Environmental & Socio-economic Studies DOI: 10.2478/environ-2019-0015 Environ. Socio.-econ. Stud., 2019, 7, 3: 24-37 © 2019 Copyright by University of Silesia in Katowice ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Original article The impact of tourism on local communities and their environment in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan: a local community perspective Najum us Saqib1, Asim Yaqub*1, Gomal Amin1, Imran Khan2, Faridullah1, Huma Ajab3, Iftikhar Zeb4, Didar Ahmad1 1Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad 2Management Sciences Department, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad 3Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad 4Department of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad E–mail address (*corresponding author): [email protected] ORCID iD: Najum us Saqib: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3089-4186; Asim Yaqub: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6732-9332; Gomal Amin: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1700-115X; Imran Khan: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2169-8578; Faridullah: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6740-3339; Huma Ajab: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2305-4648; Iftikhar Zeb: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6374-8791; Didar Ahmad: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7981-8205 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The northern area of Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan (GB), has huge tourist potential due to its exotic mountain beauty. According to the GB Tourism Department, a large number of tourists (around 200651) visit GB every year from across the country. Due to a large influx of tourists in the area both positive and negative impacts have been felt especially on the environment and on the local communities. The environmental impacts of tourism were investigated in this research in two districts of GB. Three villages were selected from each of the districts of Hunza and Diamer as the basis of this research. This study was based on the perceptions and attitudes of the respondents. The total number of questionnaires completed was 340 filled from different respondent categories. Results showed that deforestation, loss of biodiversity, generation of solid waste, water, air and noise pollution, damage cultural and heritage sites and are the main environmental issues caused by tourism activities in the villages in these districts. About 42% of respondents said that deforestation and loss of biodiversity were high in the Diamer district while in Hunza 39% of respondents said that solid waste generation was high. Similarly, 21% respondents in Hunza and 14% respondents in Diamer agreed that water pollution is caused by tourism activities. Microbial analysis of water confirmed the presence of Salmonella typhi, E. coli and Enterobacter sp. There were positive impacts of tourism with results revealing that 87% of villagers and 98% of businessmen responded that tourism had provided them with jobs and business during the peak tourism season. Hotels and restaurants are the main source of jobs in GB mainly as porters and guides. According to the data collected dry fruits, medicinal herbs, gemstones and handicrafts provided considerable attractions for tourists. It is recommended that a combined effort be made by the local communities, tourism departments and other Govt. Agencies to ensure the cleanliness of tourist attractions. KEY WORDS: tourism; water pollution; air and noise pollution; health, solid waste generation; cultural and heritage damage ARTICLE HISTORY: received 12 February 2019; received in revised form 25 July 2019; accepted 31 July 2019 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction evaluated and assessed these impacts by doing field surveys and collecting data from local residents. Tourism has become an important business During the last few years, a large number of studies sector and has a positive impact on the economic have been conducted to evaluate and examine the development of any country. The phrase “impact perception of local communities towards the impacts of tourism” has been used and discussed in the of tourism in their area (ALMEIDA-GARCÍA ET AL., literature related to tourism. Researchers have 2016). Researchers and stakeholders associated 24 with tourism have shown a keen interest in attitudes and perceptions of the local population studying the impacts of tourism after knowing in relation to the impacts of tourism activities and that development in the tourism sector has both development have been studied and investigated positive and negative impacts and effects at the local by various researchers around the world (Table 1). level (KO & STEWART, 2002; NUNKOO & RAMKISSOON, Variables which are related to these impacts were 2011). discussed by scientists, providing information Researchers and professionals who are associated about the relationships of these variables and the with tourism have recognized both the favorable impacts of tourism. and negative aspects of tourism affecting local In general, the economic impact comprises communities and their environment (BUCKLEY, 2012). financial streams connected directly and indirectly During the last few decades, the tourism sector with tourism activities. Socio-cultural impacts has grown and diversified, making it a vital element cover the fluctuations in societal, cultural, traditional of socio-economic development worldwide. CROTTI and inflexible standards and are connected with & MISRAHI (2017) in a conference titled “World emotional variations within a society indirectly. Economic Forum” organized in Geneva, Switzerland, Environmental impacts comprise the devastation suggested that the tourism sector is expanding of natural and man-made settings (SHUJAHI & and is considered to be one of the world’s largest HUSSAIN, 2016). Tourism is known for its major industries contributing 10 percent of the world’s contribution to the economic development of a Gross Domestic Product (GDP). country, however, a study revealed that the positive and negative impacts of tourism depend upon the 1.1. Background attitudes and perceptions of the local residents in each community (HARRILL & POTTS, 2003). Apart The impacts of tourism can be broadly from economic growth, which is generally accepted categorized into economic, socio-cultural and as positive, environmental, legal and socio-cultural environmental (ALMEIDA-GARCÍA ET AL., 2016). The impacts are perceived as negative (TOSUN, 2002). Table 1. Worldwide studies on the impacts of tourism by various researchers Impacts Countries/Regions Tourism studied Arizona State (US) Andereck & Nyaupane, 2011 Benalmádena (Spain) Almeida-García et al., 2016 and 2015 Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand Azam et al., 2018 Northern Areas (Pakistan) Hussain et al., 2019 Environmental Cheju Island (Korea) Ko & Stewart, 2002 Pyeongchang (Korea) Lee, 2019 Taiwan Lee & Hsieh, 2016 Belize (Central America) Wells et al., 2016 China Zhong et al., 2011 Asia, Latin America and Sub-Sahara Africa Lee & Chang, 2008 Spain Garau et al., 2018 Pakistan Hussain et al., 2018 Economic Australia Nunkoo & Ramkissoon, 2011 Malaysia Tang et al., 2015 North-Eastern Morocco Tekken & Kropp, 2015 China Piuchan et al., 2018; Lin et al., 2017 Turkey Ekinci, 2014; Yolal et al., 2016 Socio-cultural Greece Trivellas et al., 2016 Northern Areas (Pakistan) Hussain et al., 2018 and 2019, Karim et al., 2013 25 1.2. Economic impacts of tourism cause huge damage to the natural environment and depletion of natural resources like wood, On the positive side, tourism is an important water and soil. Such changes in the environment source of welfare in terms of being a good source pose effects on both local ecology and human of income and employment for local people livelihoods (ALSHUWAIKHAT, 2005). (ANDERECK & NYAUPANE, 2011). (LEE & CHANG, 2008) Natural resources are used by visitors, local have discussed the role of tourism in the reduction residents and government bodies. When these of poverty and increasing economic growth. From resources are used for the development of tourism, this we can understand the role tourism can play the pressure on these resources is increased in the economic growth of a country. Moreover, causing them to deplete. It is certain that tourism tourism is also the source of foreign exchange is one of the major causes of pollution and the income for developing countries where it production of carbon dioxide. For example, European contributes to the alleviation of poverty with Union (EU) data tells us that tourism is one of the major fiscal activities. first causes of carbon dioxide production in Europe, and that over 20% of polluting emissions are 1.3. Socio-cultural impacts of tourism associated with accommodation (hotels, guest houses etc.) (SOFRONOV, 2017). Moreover, a study With the development of the tourism sector, conducted in 2001 revealed that during a single local customs, socio-cultural characteristics, social transatlantic return flight the amount of carbon life and religious beliefs of local residents living monoxide emission is equal to half of the CO in a community have been affected. GARAU-VADELL emissions produced from different activities and ET AL., (2018) suggest that wherever there is mass sources consumed by a person in one year. These tourism, local ceremonies, entertainment activities, activities are the usage