Mountain heritage and sustainable tourism

Tourism is a key driver of change in mountain areas worldwide. Unique cultural heritage of the mountains is an important resource to increase tourism attractiveness and sustain local communities. At the same time, unsustainable tourism development can have drastic impacts on mountain landscapes and communities, threatening cultural identities and traditional values. Better accessibility to mountains due to improved infrastructure and emphasis on the economic benefits of tourism is rapidly reshaping food production systems, livelihoods and natural resource management. Loss of traditional ecological knowledge may have substantial implications for ecosystem health, and hence sustainable tourism development. This session is an opportunity to exchange insights on how tourism can be managed in ways that value the rich cultural heritage of mountains. The session will be co-led by researchers from institutions in the Himalayas and Scottish Highlands, to promote discussion of global synergies, common challenges and creative solutions in distinctive cultural contexts. We address a knowledge gap on the integration of cultural heritage and sustainable development. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from researchers and practitioners working in mountain areas that consider the inter-relationships between tourism, cultural heritage, natural resources and sustainability. We will focus on the following themes: Influence of tourism on mountain heritage associated with food systems, forestry and water management Values for tangible and intangible cultural heritage in mountains and interactions with tourism Mountain heritage to stimulate circular and regenerative tourism