Sustainable Destination

Management at the Seven Sister

States: Recommendations for the
Future
Emily McIntyre, Leah Jorgensen,
Karina Scherloski, Merel van-
Haastert, Paul Liao
Outline Plan
Introduction
Background
Environment
Social/Culture
Economy of S
even Sister States
Group-led Activity
Discussion Questions
Recommendations for the
Future
Conclusion

Countries with Himalayan
Mountains

Map of India
Map of the Seven Sisters
Introduction
By 2010, Mountain tourism will account for
20 per cent of total tourism expenditures
(WTTC, 1999)
1960s Current, many tourists trek the
Himalayan mountain associated with a
pilgrimage
Economic opportunities were underscored,
but large scale change ..,..
Seven Sister States Include
Most states have:
* Their own tribes
* Own type of art
* Culture
* Dance
* Music
* Lifestyles
* Own fairs and festivals
DMOs Involved:
Wonderland Treks
Government of India
Government of Seven Sister States


The Seven Sisters Main
Resources
Tea-based products
Bamboo
Natural gas
Silk
Oil
Handicrafts


Abundant forests
Exotic flora and fauna
Great land for growing
plantation crops,
fruits, vegetables,
flowers, and herbs
Natural beauty

Environmental Impacts on
Mountainous Regions
Limited accessibility
Fragile environment
Currently encourage intense resource use
Overexploitation of resources with little
concern for environmental consequences
(Jodha, 2000)

Environmental Impacts Contd
Environmental degradation
Depletion of forests
Soil erosion
Drying up of water sources
Destroyed arable agricultural land
(Karan, 1994)
Waste Management Issues
Self generated solid waste from visitors
Large number of visitors
Amount of solid waste is also increasing
Overloaded areas with growing stockpiles of
garbage
Could create water crisis (Kuniyal, 2005)
Pollution attributable to expedition, trekking and
camping activities of trekkers
Garbage includes food, glass, clothes, tents, dead
bodies (Regmi, n.d.)

Endangered Tigers
India claims that there are
5000 tigers
Experts say this figure is
actually closer to 3000
Tiger hunting was banned
by the Indian government
in 1981
Demand for tiger related
goods (Thinkquest Team,
1997)
Aranachal Pradesh has a
tiger project (expand)

Corbett National Park

Future Directions for Achieving
Environmental Success
Address the needs of the local people in regards to
conservation and development, including tourism

Locals should actively be involved as stakeholders
in the protection of the environment

Tourism should not increase pressure on local
resources (I.e.: use alternative energy sources)

Adequately dispose of human waste and other
garbage (Wonderland India, 2007)

Environmental Recomendations
Start more movements
against ecological
destruction
Open more local movements
against deforestation (Karan,
1994)
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle, Respect
Segregate waste into two
categories: biodegradable
and non-biodegradable waste
(Kuniyal, 2005)

Social Issues
Mountain regions obtain a global concern, which
turns into a disregard to local perceptions and
practices (Singh and Jodha, 2000).
The local culture should have a high level of
commitment on formalised planning activities
such as regional planning and environmental
impact assessment (Bramwell and Lane, 2000).
Micro and Macro Environment need to work
together
Stakeholder Involvement
Government of India
and State governments
Research Institutions
Regional Universities
Indigenous groups
Ministry of Water
Resources
Ministry of Natural
Resources

Peoples Republic of
China
Natural Resource
Organizations
Tourism Operators
Transportation
Operators
Local Culture
Tourists

Partnerships
A voluntary pooling of resources (labor,
money, information etc.) between two or
more parties to accomplish collaborative
goals (Chavez and Selin, 1995).

Current Partnerships: North Eastern
Council (NEC)


Cultural Issues
Loss or change of culture
through:
Commodification
Standardization
Loss of authenticity
and staged authenticity
Adaptation to tourists
demands
(UNEP, 2001)

Dimensions of Cultural Impacts
(Singh, 2007)
Tourism
Industry
E
x
p
e
c
t
a
t
i
o
n

Tourists
Difference, encounter,
acculturation
Host Community
Host Community
Resource use, commodification and
dependence
Ethnic and political
fragmentation,
indigenous groups
and sub-cultures
resource equity
Consumption
Indigenous Control of Tourism
Spatial limitation
Hosts set limits on entry to homelands and sacred sites
Activity limitation
Hosts established preferred tourist activities
Temporal limitation
Hosts indicate appropriate times for tourist access and
use
Cultural limitation
Hosts limits on access to cultural knowledge and rituals
(Zeppler, Year)
ECONOMIC SLIDES
Internet Explorer.lnk
Workshop & Consensus Building
Activity
-Transportation
-Accommodation
-Education
-Tourist Attractions
-Fresh Water and basic
amenities
-Animal Protection
-Implementation of Waste
Management Initiatives
Answer:
Although modern images of India
often show poverty and lack of
development, India was the richest
country on earth until the time of
British invasion in the early 17th
Century. Christopher Columbus
was attracted by India's wealth

Discussion Questions
1) Do you have any further suggestions as to how
stakeholders may share their resources?
2) How may North Eastern Council help to make a
difference for tourism development?
3) Do you think working with neighbouring
countries is beyond the scope of Northeast
India?
4) Based on this presentation do you have any
other future ideas for the Seven Sisters?

