Based on extensive field work and years of personal experience, the authors discuss the
development of tourism in the Great Himalaya of Nepal from the early days of
mountaineering to present-day trekking. Tourism and its potentials, drawbacks, and risks are
illustrated with a focus on the Khumbu/Everest and Annpurna regions, the most popular
mountain destinations in the country. The themes addressed include: growth and expansion of
mountain tourism; employment and income generation; wealth, poverty, and livelihood as
reflected in statistics and personal accounts by local people; the revival of trade with Tibet;
tourism and the role of women; the crucial role played by institutions, policies and political
stability; and environmental issues such as forest degradation, garbage management and trail
damage. With its numerous illustrations, text boxes and quotes, the book is intended for a
broad readership of policy- and decision-makers in tourism and development, scholars, and
tourists and mountaineers who take an interest in mountain development in the Great
Himalaya and elsewhere.
