Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism in Himalayan Hill Stations: A Case Study of Kullu-Manali (Himachal Pardesh), India

This paper focuses on the community perceptions of the socio-cultural impacts of tourism. This study not only deals with socio-cultural impacts perceived by host community as the impacts of tourism development but also discover the effects of demographic variation on the host community attitudes towards tourism. It begins with a methodical understanding about tourism and the benefits it gives to the global economy. Taking into consideration the relationship between host and tourism, the present study also tries to analyze this relationship in the context of what host consider as important: community or personal issues. The paper uses Himachal Pradesh as an example to exemplify the diverse impacts of tourism. Host community of Kullu – Manali perceived tourism development from both perspectives positive as well as negative. However, the prevailing views reaffirms that host community represents a positive side of tourism.