Integration of Participatory GIS and Local Knowledge to Identify Best Route for Sustainable Tourism in Machhapuchchhre Model Trek, Kaski, Nepal Krishna Prasad Bhandari
PleaseThe Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS), integrated with local knowledge, is a potential decision-supporting tool for sustainable tourism planning, performance evaluation, and site selection. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal planning of resources for developing ecotourism through the integration of PGIS and local knowledge. The study investigates a case study in the Machhapuchchhre model trek and prepared sustainable ecotourism planning for this region located in the Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality of Kaski, Nepal. The Machhapuchchhre model treks consist of natural resources, and the associated tourism industry has a significant impact on both the local community and, rural municipality of Machhapuchchhre, and the national economy of Nepal. This research enumerates about lack of planning and management of cultural, natural, and adventure trekking, sustainable tourism development. Ecotourism development and planning is considered using PGIS and local knowledge as a decision support tool for land use and land cover maps, educational tourism, cultural tourism, and adventure tourism using GIS tools. Six different factors maps were finally prepared, among them, the best route regarding the different factors was prepared.
Abstract
The Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS), integrated with local knowledge, is a potential decision-supporting tool for sustainable tourism planning, performance evaluation, and site selection. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal planning of resources for developing ecotourism through the integration of PGIS and local knowledge. The study investigates a case study in the Machhapuchchhre model trek and prepared sustainable ecotourism planning for this region located in the Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality of Kaski, Nepal. The Machhapuchchhre model treks consist of natural resources, and the associated tourism industry has a significant impact on both the local community and, rural municipality of Machhapuchchhre, and the national economy of Nepal. This research enumerates about lack of planning and management of cultural, natural, and adventure trekking, sustainable tourism development. Ecotourism development and planning is considered using PGIS and local knowledge as a decision support tool for land use and land cover maps, educational tourism, cultural tourism, and adventure tourism using GIS tools. Six different factors maps were finally prepared, among them, the best route regarding the different factors was prepared.
Keywords: PGIS, Participatory, Model Trek, Thematic Mapping, Ecotourism
