Transdiciplinary Research as the Peace Prospective for Community Based Village Tourism: An Example of Machhapuchhre Model Trek in Western Nepal

Department of Development Studies, Kathmandu University, Nepal

Abstract

Tourism is a composite multifaceted product-service with the overlapping roles of interdependent sub-sectors. The dual faces (various problems for causing conflict and potentials for building-peace) of tourism have compelled its actors to try for innovative models by crossing the disciplinary boundary. On this conceptual foundation of the structural reality, this paper presents the case study of a Machhapuchhre Model Trek (MMT), a community based tourism model situated in the northern part of Pokhara in Western Nepal. Going beyond disciplinary research, the MMT is developed on the basis of the transdiciplinary approach which has brought scientific researchers [e.g. PhD and senior researchers of Kathmandu University and the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South], tourism industry practitioners (e.g. trekking agencies in Pokhara), local communities (e.g. represented by seven villages in MMT area) and local government together for common aim and coordinated partnership actions. The transdisciplinary research process helps grasp lessons on triggering societal learning, appreciating differences, boosting concerted actions, mitigating syndromes of unsustainable development, lessening conflict, and thereby supporting to build peace. This paper adds knowledge on the potential value of transdisciplinary research on tourism.