Assessing the effectiveness of 'Appreciative Inquiry' (AI) in Nepali pro-poor tourism (PPT) development processes

Abstract

One relatively recent approach to Pro-poor tourism (PPT) planning and development is the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process. AI is considered an alternative to traditional “problem-solving” planning approaches and focuses specifically on strengths and successes of individuals, organisations and communities. This paper explores the relevance of the AI process to PPT in Nepal, and examines the contribution of AI to local people’s participation in community planning and development. Two communities (Junbesi and Pattale), at different stages of tourism development in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, were used as case study sites where the AI approach was applied. Semi-structured interviews (n = 31) with local residents as well as district and national experts indicate that the poorest people in the communities are least likely to benefit from tourism due to a lack of skills and capital. The study also reveals that AI has the potential to operate as an effective planning tool in promoting PPT.