Full description:
There has been increased interest in the role and impact of tourism in the making of a `nation' and the way it interacts with various social institutions and processes. This book explores the role of tourism in the expression of nationalism in Nepal. It considers how various touristic sites, icons, events and celebrations exemplify the `national' imagination, foster national unity, and a sense of community. A sociological approach is adopted to interpret the semiotics of these touristic sites, images and icons to demonstrate how they produce a sense of common identity and a symbolic construction of Nepali national community. This book argues that tourism is an opportunity that can be exploited not only to shape national identity, but also to consolidate national sentiment, emotion and unity. Given the recent great political changes, post-conflict nation-rebuilding and development, Nepal offers a fascinating case study on the role of tourism and nationalism. This book will be of great interest to students, scholars and professionals working in tourism and heritage studies, sociology, anthropology, political science, area studies and those interested in the study of post-conflict and developing societies.
Table of contents:
1. Introduction 2. Cultural antecedents and the expression of Nepali identity in tourism 3. Tourism challenges in new Nepal 4. Imagining the Nepali nation through tourism 5. Mt Everest and the Nepali nation 6. National identity and the Buddhist heritage 7. Festival tourism and the national imagination 8. Hindu pilgrimage and the sense of Nepali self-identity 9. Conclusion
Biography:
Kalyan Bhandari is a Lecturer in Events, Hospitality and Tourism at University of the West of Scotland, UK.
