Highways to the Sky: The Impact of Tourism On South Asian Mountain Culture

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Abstract
The host populations living around the four mountain highways in the mountain rimland of South Asia represent the full range of responses in the Bjorkland-Philbrick model. While enhanced income from foreign exchange is seen desirable by central governments there is usually a price to be paid in terms of the receptivity of the local people to foreigners. Furthermore, the plains dwelling population are often as alien as the foreigners when visiting the mountains. The attitude of Bhutan to toursim demonstrates how a small principality seeks to control alien influences. Tourism is permitted, but only at an enormous cost to the tourist. The roads to India are built, and it is inescapable that alien influences will now modify Bhutanese life. For the foreigner, the South Asian mountain rimland continues to attract. Two very attractive historical routes remain barred to the foreigner by the Indian government; north through Pithoragarh District in Kumaon to Lake Mansarowar and Mt. Kailash; and second, the traditional route to Lhasa up the Chumbi Valley through Sikkim. The cultural impact of tourism can only be assessed in the local context: the South Asian experience has exhibited a great variety of responses.

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