Effects of Climate Change on Tourism in the Lower Mustang, Nepal

Abstract

Climate change has become a major global challenge with significant effects on many sectors, including tourism. Mustang, Nepal, located in the rain shadow of the Himalayas and known for its distinctive geography and rich cultural heritage offers an important case for examining how climate change affects tourism-dependent economies. Rising temperatures and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns are putting pressure on Mustang’s fragile ecosystem, threatening both its biodiversity and the socio-economic stability of local communities that rely heavily on tourism. Despite these growing concerns, only limited research has been conducted on the impacts of climate change on the tourism sector, particularly in the Lower Mustang region. The present research aims at exploring the effects of climate change on tourism in lower Mustang, Nepal. We have formulated open-ended interview guidelines followed by purposive sampling technique to capture the first-hand and in-depth descriptions of stakeholders’ perceptions. Thirty concerned stakeholders were interviewed including hotel owners, local business operators, local people and visitors followed by member checking. The qualitative data collected from study area are supported by secondary data received from the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and the Department of Hydrology and Meterology (DHM). The result shows that average temperature and rainfall have been increasing in Mustang because of climate change. To overcome the challenges caused by rising temperature and consequences such as untimely rainfall, decreasing snowfall and increasing snowmelt on higher mountain, the government and other stakeholders should address these issues quickly for sustainable tourism in Mustang, Nepal. Furthermore, it aims to propose adaptive strategies that can mitigate these impacts and promote sustainable tourism practices in Mustang.