The Namche Conference: May 24-26, 2003 People, Park, and Mountain Ecotourism Participants and Presentations: Mr. Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana

Mr. Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana (Islamabad, Pakistan) Director General, Adventure Foundation Pakistan. Email: afopak@yahoo.com Abstract: Mountain Tourism and its Impact on Natural Environment Pakistan’s mountain areas have been centre of attraction for the adventure/cultural tourists, trekkers, mountaineers and nature lovers from all over the world. A large number of mountain peaks including five out of fourteen 8000 meters peaks on earth, longest glaciers outside polar region (seven over 40 km long), breathtaking valleys, fast flowing rivers and crystal clear water lakes make our mountains an excellent adventure tourism destination Unfortunately, the ever increasing tourism activity in our mountain areas and ill planned development of tourism infrastructure and the lack of environmental awareness among the policy makers and people of tourism trade in general is causing a serious threat to the same natural environment, which attracts tourists to these areas and eventually provides economic benefit to the local communities. In my view the long-term future of our mountain tourism is closely linked to the environmentally sustainable development of our tourism trade. The mountain tourism should now build upon the increasing awareness of the interdependence of environmental concerns and tourism, and promote sustainable development through the concept of environment friendly tourism.

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