Transport infrastructural development and livelihood: A case of adaptation and diversification strategies in the face of tourism

Abstract

Transport infrastructural developments and roading networks, in particular, appear to have a significant effect on economic livelihoods. It is argued that transport infrastructural development is a major component of development which facilitates the flow of goods and services, increases productivity, investment, employment and income and ultimately leads to further economic activities. Transport infrastructure facilitates the tourism industry and provides access to the destination region for consumption of tourism products and increases tourism. Transport infrastructure also facilitates tourism product supply and creates a tourism experience. The production and consumption of the tourism product happens primarily in the destination area to which tourists travel. Host communities respond to introduced parameters such as road infrastructure development and tourism in various ways. Drawing on recent fieldwork in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, this paper aims to identify host communities’ adaptation and diversification strategies in the context of tourism as a result of road networks. The paper uses qualitative research methods. The fieldwork was undertaken to understand livelihood diversification strategies in reference to tourism