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Exploring the interplay of tourism impacts, quality of life, and community engagement in developing sustainable nature-based tourism in Pakistan

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Abstract

Nature-based tourism is experiencing significant growth in Pakistan, holding substantial potential to enhance the well-being of mountain communities that have limited livelihood options. This study delves into the perceptions of local mountain communities regarding the economic, social, and environmental facets of tourism development and how these perceptions influence both their material and non-material aspects of life, ultimately shaping their support for sustainable tourism in the area. Focusing on the unique context of Hunza Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, the study encompasses 528 mountain residents. The study finds a positive correlation between residents' perception of the economic benefits of tourism and their overall quality of life, underscoring the critical role of economic advantages in elevating well-being. It also unveils that the perceived sociocultural impact of tourism has a favorable influence on the quality of life, encompassing both tangible and intangible dimensions, emphasizing the significance of cultural interactions and recreational opportunities in enhancing the overall well-being of residents. Intriguingly, the research reveals a link between the perceived environmental impacts and non-material aspects of life, indicating a close relationship between environmental sustainability, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life. This study underscores the positive association between a higher quality of life and residents' support for sustainable tourism development, indicating that contented residents are more inclined to endorse initiatives that promote economic, social, and environmental sustainability in tourism development.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank respondents of the study for their great support in data collection process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Saranjam Baig

  2. Department of Economics, Karakoram International University Gilgit, Gilgit, Pakistan

    Saranjam Baig & Sadam Ullah Khan

  3. Department of Development Studies, Karakoram International University Hunza Campus, Gilgit, Pakistan

    Amjad Ali

  4. Department of Economics, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, 37491-13357, Iran

    Amjad Ali

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  1. Saranjam Baig
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Correspondence to Saranjam Baig.

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A detail consent form was developed and distributed among the potential respondents of the study and only those people were considered as respondents of the study who gave their willingness to participation in the survey voluntarily.

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Since the respondents of the study are human being, so necessary consent and willingness to participation in the survey was ensured. All the respondents were vulnerary participated in the study.

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Baig, S., Ali, A. & Khan, S.U. Exploring the interplay of tourism impacts, quality of life, and community engagement in developing sustainable nature-based tourism in Pakistan. GeoJournal 89, 38 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-024-11025-6

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