English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...

Chapter5Sustainable tourism and postconflictstate buildingPranil Kumar Upadhayaya 1Sagar Raj Sharma 21. Sustainable development and sustainable tourismSustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meethuman needs while preserving the natural environment. It is a collectionof method to create economic growth which protects the environment,relieves poverty and does not destroy natural capital in the short termat the expense of long-term development. Bhatta (2000) states thatcommunities, under the framework of sustainable development adopta three-pronged approach that considers economic, environmentaland cultural resources in the short as well as the long run. Under thesestrategies, they seek economic development approaches that also benefitthe local environment and quality of life. Sustainable development isbased on growth, equity and environment.The concept of sustainable development first appeared in WorldConservation Strategy (IUCN 1980). It appeared in the World Commissionon Environment and Development (WCED) Report (WCED 1987), alsoknown as Brundtland Report, after its chairwoman defined sustainabledevelopment as development which meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability of future generations to meet their ownneeds.The Brundtland report, also known as Our Common Future, is the firstto include the term Sustainable Development along with its principlespublished by a group of experts from WCED in 1987. Referring to thisreport, Downes (2006) states that though it advocates the wise useand conservation of natural resources, it stresses that these resourcescannot be preserved without addressing the other interrelated problemsof widespread poverty, the mal-distribution of productive resources,inequalities in political representation and power, and the growth of a1PhD Researcher on Tourism, Conflict and Peace at the HNRSC, Kathmandu University in association withNCCR North-South; pranilupadhayaya@yahoo.com2Coordinator, graduate programme at the HNRSC of Kathmandu University; sagar@ku.edu.np87