Innovative Initiatives and
Recommendations for the future:
Collaboration and Partnerships
Workshops
Consensus
Collaboration under Joint marketing, promotions
and research
Co-management
Adaptive management
Collaboration Under Sustainable Tourism
Development

Best Practice
Benchmark
Audit
Environmental Management System
Continuous Monitoring and Improvement
(Issaverdis, 2001)
Collaboration and Partnerships
A process of joint decision making among
autonomous, key stakeholders to resolve problems
and or to manage issues related to the planning
and development (Text. Ch 13).
Collaboration can be a critical way to achieve
common goals.
Best practice: Eagle Valley Partnership (Chavez
and Selin, 1995).
Workshops
Small group sessions (usually with a
maximum of 35 participants) held for a
period of intense study or training. The
emphasis is on exchanging ideas and
demonstrating skills and techniques
(Howell, Ellison, Ellison & Wright, 2003).
Important for information sharing
A place where stakeholders can discuss
important topics
Consensus
Cooperative alliances between government,
public and private sector
Compromise, Negotiate and Collaborate are
essential when reaching a Consensus
Way to find a common ground
Community building
Resolve stakeholder representation issues
Interest-based
Collaboration under Joint
Marketing, Promotions and
Research
Improve appeal of the destination
Improve networks and linkages
Attract funding
Tourism Destination Branding
Competitive Advantage
Marketing Initiatives
Sustainable Development
Co-management
Co-management is when the rights and
responsibilities pertaining to a particular resource
are shared between government and local users
(Yandle, 2003, p. 180).
Opportunities for
Negotiation and external support
Common shared vision
Leadership
The notion of relationships among people
(Plummer and Fitzgibbon, 2004).
Cross-border Partnerships
Adaptive Management
Continuous modifications and adjustments
based on learning experiences
Learning by doing, shared learning
Response to rapid change
Flexibility
Monitoring, evaluation and corrective
action
Innovate ways to improve management

Adaptive Planning Processes and
Organizations
Collaboration Under Sustainable
Development
Help to solve issues of naturally depleting
resources
Help to resolve cultural issues
Maintain Biodiversity and achieve local
empowerment through stakeholder
involvement, working together and
collaboration
Eco-tourism as an opportunity


Knowledge Gaps
Lack of Awareness
Lack of Education
Lack of Basic Amenities and Sanitation
Lack of Facilities
Poor Transportation
Poor planning and instruments of natural
disasters
Conclusion
The Government of India
has recognized the need to
develop sustainably
Awareness and Education
must be raised
Implementation of
amenities, facilities and
certain Westernized
comforts
Working together to
continuously improving
will help to achieve
Sustainable Development
References
Bramwell, B. & Lane, B. (2000). Tourism Collaboration and Partnerships: Politics, Practice and
Sustainability. Great Britain: Biddles Ltd.
Conservation International (2007, November 6
th
). Biodiversity hotspots. Retrieved November 6
th
,
2007, from http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/resources
Jodha, N. S. (2000). Globalization and fragile mountain environments: Policy challenges and
choices. Mountain Research and Development, 20(4), 296-299.
Karan, P. P. (1994). Environmental movements in India. The Geographical Review, 84, 32-42.
Kuniyal, J. C. (2005). Solid waste management techniques for the waste generated and brought
down from campsites in the hill spots, trails and expedition tops. Waste Management &
Research, 23(3), 182-198.
Regmi, P. (n.d.). Himalayas labelled the highest junkyard in the world. Retrieved October 25,
2007, from http://www.chhahari.com/Shangri_La/text/pollution.html
Singh, S. & Jodha, N. (2000). Globalization and Fragile Mountain Environments: Policy Challenges
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Wikipedia (2007, May 17). Seven sister states. Retrieved October 31, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sister_States
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th
, 2007, from
http://www.wonderland-india.com/aboutus.html
Yandle, T. 2003. The challenge of building successful stakeholder organizations: New Zealands
experience in developing a fisheries co-management regime. Marine Policy 27, 179192
References Contd
Dev, B.J., & Lahiri, D.K. (1987). Manipur: Culture and Politics. India: Mittal Publications.
Singh, T. (1972). Manipur A Study. Rajesh Printing Press.
Agarwal, A.K. (1988). North-Eastern Economy: Problems and Prospects. India: Mittal Publications.
India Tourism Statistics. (2003). Market research division ministry of tourism government of India
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Gopalakrishnan, R. (1991). The North-East India Land, Economy and People. Vikas Publishing
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Maps of India. (2004). Travel, hotels and profile of Meghalaya. Retrieved November 13, 2007, from
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