published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

The objective of this research is to shed light on the phenomenon of independent volunteer traveling. It represents a form of tourism in which travelers independently organize their own volunteer efforts and typically provide assistance to local people in return for room and board. Travelers operate outside the confines of formal service organizations and various tourist groups, in conditions of close cross-cultural contact, often teaching and providing manual labor. They live with locals, speak the local language, use the same amounts of economic and natural resources that locals use, and eat, sleep, bathe and work in the same fashion as the local people do. Because this type of tourism takes place in remote Himalayan villages that are not in touristed areas, social arrangements are based on local tradition and culture, rather than on external forces. This research specifically links independent volunteer traveling with sustainable tourism development by examining its impacts. For instance, the majority of travelers in the study helped to create additional sources of income for local people by donating animals and land to families, which helped hosts to improve their living standards and boosted local economies in remote Himalayan regions, contributing towards the development of Nepal's rural communities. In addition, because of the many opportunities offered by this type of tourism, Nepali women were encouraged to eat with their families, get married at a later age, get an education and be treated more fairly in family situations, which contributed towards improving the status of women. The evidence of this research also indicates that there is a complex dynamic present in the interaction between hosts and guests when giving and receiving activities are examined. In particular, a sense of mutual interdependence and equality were maintained between hosts and guests, because no matter who was giving and who was receiving, both parties continued to feel they received more than they were able to give. Because of the joy and meaning it added to their lives, this aspect of the experience had the most profound effect on both hosts and guests, and made this form of tourism stand out against comparable cross-cultural encounters. In an era searching for improved forms of international relations, this kind of travel poses an interesting alternative, because it depends solely on the opportunity for travelers to contribute to the host culture and on the development of meaningful cross-cultural relationships. / Graduation date: 2003 / Best scan available for photos. Original has a moray pattern.

The urban population of the Nepal, like most of the Asian countries, is increasing rapidly owing to an influx of migrants from other parts of the regions who come to the capital in search of employment, education, better health services and security. The decade long conflict not only triggered rapid urbanization of cities by migration from rural parts of the country but also hindered the development of new cities and towns. Today, Nepal is in a transition phase and political transformation will take place sooner or later and there will be opportunities for development of new towns and cities as the country is progressing towards federal system. For the past few decades Kathmandu, the capital city has seen unprecedented changes in terms of urbanization. Kathmandu recorded the highest population growth rate in a decade with 60.93 percent and a population density of 4408/sq.km (CBS, 2011). In the absence of a strong planning and regulating body, lack of proper housing facilities and development of economic and social activities, degradation of environment and the undesirable urban sprawl is ever spreading. Houses are being built with no proper provision of road, water supply, drainage, electricity and telephone facility. From private led to government led projects, there have been a lot of land developments in the city to meet the land and housing demands. Land pooling or land readjustment scheme is regarded as one of the most successful tools for land development as it is a public private partnership scheme and involves community in the planning process. However, there are a number of issues and problems that exist in the land pooling areas as well. So far, there are no studies done to measure or evaluate the socio-economic impacts of such projects on the community and the neighborhood. In this context, this study aims to delve on the socio-economic impacts of land pooling projects on the community. The study has been carried out taking an example of Nayabazar land pooling project, which has been considered as one of the successful and fastest in implementation. The research has been carried out to measure different indicators of socio-economic impact assessment mainly change in demography, change in aesthetic quality of neighborhood, change in employment, income, change in retail/housing markets etc. The research has been carried out by conducting questionnaire surveys, interviews from key informants, informal focus group meetings and secondary data sources. The study recognized the issues behind the impacts of land pooling on the community both socially and economically. The literature framework and analysis facilitated to generate recommendations for to mitigate such impacts, which are taking place in Nayabazar land pooling area. One of the major findings of the study has been the lack of strong and decisive institution to take charge of management and further development of the study area. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Although believed to be existed long ago in practice, the notion of ecotourism has received widespread recognition in the academia only after 1980s. In recent years, scholars have strongly advocated ecotourism as a tool to achieve socio-economic development vis-a-vis environmental conservation in the developing countries, such as Nepal. Unlike traditional forms of tourism, it has been theoretically portrayed as an ethically responsible travel that could minimize negative impacts, generates funds for conservation, benefits local communities, and educates visitors. However, in practice, there are also the cases where ecotourism has fallen short of its proposed objectives, and caused environmental and socio-cultural problems in the destination communities. To maximize and materialize its potential benefits and promote sustainability, there has been a growing emphasis on the appropriate planning of ecotourism development. However research in this area in the less developed countries is limited. Existing literatures reveal that contemporary researchers have not focused their attention to the critical areas of ecotourism planning, and therefore it is still in an adolescence stage (Weaver and Lawton, 2007). More specifically, relationship between ecotourism planning and its contribution towards sustainable community development in the protected areas (PAs) of developing countries such as Nepal is rarely studied. In this context, this study aims to critically explore the local issues, impacts and dynamics of ecotourism planning and its relationship with and contribution towards sustainable community development in the PAs of Nepal. By employing a theoretical lens of Community-oriented Collaborative (Co-C) ecotourism planning, the key research question of the study was investigated empirically in the case of Annapurna Sanctuary (AST) Trail of the Annapurna Conservation Area and the Everest Trail (ET) of the Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) National Park in Nepal. Combination of multiple data collection approaches such as structured questionnaire survey with the households, semi-structured interview with the key informants, informal discussion with stakeholders including porters and trek guides, participant observation, and archival research have been adopted. A qualitative-interpretative approach was used in the analysis of different qualitative and quantitative data. Empirical findings arguably suggest that the key objectives of ecotourism are not truly achieved in both destinations; although (eco)tourism in the AST has performed comparatively better than ET. It revealed that context of community participation and stakeholder’s collaboration in the AST is fairly more effective and efficient than ET. It also indicated that community-based planning approach in the AST is more appropriate than the planning approach adopted in ET which is normally controlled by the PA authority and its defacto Buffer Zone Management Committee. The survey findings on community impacts of (eco)tourism, and the context of participation and collaboration in the AST and ET have supported the key proposition of “Co-C” ecotourism planning i.e. “more inclusive and effective the community participation and collaboration in ecotourism development, more effectively it will contribute to maximize socio-economic benefits to local communities; protect local environment, resources, and heritage; and promote sustainable community development in the PAs”. This study indicated that perceived benefits and costs of (eco)tourism largely depend on the level of community participation in (eco)tourism activities and decision-making process; capacity to influence decisions; capacity to collaborate with stakeholders; availability of resources, skills, knowledge and education; proximity to the major trail; and networking and communication skills. By using their skills, knowledge and resources, residents usually tend to participate and influence (eco)tourism development process. In both the study areas, residents in OT, usually the low-caste minorities, porters, farmers, and non-entrepreneurs are found relatively less empowered and less capable to integrate into tourism industry and decision-making process than the residents in MT. Based on the research findings, this study has suggested planning and policy recommendations to empower the poor and marginalized section of community; enhance local economy; protect local resources; and promote sustainable community development in the PA settlements of Nepal. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1984. / Bibliography: leaves [186]-193. / Microfilm. / xi, 193 leaves, bound ill

Thesis (M.A. in anthropology)--Washington State University, May 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 22, 2009). "Department of Anthropology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-55).

Zugl.: Göttingen, Univ., Diss., 2009

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, The Divinity School, August 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning