Socio-economic and Environmental Impact of Tourism Development in Rural area of Abbottabad: A case study of Harnoi Lake

Abstract

This study analyzes the socio-economic and environmental effects of tourism development in rural area of Abbottabad, A case study of Harnoi Lake. Tourism is associated with local development and livelihood enhancement, hence it also creates economic and ecological pressure and complex culture. By employing qualitative research design, forty interviews were conducted with residents, shopkeepers, government officials and restaurant employees. Purposive, snowball and convenience sampling methods facilitated the access to different groups of stakeholder. The findings of the study show that tourism contributes to generation of employment, expansion of small enterprises, improved household and growth in infrastructure. Hence inflation in basic commodities, rising prices of land, fluctuation in seasonal income and unequal benefit distribution have generated economic vulnerabilities. Socially, community reported cultural disruption, increased conflict during tourist flow, decreased social cohesion. Environmental degradation has emerged as a most crucial challenge that reflected in accumulation of waste, loss of biodiversity, congestion and water contamination. The results focus on the need for planning of sustainable tourism, regulatory frameworks to protect the natural resources and the strategies which strengthen local participation. The research offers empirical evidences from rural tourist destination of Pakistan and also contributes to research on tourism-induced socioeconomic and environmental transformations.