The Namche Conference: May 24-26, 2003 People, Park, and Mountain Ecotourism Participants and Presentations: Seth Sicroff

Seth Sicroff Ph.D.; Director, Bridges: Projects in Rational Tourism Development; email: sicroff@bridges-prtd.com Abstract 1: More Backpackers, Please! Independent backpackers are a market segment that is overlooked by most planners -- except, notably, in Australia. Yet independent backpackers constitute the best hope for "sustainable" tourism development in many of our Last Best Places. This paper explains why, and also outlines steps that should be taken to make the world a better place for backpackers. Abstract 2: Bridges to Rolwaling... and Beyond Bridges to Rolwaling is an innovative program that combines research with volunteer development work in a remote community in north central Nepal, just west of the Everest region. Since 1999, our international and interdisciplinary teams have collaborated with the people of Rolwaling in designing and implementing plans compatible with local needs and opportunities. This paper raises the questions, "How do you evaluate 'success'?" and "Does the Bridges program provide a model that would work in other locations?"

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