Valleys were considered in the study, providing insight into the nature of community participation in two geographically and culturally comparable places.;The study indicates that adventure tourism is still in the early phases of development, and is viewed by the respondents as having great potential for development in the area. Activities are being closely monitored and controlled by the state Forest Department, who aside from being identified as the lead agency in terms of development, claims authority over the area under various pieces of legislation. The other government body, Uttaranchal Tourism, plays only a limited role in the study area, and has focused much of its efforts in other parts of the state, or on other tourism niches such as religious tourism. In terms of the private sector, tour operators have the greatest level of involvement, although their activities are largely influenced by the regulations set by the Forest Department. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
